From Zero to 10,000 Followers in Two Months. A Story of One Success.

Yes, I know what you are thinking. And no, this is not a story of how to get the “numbers of dead bodies” up in your following on a social network. This is a story of hard work, brilliant effort and outstanding ideas, which paid off in real people interested in what you do, real interactions, and real impact.

I met Lany Sullivan on November 22nd 2013, on a thread on Google Plus about 10 types of social media users. No, I’m not an obsessive diary keeper. That hilarious thread is still there. She and I ended up chatting for three days and became friends very soon. At that time I was new on Google Plus myself and remember thinking, ‘Wow, this girl knows what she is doing. She must be a pro’. We’ve been communicating on a daily basis and following each other since.

As I checked with statistics on circlecount.com today, it showed me that Lany has been active on Google Plus for just over two months. I had to ask her to confirm, as I couldn’t believe it at first. It cannot have been just two months! Today, she seems to be everywhere. Currently, she moderates and actively participates in several communities, organizes and participates in multiple hangout shows (HOAs, group video chats on Google Plus) on daily basis, and still manages to always respond to personal requests and interact with us individuals on personal level. Sometimes I wonder when she sleeps and if she sleeps at all.

As it became clear that she is going to reach the mark of 10 000 followers soon, I thought that I can’t simply let her keep all her experiences and gained knowledge about being successful on Google Plus to herself, and that we had to have a talk. So today, I’ll be talking to Lany about her path on Google Plus, her successful strategy, as well as her future goals and dreams.

Gill: First of all, I think congratulations are in order. I can’t believe it has been just two months for you on Google Plus and you already have come so far! How did you feel when you saw that you had reached the 10 000?

Lany: Thank you so much, Gill. I feel satisfied, and yet focused on the next goal. This is a stepping stone in the long term strategy.

Gill: Next goal?

Lany: I believe that the more people you can reach the more good you can do. I have a long term vision to follow in the footsteps of other successful women that have come before me. I want to be able to lead and coach women from all walks of life down their path to success.

Gill: So what is it that you do in the “real world”? What have you been doing before you came to Google Plus?

Lany: I’ve worked with business owners in different capacities over the last 3 or 4 years, mostly in marketing, providing tools and services that would help grow their businesses. I transitioned all my business to online marketing services and tools this year, and it has been an amazing experience.

Gill: How did you come to Google Plus and what made you do it?

Lany: One day a couple of years ago, a business associate in one of my networking groups told us that Facebook was going to be on its way out in 5 years, and that Google Plus was the place to plant your flag. I looked at it then, but I didn’t really understand it. I was a die hard facebooker back then. Fast forward 2 years, I had a conversation with Billy Funk on November 1st where he said that he had plugged into Google Plus and that I should take a look at it. Based on that conversation, I jumped in and completely dove in head first. I decided that I wanted to start using Google Plus to create a new following. I saw it as an opportunity to pursue some passions that I have had for awhile, and there was no better way to do it than with a new platform and new eyeballs on it.

Gill: So you’ve been using another social platforms before you came to Google Plus?

Lany: Definitely. I was very active on Facebook. I’m also a Pinterest addict. Linkedin has been a great tool for making business contacts and staying in contact with former and current business associates. Twitter? Well, some people love it. I am not a huge fan. I use it because it is necessary for marketing, but I have never been a lover of all things Twitter. And then there is Instagram, where I have an account. Does that count?

Gill: No idea. I think I’ve never even opened an Instagram webpage. There are already so many social networks that to deal with all of them one would need either to quit their job or to make it their job. So how would you say Google Plus is different? Is it actually different? I can imagine there are a lot of people who still think the only difference between Facebook and Google Plus is the color of the interface.

Lany: Gosh, from a technical standpoint I defer to those more knowledgeable. As far as engagement and usage go, it is indeed different. I think there are some really great things about Google Plus, but I also feel that there are difficulties that prevent some people from diving into it.

For me, Google Plus is a community that truly integrates the feeling and value of what being a community really is. It’s definitely not a place to spam with your business links, but yet an open community to support each other in their business endeavors. Here, you can create stronger and deeper relationships much faster than on other modes of social media.

Also, the SEO benefits of Google Plus far outweigh any other platform, and Google Plus is definitely the platform to increase visibility for your business and to essentially increase your income. I love Google Plus as it has allowed me to spread my wings in social media and share these benefits with friends and associates that are looking to expand their relationships. In the end, Google Plus is a relationship marketing platform with awesome content and incomparable SEO benefits.

Gill: What’s your favorite part about your everyday presence on Google Plus?

Lany: Honestly, I love people. I love the dynamics of people’s personalities and their interactions with each other. I really enjoy meeting new people every day and engaging with them, learning about what makes them tick. I’ve met some amazing people here that I never would have met otherwise. The opportunities and calls I’ve received from the people I interact with for businesses and HOAs has shocked my socks off.

Gill: I see you are very passionate about your experience on Google Plus. But it couldn’t have been all positive. Were there any setbacks?

Lany: No true setbacks that I can think of at this point. Because we deal with people, there have been a couple of situations where it has not been all roses and sunshine, but it has not hindered my progress. It’s been full speed ahead.

Gill: Ok, then I guess I’ll have to rephrase my question. What was the hardest part of your Google Plus journey so far?

Lany: At the beginning, the hardest part was learning the platform. It is a little convoluted, but there is so much content out there that if someone really wants to, it is not difficult to learn it. Now there is actually a product on the market that will teach you how to do Google Plus, which is really great. I think it is a great resource for the newbies moving over to Google Plus. You can learn more about it here.

Gill: What do you think is the key to success on Google Plus? What’s your secret strategy?

Lany: Authenticity. Who you are offline, who you are on the phone, on Facebook, on Twitter, on every other platform should show consistency. If you are not authentic, people will see right through you. Also, you need to learn the etiquette of Google Plus (yes, there is etiquette). It is not like other platforms. There are expectations on how to operate and act in here. People are pretty helpful, especially when they know you are new, and are happy to show you the ropes. Also, you should never publicly defame people. You look terrible when you do. It happens on every platform. If you want to keep your credibility intact you really should pay attention to what you say about others.

Gill: What are you up to these days? I know you have a lot on your plate and are constantly multitasking.

Lany: That’s true. I am a part of the Mindset Your Marketing HOA Show on Mondays at 12 pm PST. I run the Women’s Power Network community and am launching a Women’s HOA in February (details coming soon). I also started an informal session of private hangouts for any and all ladies who want to participate and get comfortable in front of the camera called “Bring Your Naked Face”. This is probably my favorite project leading into the women’s live HOA shows as these session are helping women overcome their fear of the camera. I have also been a guest on a few HOAs organized by others and will be participating in more HOAs in the future.

10 000 is just a number, and it definitely does not determine my personal worth or value. Whether I had one follower or one million followers, I would be the same person.

Gill: Well, as you can see I wasn’t joking saying that you are everywhere these days. So where do you see yourself in six months? Normally, people are asked about six years, but I’m afraid we will have to talk world domination by then.

Lany: Well, world domination is definitely on my to do list. Haha! But on Google Plus, who knows. I mean, if we are talking followers, then somewhere beyond where I am now. Let’s be honest, 10 000 is just a number, and it definitely does not determine my personal worth or value. Whether I had one follower or one million followers, I would be the same person. I will keep my goals in focus. My vision is to help women in business. There is definitely a bigger answer to this than the one that belongs in here now, but I am on a mission to create a revolution among women, and creating a community that is highly supportive. This is such a deep passion for me that I could just go on and on about it. Just come join our Women’s Power Network community on Google Plus to get the first impression.

Gill: You know, I can talk to you for hours, but I think it’s time I let you return to your busy schedule. Last question before we wrap it up: Is there anything you’d like to say to those people who are thinking about joining Google Plus or who are already there trying to do what you are doing?

Lany: If you are not on Google Plus yet, then do it! Make the move! It has changed my life and my business in the last 60 days. I have met some amazing people from all over the world. It has given me a platform to pursue a long term passion. Google Plus gives you the best platform to share your message with the world. If you are already on Google Plus, then continue to be the best version of yourself. People respect those who are true. Again, be kind and respectful. Pay attention to the way you interact with others. Surround yourself with people who have the same interests as you.

Also, I want to thank the following people for their guidance and support on this journey over the last two months: Joseph Montes, Billy Funk, Ray Dietrich, , Shannon Lemos, Jenny Sung, Mia Voss, Jason T. Wiser, Mark Seydel, David Schiffman, Tom Coleman, Wade Harman, Rebekah Radice, Randy and Anabell Hilarski, Sam Stormborn, and for all the great late night conversations and laughs Gill Andrews and Sam Chao. There are so many to name that if I missed you, please forgive me. My Google Plus family has been awesome!

If you want to connect with Lany and learn more about how to be successful on Google Plus, check out her page. To learn more about her business, you can visit her website at www.socialmediago2girl.com.