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At the end of June, Google Plus was launched to a limited, invitation-only population of social media mavens. One month later, the Google Plus user base had exploded to more than 25 million users. In recent weeks, many commentators have argued that Google Plus could become a viable competitor to Facebook, as well as Twitter, Flickr and other second tier social media platforms. No one can deny that Google is still an 800-pound gorilla in the room that is the Web. But when it comes to launching and maintaining social media platforms, Google's record has been spotty at best.

This Social Media Today webinar featured two leading authorities on social media marketing and search engine optimization. In a conversation moderated by Social Media Group CEO Maggie Fox, panelists Debra Ellis and David Amerland discussed the future of Google Plus as it approaches its two-month birthday, exploring the questions:

  • Will Google Plus take significant market share from Facebook and other social networks?
  • How will Google Plus impact social search?
  • What could be in store when Google begins providing the equivalent of Facebook fan pages for use by businesses?
  • What lessons have we and Google learned from the Google Plus beta test?

 

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About the Panel:

Debra Ellis, Wilson & Ellis Consulting

Image Debra Ellis mixes and matches marketing and service channels to create customer retention, growth, and profitability strategies. She uses her extensive experience in direct marketing and analytics to integrate social media with traditional marketing and customer care. This combination provides an unprecedented access to customers and their buying preferences that can be leveraged into corporate success. Debra's pragmatic view that all marketing channels must deliver real results requires that social media provide measurable results. Her tests of what works and doesn't are regularly featured on her Multichannel Magic blog.

David Amerland, Help My SEO

Image David Amerland is the author of the best-selling ‘SEO Help’, ‘Online Marketing Help’ and ‘Brilliant SEO’. His books on online marketing, SEO and the social media revolution have helped thousands of entrepreneurs build successful online businesses. When he is not busy writing he advises companies and start ups on social media strategy and gives talks about the social media revolution on the web. He maintains his own blog at http://helpmyseo.com where you can find practical SEO and business advice and spends more time online than is probably healthy.

Maggie Fox, Moderator, Social Media Group

Image Maggie Fox is the founder and CEO of Social Media Group, established in 2006 and one of the world’s most highly respected  independent agencies helping business navigate the socially engaged Web. Pioneers in their field, Social Media Group has developed social media strategies for some of the best-known brands in Europe and North America, including; Ford Motor Company, SAP Global Marketing, Norwegian Cruise Line, 3M and Thomson Reuters. Maggie has been interviewed about social media by The Washington Post, CBC Radio, The Globe and Mail, CBC News, CTV News, AdAge and The Financial Post, among others. She was also named one of the Top 100 Marketers in the 100th anniversary edition of Marketing Magazine and sits on the Board of the Empire Club of Canada.