Do we expect Google+ to continue being an important ranking signal after its recent changes?
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I've noticed that Google Plus seems to have a larger influence on ranking than other social networks, especially for one of our competitors. We haven't started using Google Plus, and I'm wondering if, from an SEO standpoint, it's worth putting energy into after last month's changes.
TL;DR: After last month's changes, is Google Plus still an important ranking signal?
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Google uses Google Plus to confirm contact information and to find recent posts. While you may not get traffic and engagement directly from Google Plus. It will help with SEO and rankings. Its something you may not benefit a whole lot from, but it would hurt to not have it.
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Thanks for the link to the correlation article. I've seen the same effect - we have a competitor that seems to be beating everyone in the industry at SEO, but with half the domain authority of some other competitors - but he has a lot of +1s.
I'll take a look at how much action there is on G+ in our industry. We're having decent success on Facebook, and I think that's the main activity hub, but the followed links & some activity of G+ may well be worth any time spent on Google Plus.
We still don't know if any of this is changing, though, beyond your, (correct, I believe), observation that Google Plus is being detangled from the rest of Google's products.
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I would say Google+ is more about correlation rather than a ranking signal. However, I’m noticing that Google is separating the close ties Google+ has with its products more and more. For example, they recently announced they will not include Google+ follower counts in search ads as of December 10, 2015.
I recommend understanding where your customers “hang out” and focusing on those social platforms instead.
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