HootSuite is On a Roll, They Open Google+ Pages Access to All Users

Image: HootSuite

One of my main complaints regarding Google+ is the lack of third-party apps with access to Google's social network. But that is not that big of a deal if you consider that there is no app to control a Google+ brand page, other than from the web itself.

Google+ mobile apps give users access to their Google+ accounts, but none of them give access to any Google+ brand page, leaving businesses or brands like The iOS Post with no tools to work with.

It has been madness trying to keep our brand page up and running manually, but today we have great news from HootSuite. The social media dashboard tool was one of the first third-party apps to gain access to Google+ API for testing purposes (back in Nov 2011) and now they have granted all users access to it, but only for brand pages.

• To add Google+ Pages: Access your Profile from the side menu, then select + Add a Social Network under My Social Networks.

This is great for brands, as they can update, schedule posts, select circles, etc. You can even set up RSS feeds to post directly to Google+, no more manual posting.

A couple of things have been left behind. One is that Google+ integration in HootSuite is for brand pages, not individuals. Second, iOS apps do not have access yet. We have asked about this and we are currently waiting to hear back.

This is will certainly drive much more interest to Google's social network. I hope it doesn't take 9 more months to see more third-party apps.

This announcement from HootSuite joins the AutoSchedule feature launched earlier this week that takes a jab directly at Buffer.