Google Plus page - keep or delete?

[MargaritaS]

Do you guys think that if we are not going to be able to maintain a Google Plus page, from a SEO standpoint is it better to keep or delete the page?

Also, do you guys think there's still SEO value to having a Google Plus page in general? Is it worth it?

Thanks!

MS

[DmitriiK]

Hi.

My point of view is that if you don't update G+ page, it's still worth having it simply for google maps and straight brand SERPs, because if link it all properly, you gonna get easy way of updating/creating your address/name etc.

Cheers

[ChaseMG]

Depends on what you're using your Google+ page for.

If it's for local SEO, then yes. Maintaining it and accumulating more reviews through it are huge for local search. Worth the time and effort.

If your physical location doesn't matter (like a software-based business), then Google+ works just like a social network. You'll have to evaluate whether or not enough of your target audience is there to make it worthwhile to invest in getting them to follow you there. You can't run ads there like you can on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram, so it would mean a lot more hands-on work to build the audience.

[JBoss]

In my opinion Google+ will always be around and as its Google's own property it will remain important to keep included in the list of your SEO strategies. Maintaining the page isn't hard if you are already doing posts on other channels, it follows similar guidelines to Facebook. You need to gain followers by building circles, but as Marty mentioned it cant be done with advertising at the moment so will take some time doing some outreach, join industry communities, follow others in your niche, optimise your profile etc

Having a verified Google Plus page, and Google Places page correctly setup and optimised for your brand name with the right citations is also advantages in local search, as when done correctly, your Google Map will show up on the right, with reviews of your business underneath, which can help you dominate more of the page.

[ATShock]

I would say it's better to keep it. Using my own experience I have found it to be helpful from both a branding and SEO perspective in that it does show up in Google's Knowledge Graph for our brand name and has managed to drive people to our site since we have seen some sales attributed to the page's presence.

Although our brand isn't a local one (we are purely online) I would definitely take that into consideration because it can be more helpful when attracting local customers.

[lexy99]

Although most of our traffic comes from other social networks, you never know who's looking and yes it does help as others have said with local search. I update it is as and when we have new products, special offers etc. It does help with our location and is good for driving directions as Sat Nav doesn't always take our customers as far as where we are in our postcode area (we are rural) and we weren't included on Google Streetview as the section of our lane was closed at the time the google car came round!

[MargaritaS]

Thanks, all! Very  good and thoughtful answers.

[ronell-smith]

I'll answer this using the words of a former neighbor who, when asked why he kept three vehicles when he could only drive one at any given time, said "Unlike horses, they don't cost me anything to sit in the yard."

I see G+ much the same way. No matter what is said, no one knows for sure what's going to happen with G+. However, if you're looking closely, many of the earliest adopters and staunchest advocates have cooled to it, preferring to devote resources elsewhere, such as Facebook or Twitter or even newcomer Blab.

I'd say do the same: till the most fertile ground for your brand.

If you've invested in G+ and have a large audience who shares and engages around your content, continue to nurture those relationships. But to cover your bases, begin building relationships elsewhere, too, on platforms where your prospects are likely to congregate. Begin by following the influencers, sharing and engaging around their content. Share your content there as well, then enlist the help of your G+ followers - many of whom are also on the newfound platform - to amplify and engage around your content.

In this way, you're plowing new ground continuing to tend your existing flock.

This approach ensures that you're not beholden to the whims of Google and you needn't fret over what becomes of G+.

RS

[MillyShaw]

I'm going to stick my neck out and disagree with most of the comments here....

If your business is local, yes keep it.

If your business has a lot of contacts on G+, yes keep it.

If you've got it just because you feel like you need to be on every network and it feels like a burden.... get rid of it. From a customer's perspective, it'll be irritating to go to a business' G+ page if it's obvious it's never used and questions asked there will just be ignored.

Better to spend more time on fewer networks so you can really add value in the places you invest time in.

[CallMeNicholi]

You need to keep it for local SEO. Although Google has decided this is a separate product now, its role will certainly change in the future. They have already made changes to the Google Plus app

1. If the listing has good customer reviews, I would not delete it.

2. There are brand pages aside from local pages.

   It really depends on how this was set up. Brand page or local?

You should be able to transition it.

See this article as a reference.

http://localu.org/blog/google-now-allows-brand-pages-become-local-pages/