Can Your Hotel Afford to Ignore Google+? | By Madigan Pratt

Earlier this summer when Google launched Google+, its social networking site, it was only open to individuals. Last month Google+ announced it was available to businesses and brands are beginning to embrace it. Why? Right now it appears as though it is primarily a defensive move. Google won’t promise that Google+ will improve a company’s search rankings, but smart marketers are betting on it. They believe it is only a matter of time before Google starts incorporating social signals into website rankings. Having both social and search represents a significant advantage over Facebook. If you were running Google, what would you do?

Earlier this summer when Google launched Google+, its social networking site, it was only open to individuals. Last month Google+ announced it was available to businesses and brands are beginning to embrace it.

Why? Right now it appears as though it is primarily a defensive move. Google won’t promise that Google+ will improve a company’s search rankings, but smart marketers are betting on it. They believe it is only a matter of time before Google starts incorporating social signals into website rankings. Having both social and search represents a significant advantage over Facebook. If you were running Google, what would you do?

Google has hundreds of criteria it uses to rank a company’s website. The more emphasis it places on Google+, the number and size of its circles and the interactions and sharing of information the faster it will grow and the more important it will become. And when YouTube videos (another Google enterprise) are shared widely through Google+ who knows what will eventually happen?

A search of hotels and resorts on Google+ shows that there are few early adopters and those that are, are simply re-purposing Facebook posts and not embracing the full power of the social network. That’s OK for now – it’s a start, but more time and effort will be needed going forward.

Several marketers I’ve talked to (outside of hospitality) believe that only a few companies in each category will really embrace Google+ and create a meaningful presence. They believe their efforts will pay off in the long run with higher search rankings leaving competition to play catch-up and rely more on paid search to drive visitors to their sites.

So the question is clear, “Can your hotel really afford to ignore Google+?”

And if your hotel is planning on embracing Google+, please share your thoughts with readers and leave a comment.

For more information on the topic read, “Is Your Hotel Prepared for Google+”

Our recently adopted Fixed Fee methodology was embraced by our clients with great enthusiasm. It eliminates all ambiguity and the discussion of percentages! The amount of the Fixed Fee will be determined at the outset of the search and is irrespective of the candidate’s ultimate salary, which will take away the client’s fear of having to pay a huge fee at the end of the recruitment cycle, since the fee has been decided before the actual recruitment process begins. We feel that the Fixed Fee is a much fairer and more flexible approach, especially in these difficult economic times.

We are thankful that all of our remote offices are thriving and are proud to have launched new offices in Barcelona and Tenerife, Spain under the leadership of Juan Cruz. Gabriel Meyer is poised to operate our new ESI Miami office in early 2012.

After a fall and hip surgery in October, I will be allowed to travel again in January/February and expect that Asia will be my first destination.

Wishing you and all you hold dear a joyous Holiday Season and a healthy and Happy New Year.

Best regards,

Bernd K. Wosgien