Share This: RSS
March 22, 2012

How the Google Plus Box Really Works

By Richard Nosek, Director of Marketing

If you use Google.com, you’ve probably noticed a little something called Google Search Plus Your World. While you are signed into your Google+ account, Google not only searches the world wide web, but also your Google+ universe. The results are incredibly personalized, with profiles, pages, posts and photos from people you know and follow. You may even be presented with the elusive “Google Plus Box,” which shows people and pages related to your search—a mega traffic builder if you can land yourself in one of those coveted spots.

But how does Google decide which pages and profiles show up? And how does Google decide which search queries get the plus box, and which ones don’t?

Ian Lurie, an internet marketing blogger, decided to find out. He put together what he called his “Plan For Google Search Plus Your World Research and Domination (PFGSPYWRD, for short),” which consisted of polling SEO folks and collecting data on top Google Search Plus Your World results.

After 5 weeks of research, here’s what Ian found out:

Profiles with no new posts in the last 72 hours have no shot at a plus box ranking.

Adam Sandler has the 2nd highest circle membership, yet he never appears. Why? He has hasn’t posted since January 24th. You don’t have to post all original content—re-shares and links to interesting stuff will do the trick—but make sure you post at least a few times a day.

Pages get preference.

Pages with membership between 3000 to 6000 circles appear in the plus box, beating out profiles with circle membership as high as 1.5 million.

Higher engagement leads to plus box ranking.

Not surprisingly, the more +1’s, posts, reshares, replies and membership circles you have, the more likely Google is to reward you with plus box placement. Google’s really looking out for big (and great) content generators, so the more +1’s you get, the more thumbs up Google will give you and the higher you’ll rank. It also helps to circle influential people with big circle membership.

It’s easier to rank for a concept than a commodity.

A search for ‘computers’ doesn’t return a plus box, while a search for ‘internet marketing’ does. Try to rank for a the non-commodity term that fits your industry, like ‘design,’ not ‘designer.’ Ian believes this is because the plus box shoves PPC ads down the page and hurts Google’s revenue. Why would Google want to place a plus box on results pages for searches with high commercial intent?

Prev article Next article
Share This: RSS

What People Are Saying About Us

What People Are Saying About Us

I absolutely love the new website, congratulations. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with you in the future.  Great job.

- Cloverdale Paint -

This is amazing and thank you again for all of your great work, we love it!

- Mr. Lube -

The site looks fantastic and is a piece to be proud of. Your team worked well with our management team. We would recommend Graphically Speaking in building a quality site.

- Squamish Terminals -

Bottom line... I would not hesitate to endorse Graphically Speaking, without reservation.

- Thomas FX Group Inc. -

Thank you so much, we are so happy with the design, and you nailed it first time. We wanted you to know we are really thrilled.

- PainPro -

You have completely impressed me with the depth of the work.

- Bezdan -

On behalf of the Webtech team, we want to say thank you for your efforts in the launch of our new website, and for helping us meet our rushed deadline.

- Webtech -

Graphically Speaking provides an expertise that never failed to impress. Their skillful team provided a level of direction that was both disciplined and creative. A very tough combination to find when collaborating in today's world.

- British Columbia Pharmacy Association -

Your team has provided us with excellent support in the areas of website strategy, design, and search engine optimization, usability testing and general ongoing project management.

- The Jim Pattison Auto Group -

I want to express my thanks for the amazing work you and your team put in.

- Absolute Software -

I am pleased with the design, UI and insights from the usability testing that has allowed us to develop an award-winning website. Job well done.

- City of Richmond -

I wanted to reach out to you to let you know how happy we are with the results of the work your team has done on our new website. Your team has helped improve our site while supporting us during this process.

- IABC Calgary -

I want to thank you for the custom development of our Product Information Management system. Well done to the architects, programmers, account, and project managers.

- Cloverdale Paint -

The new website is definitely a success. Once again, I would like to thank you and Graphically Speaking for helping us out.

- EasyPark -

You, and the teams behind you really do such amazing work and truly boost the capabilities of our team here at Canfor. Thanks for all your work!

- Canfor -

Some of Our Credentials

  • Microsoft Gold
    Application
    Development
    Partner
  • Google
    Agency
    Partner
  • Adobe Magento
    Agency
    Partner
  • Shopify
    Certified
    Partner
  • Progress Sitefinity
    Medallion
    Elite Partner
  • Project
    Management
    Professional
    PMP Certified
  • Certified UX & UI
    Specialists
  • Certified
    Usability
    Analyst
  • WEBSITE DESIGN
    & DIGITAL MARKETING

Graphically Speaking

#840 - 1140 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 4G1

Call us 604.682.5500
Toll Free 1.877.875.4337
© 2023 Graphically Speaking Services Inc.
All right reserved.
The BC Public Service (Graphically Speaking) acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all indigenous Peoples – First Nations, Metis, and Inuit – respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.