Being Social #38 - Google+

Likely you've heard some buzz about Google+, which was recently released into a private beta (which means that someone needs to invite you to join it). What is it? Rowan wrote (near bottom of this blog post):

The people who told you "It's not like Facebook, it's like Twitter!" were wrong. It's not really like either. If you want to write a short update with a general blast, it's like Twitter. If you want to write a blogpost with a public audience, it's like a blog site. If you want to write a blogpost with a closed audience, it's like Livejournal. If you want to start an online conversation with only four participants it's like an e-mail thread. And if you want to build and share with discrete communities of people and interact with folks you know, it's like what Facebook *says* it is but isn't. There is no "it's like this and you're using it the wrong way," but that means there's a lot of flailing around to use it until *they* figure out a way to help people flail less initially. That's a developer's job, to help people use their stuff more effectively and efficiently, and that's what beta testers are for, to tell them ways they're succeeding and not succeeding at it.

Patrick Beja has constructed a graphic to explains how it differs from Facebook and Twitter (see). [8/1/2011: URL fixed]

Okay...so this is different. If you receive an invitation, how do you use Google+? Tips are multiplying on the Internet to help you answer that question and here are a few of them:

• Mashable: Google+: The Complete Guide
• Creative Web Biz: Google+ : Tips, Tools and Resources (4.5 min. video)
• CIO magazine: 10 Google+ Tips for Beginners
• PC World: 10 Google+ Tips for Beginners (slideshow)
• 5min: How to Tweak Your Google+ Profile (video)
• Janet Fouts: Google+ Tips and Tricks
• Geek.com: 1The Best Tips, Tricks & Add-Ons for Google+
• Webtrickz.com: 25 Google+ Tips to Enhance Your Google Plus Experience
• How to Geek: How to Migrate from Facebook to Google+
• Network World: 5 Google+ Tips for Advanced Users

One important aspect is your profile. In order to use Google+, you must create a profile and it must be public. If you already have a Google profile, that will be used by Google+. Be sure to review what is in your profile and remove anything that you do not want to be seen by everyone.

It is critical that you understand circles, which is how you organize your contacts and share information. Google does make it easy to organize and reorganize your contacts, so please learn how to do that. If you don't organize and use your circles well, you will not use Google+ well.

So what do I think of it? So far, I like it...although I must admit that I am still getting used to it. I definitely like the circles. I am thrilled that I don't have to add people to my circles just because they have added me to theirs. I am using it every day and am being alerted to useful information from my circles. The fact that it is helping me surface good information makes it worthwhile.

I do wish that I could create and share a circle. That feature would be useful for a project team or a class. This would be easier than having everyone create the same circle of contacts.

Will I stay with Google+? Yes and I'll figure out how to balance my activity there with Facebook, etc. I don't see it replacing another social network...at least not yet.

Comments? If you have a comment about this issue of Being Social, please email me or leave a comment in the blog. Thanks!

Look for the next issue of Being Social soon...

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