Google+

Driving Engagement for Google+

Google logo featured in a case study showcasing Google+ adoption through £6M digital campaigns and exclusive partnerships, led by Adeeb Khan.
Google’s London HQ in Kings Cross, symbolising its regional leadership in digital innovation and the success of the Google+ campaign.
Online Ads & Social Media Production Manager

Led European production for a £6M Google+ Digital Campaign, driving platform adoption and engagement through exclusive partnerships with One Direction, Jessie J, Topshop, and H&M.

Technology

Challenge

In 2013, Google+ entered a highly competitive social media market dominated by established platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. As a new entrant, Google+ needed to differentiate itself while also navigating unique regional challenges across Europe to drive user adoption and engagement.

Key challenges included:

Establishing a Presence in a Saturated Market

With social media usage dominated by well-established platforms, Google+ faced significant barriers to entry. Convincing users to adopt a new platform required high-impact content and engagement strategies that could set Google+ apart.

Overcoming Brand Awareness Gaps in Europe

In several European regions, Google+ lacked brand recognition compared to more mature social media platforms. Building awareness and trust within these markets was essential to attract and retain users.

Ensuring Regional Relevance & Cultural Fit

The diversity of European markets required a tailored approach that appealed to regional preferences. Localisation of content, language, and engagement strategies was essential to create a relevant user experience across Europe.

Transformation & Impact

Response

Appointed by AKQA, Google’s lead digital agency, Adeeb Khan, as Production Manager, orchestrated multiple high-impact, multi-channel digital ad campaigns aimed at driving engagement and adoption for Google+.

Strategy & Results

A comprehensive strategy was executed, prioritising mobile commerce, seamless loyalty programme integration, advanced data analytics, and a unified omnichannel experience to elevate customer engagement and drive digital growth.

Increased Platform Adoption & Engagement

Successfully drove awareness of Google+ through exclusive partnerships and content, attracting new users whilst increasing engagement on the platform.

Stakeholder Alignment

Built strong relationships with European Google marketing teams, managing cross-functional coordination, ensuring all campaign assets met Google’s agile and experimental culture.

Ad Localisation

Coordinated localisation across multiple languages, enhancing regional relevance whilst ensuring the campaign resonated with diverse European audiences, driving engagement and adoption.

Dynamic Ad Production

Delivered dynamic online ads using Adobe Flash and Google Sheets integration, streamlining ad production and ensuring efficient asset management across campaigns.

Production Efficiency

Introduced Agile Kanban processes to streamline project tracking and task prioritisation, significantly enhancing team collaboration and throughput.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

Managed a cross-functional team of 15 digital experts including User Experience, Content, Design, and Development.

A woman enjoying a relaxed moment on her couch, symbolising balance and harmony.

Competencies & Technologies

Skills & Expertise

Strategic, leadership and technical competencies applied to this engagement.

  • Compliance & Quality Management
    • Quality Assurance (QA)
  • Data & Insights
    • Data Analytics & Insights
  • Experience Design
    • A/B Testing
    • Feedback Loops
    • Interaction Design (IxD)
    • Prototyping & Wireframing
    • User Research
  • Operations & Process Optimisation
    • Agile Methodologies
    • Project Management
  • Sales & Marketing
    • Account Management
    • Content Marketing
    • Digital Marketing (SEO, Social Media, Email, PPC)
  • Strategy & Product Management
    • Go-To-Market Strategy
    • Performance Measurement & Analytics
    • Vendor Management
  • Technology
    • Front-End Frameworks
Platforms & Systems

Responsible platforms, systems, products, and technologies.

  • Adobe Flash
  • Atlassian Confluence
  • Atlassian Jira
  • Google Marketing Platform
  • Google Sheets

Conclusion

This engagement positioned Google+ as a credible contender in the social media landscape, achieving notable adoption and engagement through exclusive content partnerships and localised campaigns.

Leveraging streamlined production methodologies provided Google with the flexibility to experiment with varied executions, resulting in high-quality, engaging digital experiences that resonated with diverse European audiences.