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Google+, the new social media and networking offer from search engine goliath Google, is offering Facebook its first real competition. If Facebook is crucial to business and marketing of ecommerce merchants, does that mean online retailers and suppliers should be on Google+ as well? Most pundits and marketing experts say, "Not yet," but it is still important to be ready when the time comes. Matt Owen at Econsultancy.com notes that the implications are huge, saying, "For businesses, the sales aren't yet a concern, but the implications for SEO definitely are. If Google+ rankings are heavily weighted, then brands will need to maintain a presence." However, until the service evolves a bit more, it is still too early to worry about presence. "It's fun, but it isn't a strategic business move," Owen says.

A Google vice president has stated that Google+ pages specifically for businesses will be coming, just not yet. The first brand pages recently launched in August, and it is still too soon to tell how they will work, what they will do, or how companies can best use them. Car-maker Ford is an early adopter, using Google+ to try out marketing strategies. A study by Ecommerce-Journal.com reports "Facebook may soon lose to Google+," and Facebook is ranking very poorly in consumer satisfaction. Simply stated, Google+ is benefiting from buzz and upside potential. According to Web Developer, Juice, "Another very important thing that will affect ecommerce is the fact that the whole purchase funnel would process through Google platforms." Synergy with Google Places and integration with other Google services has everyone watching.