<img src="https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Google-.jpg" alt="Google+" width="245" height="180" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9384" />Google+ is a great place to find customers and connect, plus, many people can use it to make groups for connecting with family and colleagues. There are some common mistakes people make when they use this social media platform that they don’t even realize. 

For example, it’s easy to treat Google+ like another version of Facebook which it’s really quite different in how it should be used. Some people forget to utilize the Circles feature and separate their followers by the appropriate groups. Others forget to engage customers and simply use it as a promotional tool. When you think you are a rock star on Google+, check out these common mistakes that many are making to make sure you are not actually using the platform all wrong. 

<h2>You forget to share direct links to your blog</h2>

You have probably heard that posting content with an image is the most effective way to use social media, but did you know that never naturally loading directly from your blog is a big mistake? Always uploading images with your post may start to look unnatural after a while. While uploading an 800 pixel wide image with a post and engaging headline is attractive, if you want to use Google+ for SEO purposes, you’ll need to directly link to your blog occasionally. 

<h2>You treat it like Facebook</h2>

<img src="https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Google-Mistakes.png" alt="Google+ Mistakes" width="181" height="180" class="alignright size-full wp-image-9383" />One of the most common mistakes behind Google+ is trying to use the platform just like you would Facebook. They are such different social media platforms and shouldn’t be treated the same. You are connected to everyone on Facebook, from those with similar interests in the same group to those old friends from high school, to new acquaintances you just met. 

It’s somewhat like a big hangout and makes it a great way to connect with friends, family, and even customers for businesses. Google+ on the other hand is designed to be more about promoting a niche blog in which you’ll want to develop relationships, promote your articles, and limit who you are connected to compared to Facebook. 

<h2>Not using the Circles feature</h2>

One of the best parts of Google+ is the hangouts or Circles feature where you can organize members into one circle to separate how you relate to them. You can have one for that group of friends you meet with on Thursdays, each side of your extended family, one for networking purposes, and one for your customer base. Then, send posts targeted to the right circles and engage your audiences for different purposes. 

<h2>Promoting vs. engaging</h2>

<img src="https://itxdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Common-Google-Mistakes.png" alt="Common Google+ Mistakes" width="180" height="180" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9382" />Sometimes people want to use social media strictly for their own promotional needs. Google+, along with other social media platforms, is really meant to be a way to engage with people. It’s meant to be a way to convert followers to subscribers or to customers while you can promote in other platforms like email newsletters. Use Google+ to build relationships, share your content, and share interesting content from others. 

Be careful not to use the site for promoting a content or promotion as it’s against their Terms of Service, don’t forget to embed posts on your blog, and be sure to use relevant keywords. Engaging with your audience is the best way to use the platform. 
