Here’s a big update in the Internet world that everyone has been talking about! Businesses and organizations are now able to create pages in the Google+ network.

In a recent poll by SmartBlogs, they found that 58% of businesses will be joining Google+. That stat was taken only within a week of the big announcement, so we can bet that this percentage will continue to increase throughout the next few weeks as more data and opinions from SEO experts is dispersed.

So what does this mean for your small business?

2. Some believe search engine results are already impacted by Google+ pages. Creating a Google+ profile continues to improve your credibility and authority as a business in Google’s eyes – which then impacts your rank.

3. Your Google+ public page may look the same as a standard Google+ profile page, but they are bit different. Both profiles and public pages allow you to connect with others; however, public pages can’t follow a person unless he or she follows you first. Pages are considered “public” while personal profile pages are “private.”

Here are some quick best practices for when you create your Google+ page:

1. Whether you are a national or local business, be sure to include as much content as you can on the business page. We’d recommend starting to add the basic information about your business, and then go back to enter in more details. In addition, the information (address, phone, keywords, recommended links, categories, etc) that you post should be exactly the same as what is shown on your website.

2. Google+ local pages are hands-on, allowing customers to connect with the business’s exact location. Therefore, it’s important to include a lot of local elements, including hours open, map, phone number, photos, promotions etc.

3. Add a Google+ button on your homepage that visitors can easily click on and share with others. The Google +1 count is a new feature on profile pages, which displays the number of “+1″s earned on your website.

4. Businesses need to be added to a person’s circle, similar to how friends or other pages are organized within the Google+ community. Therefore, displaying an “add to circles” or “+1″ button on your homepage is also a good idea.

5. Treat your Google+ page like your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other miscelaneous social media accounts. For example, when you post a blog post, current promotion or newsworthy element, be sure that it’s displayed on all forms of social media. Google will also be launching resources for users to manage their Google+ accounts via 3rd party apps, so that’s another efficient way of handling all our communication methods.

Our recommendation? Log into DIYSEO for step-by-step instructions for how to create a Google+ page for your business right now.

1. For more information, view a previous DIYSEO blog post about Google+ and its influence on small business SEO.

2. DIYSEO will continue to stay on top of this changing area and highlight what is actionable for your business. If you’d like to read more, here are some quick links for more details brought to you by Google:

• What’s New in Google+
• Google+ Pages: Connect with all the things you care about
• About Google+ Pages
• Difference between Google+ Pages and Google+ Profiles
• Get started with a Local Google+ Page
• Linking to Your Website