Google+ announces that companies, groups and organizations can create official Pages on Google+. Heather Mansfield at Nonprofit Orgs immediately walks us through the process of setting up a Page.

A good primer on Google+ best practices for nonprofits, as they think about opening up nonprofit Google+ Pages.

Janet Fouts offers some great page examples and also a ton of tips to help you administer your Google+ business Page. Tips include creating a short URL, finding your own Page again, and finding other business Pages to follow. She also offers a free four-part recorded webinar about creating Google+ Pages for businesses here.

Nice summary of pros, cons, and editorial thoughts on opening a Google+ Page. 

SEO. Peter Stringer gives us the SEO angle, supported by documentation from Google: "Google+ pages, unlike your Facebook fan page, will actually generate traffic, because of a little thing called, um, Google."

"Watch out! Google+ will not let you run any contest or promotion on Google+ brand Pages, under any circumstances. "Google retains the right to block or remove Pages that violate these terms. Repeat offenders will be eligible for account suspension." This article by SproutSocial also notes that Google+ Pages that are inactive for over nine months may be removed. 

Robert Scoble lambasts Google for rolling out Pages with so many issues - lack of multi-user administrators, confusion over personal/brand posts, lack of access to good analytics, and more.

Mashable compiles a list of features Google+ brand page admins are already clamoring for. 

The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Beth Kanter begin to create lists of Nonprofit brand Pages. Nonprofits have jumped oin and are experimenting with these Pages. Already there are 158 on The Chronicle's circles and 86 in Beth Kanter's Nonprofit Pages Circle.

Sylwia Presley at UK fundraising raises the issue: how do brand pages meet your goals? "How can we make the most of this new tool? It once again depends on the goals of your organisation."

Beth Kanter suggests three approaches for nonprofits: early move to Google+, moderate approach, or wait for maturation. I also like her ideas of how nonprofits might think about using Google+ Pages.

David Crowley, founder of Social Capital, Inc. offers his thoughts on why his nonprofit opened a Google+ Page. Makes a lot of sense for them, as early tech adopters are heavy Google+ users, and his organization incorporates tech into its programming.