In April 2019, Google will be ending the Google+ platform. Previously scheduled for August but expedited due to security concerns, the end of this social network can impact how you handle your business online.

Check out this guide to get the basics on the end of Google+, how it may affect your business, and what you need to do to get ready!

Why is Google+ ending?

For business owners who post on social media, the end of Google+ may bring a sigh of relief, as there’s now one less platform to worry about.

While Google+ has been connected to search engine optimization (SEO) and a variety of services, it unfortunately never took off as a competitive social network. According to Google, they’re ending Google+ due to low traffic, inability to make it appealing to businesses and users, and a data breach they experienced in recent years.

As a business, you may have used Google+ for SEO purposes or when it was required for Youtube and other accounts, but the end of the service may still impact what you do moving forward.

How does the end of Google+ affect you?

During its tenure, Google+ was prominently known for its contributions to SEO through posts and interactions. However, its use for better search engine ranking has been decreasing for a while. In fact, the end of the platform shouldn’t hurt your local SEO at all.

This means the end of Google+ mostly takes responsibilities off your plate as a business owner, especially if you’ve been managing your own social media, SEO, and content.

What do you need to do?

We recommend a few actions to make sure you’re ready for the end of Google+ in April.

Remove the links from your website and future content.

Now that Google+ is being phased out, you’ll want to remove the links and social media icon from your website, blogs, print materials, and any other relevant places for business information. This will show your clients that you’re up-to-date with the latest social media trends.

Save information from (and possibly delete) your account.

Your business account will disappear when Google+ ends, but it may be helpful to save the information on your profile and the content you’ve posted there. Once you’ve saved the information you want, it’s your choice to delete your account or simply wait for the end of the platform.

If you want to delete your account, the following steps can help:

1. Sign into your Gmail account and click on your profile icon in the top right.
2. Click “Google Account.”
3. Click on the “People & Sharing” tab on the left.
4. Scroll down and select “Google+ Settings.”
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Delete your Google+ Profile.” to complete the process. (Be sure to read carefully so you know what will be deleted.)

Put energy into Google My Business.

While Google+ may be on its way out, Google My Business is an important tool to provide consistent information and boost local SEO. Opportunities for reviews and analytics data are also great assets from Google My Business.

What does this mean? It may be a good idea for you to take the time you previously spent on Google+ and use it to update your Google My Business information. You can even post there if you were previously doing that on Google+ and would like to try a new platform.

As we approach the end of Google+, keep these tips in mind to make sure your company is ready. As the owner of a business that customers are searching for online, you’ll be in a great position when you stay on top of changes and know what’s coming next with Google and social media.

Treefrog Marketing is a marketing agency focused on small business and located in Lafayette, Indiana. We specialize in strategic marketing and advertising, graphic design, web design, social media, SEO, and more. For more information, please visit our website. You can also connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.