When online influence measurement service Klout announced that it has incorporated Google+ into its scoring algorithm, it also inadvertently raised the new social network’s stock among PR practitioners.
As communications professionals try to navigate the continuously changing online media landscape, it’s important to be active on as many platforms and channels as possible that can be used to push their messages across. You not only want to be heard, you want to reach as big an audience as possible—especially considering how quickly the conversations can move from one topic to another.
When Google first introduced its social competitor to Facebook, the conversations among PR pros revolved around how it could be used to enhance their online and social media activities. Would it be a viable messaging platform? Would it demand inclusion in social media strategies? While opinions were mixed, there was a consensus that Google+ had the potential to play a significant role in online communications.
The social network got a boost when Google introduced brand pages and services such as Direct Connect and YouTube integration that linked Google+ with its other potent offerings.
Now with Klout choosing to include the social network within its social influence calculations, Google+ takes another step toward being a legitimate social influence tool.
And for what it’s worth, users who are active on Google+ have seen their Klout scores go up—with some seeing as much as a 10+ point increase in their rating.