Summary: In this conversation with social media expert B.L. Ochman, originally broadcast and now archived as a Google Hangout on Air, we make the point that communicators and marketers can no longer ignore Google+. B.L. Ochman is a Certified GooglePlus Helpout Coach for brands and agencies as well as a Google-certified YouTube Channel Creator. She works with the biggest brands and has been doing this since before most marketers even knew what "digital revolution" meant. My favourite quote about B.L. comes from Adweek. They say: “B.L. Ochman: A consultant and social-media savant who actually knows what she's talking about.” You can watch the video of the interview here. In this conversation, among other things, B.L. Ochman outlines the great work in G+ of some big brands, and also offers this advice: Be sure your Google+ profile is complete Use a great headshot; be sure yours is the correct size and orientation Remember Google+ is a very image-friendly place; use photos and other visuals to your advantage Take advantage of Google+ Communities Be sure to try out Google Hangouts, which offer rich features to enhance your online communications Keep in mind that Google has changed its search algorithms so that engagement matters! Google+ is Google after all, and tightly integrated with Google Search. Think about working with a Google+ guide to help you navigate the ins and outs. Contact B.L. Ochman for more information. If you’re in the Toronto area, be sure to check out Donna’s upcoming Hands-on Social Media Workshop. Where to send comments: email to Donna AT trafcom.com or comment here on the blog. Theme music for Trafcom News Podcast is “Beneath Your Surface” by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from Music Alley. UPDATE: Below is a transcript of this podcast. Transcription service provided by www.rev.com. D. Papacosta: What You Need to Know Right Now about Google Plus. This is the Trafcom News Podcast for January 10th, 2014, show number 126, and I'm Donna Papacosta at Trafalgar Communications in Oakville, Ontario, just outside Toronto. Trafcom News is a podcast about communications tactics. Tactics for people who care about communicating, whether that's in person, in print, or online. Today I'm excited to be bringing you an interview with my friend B.L. Ochman talking about Google Plus. This is the first time I'm doing an interview for my podcast as a Google hangout on air. Although I've been doing hangouts for at least a year, it's my first hangout on air. I will include a link in the show notes. You can watch the recorded version, which is on my YouTube channel, or you can just listen to this podcast. Here's my chat with B.L. D. Papacosta: Okay, hi. This is Donna Papacosta at Trafalgar Communications in Toronto, and I am delighted to have a special guest with me today, B.L. Ochman in New York. Hello, B.L. B.L. Ochman: Hello, Donna. How nice to be here with you. D. Papacosta: It's wonderful. You and I have been talking about Google Plus for a while now and, of course, I'm watching what you're doing online. As I was mentioning to you, sometimes when I do my own workshops I have people who say to me, “Well, you know, I'm into ... I really want to learn about Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn, but, you know, Google Plus, it's sort of out there. I don't think anyone's using it,” and I say, "You have to know about G+. Now is the time." I think it's the perfect opportunity to ask you to talk about G+. First, for anyone who doesn't know you, the famous, I call the famous B.L. Ochman, I just want to say a few things about you because I know you won't say these things about yourself, but I can. The reason I invited B.L. is that she is an expert at social media and at marketing. She is a certified Google Plus Helpout coach, which probably some of you don't even know that that exists. She works with brands and agencies in that capacity.
