Google+ has been out for less than a year, but it’s already making a huge impact for businesses that are engaging and participating in the Google+ discussions. Over the next few months you are going to see an incredible level of integration between Google Search, and Google+. Businesses that join Google+ will have an incredible advantage over businesses that don’t, especially when it comes to the Google Search box juggernaut. If you are a social media consultant, a marketing expert, or possibly a business owner, you need to get your company on Google+ immediately. Here are 5 simple things businesses can do right now on Google+.

1. Claim your Google+ Page right now.
This is your chance to actually grab your businesses name on a service, without having to worry about someone else beating you to the punch. I can’t even count how many people would have loved to have a certain twitter name, facebook name, or even dot com. While Google has yet to allow you to select a vanity URL, the time will come, and you can bet preference will be given to early adopters, or businesses that have a certain amount of engaged customers. You need to get on Google+ yesterday!

2. Ask your customers engaging questions.
Great so you’ve done this the right way and created a Google+ page, now what? Engage with your customers. Ask questions, get feedback, post updates, talk to your customers. Companies still spend billions of dollars simply trying to survey their customers. They spend billions trying to understand what customers want, and are thinking abou their brand. Ding Ding Ding, light bulb should be going off in your head right now. Google+ lets you do it for free pretty much, and not only survey, but create a dialog with your customers. Take advantage!

3. Learn the “Circles”.
Businesses can now create custom circles for various  kinds of customers. As customers add you on Google+, you can create groupings or “circles” for various kinds of customers. Create a circle for VIP customers, circles for Early Adopters. Target special offers to specific circles. Circles allow businesses on Google+ to target their messaging.

4. Connect your web site with Google+.
It’s very easy with Google+ to create a badge that connects your web site to Google+. Simply head over to the Google+ Badge Configuration Tool and Google will do most of the heavy lifting for you. This feature will allow you to connect customers that visit your website and are already on Google+ to find your business page on Google+. Secondly, it is an opportunity to get customers that currently don’t use facebook because they find it too unprofessional, to join a social network focused around information and knowledge sharing.

5. Post relevant information on your page.
Make sure you take time to post relevant information about your industry on your page. Educate your customers. One great way is to create videos, upload them to YouTube, and then link to them from your Google+ page. If you provide your customers with more than just engagement, giving them knowledge, they will continue to come back to your page.

I hope you understand the value and potential that is available to all of you by using Google+.  At the very least, it will only take you 10 minutes to create a company gmail account to use on Google+, and sign up your company for Google+. You need to go do this right now!