Google+ Traffic Surges, Another Wave on the Way with Google Music

Google’s fledgling social network Google+ recently recorded its largest week since its debut month, receiving more than 6.8 million total U.S. visits through last Saturday (Nov. 12). That figure represented a 5 percent increase from the previous week and a 25 percent jump from a month ago, according to a report from Experian Hitwise. Further, the number of returning visitors leaped 18 percent, and nearly three-quarters of the visits came from those who had also visited the site within the previous 30 days. The top two weeks for overall visits to Google+  occurred in the service's first two weeks for all users: the weeks ending Sept. 24 and Oct. 1.

 

Why the sudden renewed interest in Google+, a network that Slate writer Farhad Manjoo last week had deemed dead? Maybe because Google launched brand pages  last week for companies akin to Facebook Pages . While the search giant has not revealed how many new brand pages were launched, they total in the thousands and include CNN, Pepsi, Adidas, Google Chrome and Android.

 

Next surge from Google Music

 

Google is surely hoping its Google+ growth will continue, and the company's Google Music today (Nov. 16) may help. Music has now been added to the Android Market. Google Music users will have a powerful sharing function that could draw more people into Google+ circles. When users purchase songs or albums from the Market, they can immediately share it with their Google+ circles, who can then listen to the track or album in full for free. (That’s one time only.)

 

To kick-start Google Music, the company is offering exclusive music from the Rolling Stones, Coldplay and Busta Rhymes, plus free albums from Shakira, Pearl Jam and the Dave Matthews Band.