Google is extending its Indian connections to promote its social networking site, which has been popular significantly in the Indian social space. Its eagerness to get more people into Google+ might have met with an appropriate solution as it has planned to promote an upcoming movie Ra.One, featuring Bollywood actor and producer Shah Rukh Khan. This collaboration would help the duo mutually to get benefits out of it. The announcement for the same was made on Monday.
In a conference, the announcement was made by Google India head Rajan Anandan, who was accompanied by Shah Rukh Khan, that as a part of an agreement, the Bollywood actor would participate in live chats with fans on Google+. The agreement even will see Google promoting a special movie channel on YouTube, which seems to be an ‘only one of its kind’ feel for the Indian audience. The movie channel can be viewed here. On the collaborating front, the duo even have other links which relate to Google’s AdWords. Currently, Ra.One is being heavily advertised on Google’s AdWords channels.
Google had noted earlier that they would work hard on keeping Google+ ad-free, but this seems to be the right way out as they are promoting a movie on Google+ and not advertising it. In India, Shah Rukh Khan is a popular name and has a huge fan following. This promotional tool would definitely get many users to Google+ and the list could include a number of fans who have never ever been on Google+. This strategically is a move from Google, which keeps it clean and at the same time helps it build on interactive notes on a regular basis in the Indian social space.
Rajan Anandan, MD and Vice-President, Sales and Operations, Google India, with Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan
Another point to note here is that the movie, Ra.One has been heavily promoted on each and every social networking site, may it be Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Linkedin, Orkut and Picasa. When one looks out for updates on these social networking sites about this partnership, it could well help Google+ in getting more active users.
Heavy promotions in Bollywood have never resulted in a positive end, which might not be the main purpose for Google+ too. The main point for Google+ would be to earn active users out of it, which seems to be a possibility gain out of this strategy.
Google might find itself lucky yet again, as no Indian movie has even been advertised to such a great extent. For Bollywood even, it is a big moment. To compete with Facebook in India majorly, Google+ has put its best foot forward. The end result arising out of this collaboration is still to be known, but there is a possibility that it would favor Google+’s success in India.
Google has opted for a few strategies, targeting a huge user base as it has worked out its partnership with cricket and movies, which have been the most popular options to choose from. If these strategies don’t help Google, to get a number of active users, then there would be serious problems for Google to popularize Google+ in India.