Google has finally rolled out much awaited brand pages on Google Plus, a platform that many organizations have been eyeing on.

Thanks to Facebook, we are all aware of the intention behind creating pages and its advantages. Other than directly connecting with anyone who is interested in your brand, pages open up a whole new window that helps business owners expand their business in accordance to what people say and share within their page.  And for obvious reasons, it was high time that Google provided this feature to Google Plus users.

“Behind every page (or storefront, or four-door sedan) is a passionate group of individuals, and we think you should be able to connect with them too.” says Vic Gundotra, Google's Sr. VP Engineering.

Before we talk about Google Plus brand pages in detail, let's have a look at this introduction video below:

“We can now hang out live with the local bike shop, or discuss our wardrobe with a favorite clothing line, or follow a band on tour. Google+ pages give life to everything we find in the real world. And by adding them to circles, we can create lasting bonds with the pages (and people) that matter most. 

For businesses and brands, Google+ pages help you connect with the customers and fans who love you. Not only can they recommend you with a +1, or add you to a circle to listen long-term. They can actually spend time with your team, face-to-face-to-face. All you need to do is start sharing, and you'll soon find the super fans and loyal customers that want to say hello.”

If you are a owner of a page on Facebook, and active on Google Plus as well, then you will not have a hard time understanding how these pages work...'coz you see...it is pretty much similar to Facebook. ;)

In spite of that, let's have a look at the major features:

• To follow a particular page, users have to add that page to their circles.

• Pages can create their own circles for networking with other businesses or organizations in Google Plus. And the followers can see the pages in your circle and connect with them instantly.

• Pages can interact with their followers through face-to-face conversations using Hangouts feature.

• To begin with, Google categorizes organizations into:

1. Local business
2. Product or brand
3. Company, institution or organization
4. Arts, entertainment or Sports
5. Other

• You can choose to make your page publicly available, you can also restrict it for users 18 and older or 21 and older. After which all you need to do is add a tagline for your page and a display picture.

• As a user you can instantly share your newly created page with your circles in your Google Plus profile.

• Pretty much like Facebook, you can switch between using Google+ as a page or as a personal profile.

• You can add your page's batch to your website.

• Google+ has some default circles for your page: following, customers, VIPs and team members.

• To see the legitimacy of a page, look for a tick next to the name of page. This verification looks pretty similar to Twitter. Let's keep in mind that Facebook offers no verification for business pages or  known personalities.

Direct Connect:

This that one feature that impressed me the most! There is no denying that Google has an upper hand in social networking because of its vast range of products and its trump card...the giant search engine.

Cleverly integrating Google Plus pages with Google search engine, Google has introduced 'Direct Connect', a feature that leads a user directly to a brand page from Google search page. Check out the video below:

“Maybe you're watching a movie trailer, or you just heard that your favorite band is coming to town. In both cases you want to connect with them right now, and Direct Connect makes it easy—even automatic. Just go to Google and search for [+], followed by the page you're interested in (like +Angry Birds). We'll take you to their Google+ page, and if you want, we’ll add them to your circles. 

Direct Connect works for a limited number of pages today (like +Google, +Pepsi, and +Toyota), but many more are coming.”

Now let's have a look at some shortcomings:

• Unlike Facebook, one can not create a customized URL for their business page.

• One cannot assign multiple admins...for now atleast. And without admins, it looks like any other profile.

• Insights (analytics) are yet to be introduced.

But you know what, a site is not built in one day, and I can see that this is just the tip of the iceberg and there are a lot of new features on its way.

What I can't wait to see is Google's creativity in terms of coming up with entirely new features in social networking ...you know, once they are done following footsteps of Facebook or Twitter.

We know that initially things may seem a little confusing and unfamiliar, but with time both Google and Google Plus users will learn, grow and make the most out of it. Let's have a look at some examples for understanding brand pages in a better way:

Some  examples:

Angry Birds
Day1: 
Followers: 12939
+1s: 1922


























Mashable
Day1:
Followers: 15014
+1s: 1300





























The All-American Rejects
Day1:
Followers: 7404
+1s: 199





























WWE
Day1:
Followers: 10788
+1s: 815




























Train
Day1:
Followers: 8825
+1s: 173




























Saving The Children
Day1: 
Followers: 6882
+1s: 138




























The Muppets (Disney promoting its latest movie)
Day1:
Followers: 21757
+1s: 2892





























The Creator Itself
Day1:
Followers: 41769
+1s: 3067
































After reading several comments and opinions about this latest development I have to come to a conclusion that it is not that big a deal..for now at least. Because Google plus brand pages are still in infancy stage, there is a lot more that needs to be added and improved. But even when Google adds all possible features and integrates brand pages with several Google products or services, do you think that Google Plus pages will become as imperative as Facebook pages these days; specially from a business point of view?

Visit this link to create your brand page on Google Plus.

You may also like to check out:

20 Google Plus Resources. Read, Learn & Get Started!