Social signals, such as likes, shares, and comments on social media platforms, are not directly factored into Google’s search algorithm. However, they have an indirect influence on search engine rankings. For instance, a high level of social engagement can lead to more backlinks, which are a key ranking factor. Google Plus, in particular, can help improve search rankings, despite the platform’s low user base. Google Plus posts are crawled and indexed almost instantly, and the platform allows dofollow links, which pass on link juice. Furthermore, the platform’s integration with other Google services can also boost visibility in search results. Google Authorship, a now-defunct feature of Google Plus, allowed authors to link their content to their Google Plus profile, which could increase click-through rates. Although Google Authorship is no longer active, the concept of author credibility remains relevant, and Google may still consider the reputation of an author when ranking content. Therefore, while Google Plus is not a popular social media platform, it can still be a useful tool for improving search engine rankings.
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