United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Travel firms urged to act on latest move by Google
Travel firms are being urged to set up Google + brand pages following the internet giant’s revelation that it will be incorporating Google + into its search results to give users more relevant results.
Social marketing agency Greenlight hailed the move as the biggest change to Google in the past five years and said it was one businesses should not ignore.
Google + is similar to Facebook, except users can set up different social circles on their accounts, so for example they can have one for friends, another for family members and a separate one for business.
Crucially, Google + users can +1 websites, which is similar to pressing the ‘Like’ button on Facebook, so effectively making a personal recommendation to all their acquaintances. When users search for a website using Google, they will be able to see in the search results if anyone in their Google + circles has recommended the site.
Chief operating office of Greenlight Andreas Pouros described Google + as a huge opportunity for companies to increase their online presence. Having a decent Google + brand page, with relevant content, will enable them to appear higher in search engine rankings, he said
Companies that don’t have a Google + brand page risk their rivals slipping in and snapping up their customers, he warned.
Pouros added: "This is a major change to how Google’s search results are assembled and something brands and business with an online presence cannot afford to ignore."
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel