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The Google+ Project Is Here
Well, the Google+ Project is here (sort of – they’re rolling it out slowly to high influencers first) and I don’t know what to make of it.
Yes, this is different than +1, which was introduced publicly a few weeks ago. Yes, it (seemingly) is yet another thing you have to try to fit into your life. Yes, this is their answer to Facebook.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have a beta invitation. I’m looking at the same information as everyone else. But I have to say, I’m a bit overwhelmed.
There are five different projects within the whole: +Circles, +Sparks, +Hangouts, +Mobile, and +Huddle.
Ai yi yi!
The Breakdown
Circles
+Circles was announced (or leaked?) at South by Southwest this year and this is our first inkling of how it will actually work. It’s really the same as the lists you create in Facebook. You create circles of friends: Family, acquaintances, social media friends, business colleagues, etc. And you drop people into those circles based on the type of information you’d like them to have about you. Then you update them with information, at different times, that doesn’t go to everyone. For instance, I’m very careful about talking about my travel plans online. But I could update my family Circle really easily without fear that a stranger will see it.
Sparks
+Sparks is like the discussion groups of old. You type in a topic of something you love – cycling, food, wine, shoes – and then you share the information you’ve found. Other people, from around the world who share those same passions, can comment and create conversation around your topic. The +1 button is pretty prevalent in +Sparks; it’s used as the “like” button is on Facebook.
Hangouts
The idea behind +Hangouts is you can quickly “hang out” with people who, at that moment, are online. So, rather than scheduling a Skype call or a Facetime chat, you go into your Circles, see who is available and begin chatting on-screen. They use the word “bored” in their promotion; people who are bored can quickly find someone to chat with without having to schedule time.
Mobile
+Mobile is a way to share photos and videos, just like you do on Facebook. But you can share with people in your Circles or, with your permission, Google will upload them to a private cloud where people with similar interests can view them. It’s Facebook + Pinterest.
Huddle
+Huddle is group messaging that allows you to update everyone at once, if there are any changes. So think about evites with a way to update everyone at the last minute should it rain. Or if the location sucks. Or if there is an emergency. This is the most promising of all of the features; it’s not something you can easily do through Facebook.
What Does All of this Mean?
I think the biggest thing they’re saying here is: How you develop your networks is up to you. They’ll never create a new feature and give it to everyone, making you opt out. But it is another social network. Granted you have more control, but while it’s seemingly more private, it’s still Google and everything you say and do online lives on forever.
As soon as I get my beta invitation (if I get a beta invitation??), I’ll do the work to help you figure out if this is for you.
For now, though, it’s just coming soon.
P.S. I recommend watching the videos they have about each feature. You can find them by clicking here.
I didn't find google plus that user friendly at first, but it is getting better. It definitely takes some time to get used to. Thanks for the post that clarifies some things. The privacy measures seem tighter and easiet to use than facebook's and that's an advantage.
Hi Gini,
I have just started playing around with Google+, I received an invitation yesterday. So far, I haven't discovered much, but reading your post was actually the best thing that has happened to me after receiving the invitation. Finally, "everything" made sense :)
What I think is the best with Google+, at least so far, is that it seems to be more personal, and a lot easier to know who you are talking to.
Jens I got an invite right after I published this and, I agree, I haven't discovered much EXCEPT about 40 new email updates a day.
ginidietrich I'm with you. it's boring the heck out of me. I'll be offering my initial thoughts on Monday. Yep, i'll be putting a post up on a holiday.
ATTENTION! ATTENTION! I have Google+. If you would like an invite, either leave your email address here or DM it to me.
ginidietrich I'm in but not connected to you...sad world
IMO this is viable. Main FB issue is privacy which this gets. Add Google's reach and there is potential.
essencebc I agree. But do you see business value to it?
ginidietrich essencebc I keep seeing this question. If you ask a business value for Google. I say hell yes. If you say a business value for businesses, I would say probably yes and no. I bet Google will target ads better for traditional digital advertising which is really like 80% of Facebook's earnings so we would pay Google vs Facebook and probably have at least twice the click rate success since Facebook is half of Traditional Digital.
Second we don't share on facebook everything we would if we felt it was all private. Facebook just sees the surface of our life not really how we feel. Google kind of sees that already from us based on our web presence.
But since I still haven't see real success with Social Marketing via any of the Facebook tools like Brand pages, places etc I don't think it will be missed. Will Starbucks miss the 400 posts saying 'Love your latte' they get from their 20 mil fans and 200million + world wide customers? No you can't miss zero.
ginidietrich essencebc there is when you consider the true value of google which is its ability track you where ever you go on the web, add in the spice of social media, and now they can tell companies exactly what you do online!
So how do we get an invite?
Bojan They're rolling them out as they please. I'd guess the super high-powered tech geeks will get them first. I don't know how they'll determine who gets them next.
ginidietrich Bojan You have to have a Klout score of 53 to get an invite. I just got mine.
deleted_91832_Sean McGinnis HowieSPM Bojan Sigh...not true.
deleted_91832_Sean McGinnis ginidietrich Bojan Sean you forget usually the person making the least money has the time to lurk to give comments. Hmm...maybe that is a direct correlation why I make so little? Too much time here? But I am learning! And growing! And improving my acumen of some sort! Thanks to
As a small business owner I'm looking for the business use here and to be honest I'm just sighing at the weight of it all. Just masses of more stuff to try and deal with.
Exits stage left !
jonbuscall I don't see the business use, either. Only getting in there and using it will help us figure it out.
ginidietrich jonbuscall If I had my choice it would be a network with no business or consumer marketing (except banner ads) and I would love to pay $2-$5 a month to not have any ads at all. I view Facebook as my living room. I don't invite brands to sit on my couch though I might watch them on TV in exchange for content. So fingers crossed.
jonbuscall ginidietrich I think the talk about the business potential for G+ is all focusing on the immediate launch, but that's not when we're likely to see this take place. There are some of these, but I think the real benefits lie in the potential for the network. Consider the possibility of someone conducting a Google search for a brand or product and there, among the links, is an invitation to explore various public circles formed by the brand and/or its customers. That's one hypothetical example, but I'm sure there are plenty more that can be considered when one starts to contemplate what a social network connected to Google's ability to mine search data, consumer behavior, and multimedia can do. Remember, Google has the ability to built tight integration with other Google services such as Google Places, YouTube, Android phones and tablets, and more. The potential may not be immediately obvious, but I'd say it has more immediately recognizable potential than either Facebook or Twitter had at their public unveiling.
Conversation from Twitter
ginidietrich Mucho gracias!!
bizshrink It's hard to understand how Plus is going to work. But we'll figure it out!
ginidietrich Not sure i can handle one more piece of socmed ---- will go to beach and contemplate : )
bizshrink I don't think it's social media. I've been playing with it. Let's discuss when you get back from the beach.
jgoldsborough thanks for sharing the google+ information and generating the discussion
ginidietrich http://bit.ly/k4GpW6
NatSlavin I've been missing you!
CharPennyAnn We shall see!
_Susita_ We'll see what it does!
ginidietrich I love the circles thing. I hate facebook :/
_Susita_ I love Facebook...but I am definitely excited about Google Plus
essencebc Comments are out of control
ginidietrich i'm loving the debate. Good points on both sides. I may have to jump in!
KaseyCrabtree I will!
kellyecrane It's just SO MUCH in one launch.
ginidietrich I asked for an invite, cant wait to play with this, looks more interesting than wave did, and more fun than orkut was.
josefrivera We'll see...I'm curious too
jgoldsborough trchandler much appreciated! Your thoughts on Google+ in 140 characters? :)
LisaMDick trchandler Something to watch. But 750 mil and half U.S. pop are on FB. Ppl r significantly invested there. You?
jgoldsborough trchandler same thoughts on the personal investment. Not convinced its compelling enough to jump ship from fb.
LisaMDick jgoldsborough agree on investment factor but this sound like it could answer a few downsides of fb without replacing it
LisaMDick jgoldsborough Search is weak on fb. if ia vaguely remember a cool video Lisa shared 6 months ago it's difficult to find on fb
LisaMDick jgoldsborough if google+ solves that and with google being search experts, I have high hopes they will, it would be great
LisaMDick jgoldsborough also circles and hangout features sound better than fb groups and messages.
trchandler LisaMDick Absolutely. I think you are right if we look at Google+ as something ppl use in addition to FB, not instead of.
trchandler LisaMDick Potential is in search. Google has already begun releasing social search elements like Gmail friend reccos and +1.
trchandler LisaMDick No matter how many ppl use Google+, IMO social will impact search moving forward. Thoughts? http://bit.ly/hMH269
jgoldsborough LisaMDick social has ALWAYS impacted referrals. Search is very close to that function. #naturalfit
trchandler jgoldsborough agreed on all counts. Maybe fb will enhance its platform if certain Google+ features stand out as user faves.
trchandler jgoldsborough thought of our last convo on Google+ and thought this was a nice recap: http://t.co/HnD7fp2
kellyecrane Agree it's great ginidietrich is admitting being overwhelmed but that makes me feel I (mere mortal) will never get over that!
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