What I'd like to talk about is brainstorming ideas on how to reach people that aren't in Google+ right now, or have tried it and left. Do we hit the streets and educate and 'convert' people one by one? Is it done by talking about Google+ on stages and to clients and in books? Is it accomplished via blogging and +1 buttons on our sites? Is it even important to get outsiders in our 'home'?
I would like to have an honest and intelligent discussion on how to entice new people into the platform. What is in it for us? (I can kind of speculate on what is in it for Google.)
There are plenty of amazing people in here for newbies to see & connect with once they are in – and if they take just a bit of time to care about those sorts of things.
I'm not going to play the gender card here (as some have suggested I have done in the past). Although I strongly feel that having a more equal gender balance in Google+ is good for the community as a whole, I won't say more women in Google+ – just more quality people.
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No some people just refuse to leave their garden of Facebook. Also I don't think we need huge amounts of people. Discussions is the best thing here. But Facebook is full of lots of stupid people that can't have rational discussions. I can have an intelligent thought provoking discussion about religion and politics here where on Facebook I would just be called a godless liberal. So honestly we don't need them if they don't want to be here.
Great topic, +Lynette Young. Why don't we let the converts tell their stories themselves? I am inviting +Muamer Mujevi? and +Goran Duški? to this discussion. They can tell what & who persuaded them to give Google+ another shot.
And then we can compile their stories into a nice Google+ post (or a neutral blog post) and make this the official testimonial post to share and to show other people.
I've stopped reposting G+ stuff on other services and instead, post a link to the original G+ post. I've brought over a dozen of my more-tech-literate FB friends that way. They start seeing the cool content I'm finding through my circles here and don't want to miss out.
one thing I've been doing (with little success so far, actually) is that if I have something I want to share elsewhere (like that book thingy) I link to my post for it – at least it gives g+ some more exposure…
One option I would like, against ghost town and no public posts – is a tab for comments. As we can click photos. I often click thru from an interesting comment and find No Public Posts. Dead end. Next.
if it was incorporated into how i communicate to friends then i think more would be on here… its a dam shame i cant attach my G+ profile to all my text messages i send then that would attract attention!
I am totally cool with a large majority of my Facebook friends staying there. The type of content they share is really quite the opposite of what you find on G+. On Facebook, they share such gems as "It's nice out!!" and "Getting my hair done". I appreciate that most of the content shared on Google is substantive.
I tried to get my FBers over here when G+ first came out, but most of them are the typical only-do-what-everyone-else-does, so they aren't joining G+ until all their friends do. LOL
I would just drop notes in those other social sites about how you spend most of your time over here now. Between that and the ever-present reminders of the +1 buttons all over, it'll happen with time. But then you have to eventually let in all the riffraff that leave those "quality" comments on Facebook.
Try to have your posts public, rather than limited. Make a circle or couple of circles for people not on G+ and every so often send interesting G+ posts to their email addresses.
quality is all that matters..
In my opinion, G+ has matured into a social network that is superior to Facebook and Twitter combined. It has the best of both, and more. So I think G+ just needs visibility. Talk about it, show it to friends, link to it whenever possible… once people start using it and discover the great features, I think they will be hooked.
I think google+ has a learning curve, once people understand how plus fits into how they use social, they will come.
Most people (avg sm user) don't want to bother. The issue (well sometimes an issue) is "routine". People fall in to various "routines". Breaking out of it would be a curse! lol It's those people that really wouldn't drive good conversation on this platform anyways. Hence they stick to what they know, based on routine alone.
I personally would rather converse with the artist, techy, innovative, and creative types. That is apart of who I am. Sure those types of people exist on Facebook and I'm connected with them, but they too have a presence on G+. So, if I had to walk the streets and sell the idea of a wonderful new social network called G+, I bet you 4 out of 10 would actually listen and 2 of the 4 would actually sign up. If all 10 were Android users, I think that brings the potential of up selling to 100% rate. 😉
By having a feature or someting that only google+ has and that everyone wants!
Hmm… That's a good question. I was one of those people who joined and then left because I felt like it was boring. The people I circled and interacted with were the same people I was following/friends with on Twitter and Facebook so it seemed redundant to be out here. But then my friend +Robert Muhlig introduced me to a circle of all new people and suddenly, I saw how great it was. So, I think the key is to circle up with interesting people (and then be interactive with them). Maybe G+ could take a page out of Pinterest's book where they automatically match you up with people. Not just a "suggested follow" list but actually put you in people's circles and put people in yours to start out with.
As for getting the word out there…I would say any avenue available. G+ posts, Facebook posts, blog posts, magazine articles, etc. Hearing from G+ users on why they love it and what they've done to make it a good experience would probably intrigue people who are on the fence.
When i write a article or post in forums and blogs i usually mention Google + when i talk about marketing analytics and link building. I compare the analytics of different social networks and give out the numbers in traffic they send to my site. I generally get more followers and more people to sign up for Google plus this way.
+Greg Brailsford same here in Belgium… If I asked my so called FB-friends to join G+ they all laugh because they think there is nobody/nothing on G+ ??
Maybe it's better this way… but still I keep hoping some of them will join this great social network !
If the agenda is to build the G+ user base, I'd suggest that all comprehensive approach is best using all the methods described. The magic of G+ Circles is "under communicated" outside the Google world (coming from a former and recent "outsider" who was interested but still didn't find a great deal of reference to said magic. 🙂
+Nadine Przyski I think Google wouldn't do that because the whole concept of circles is to mime the social circles we have in life; we put people in them, we don't find them as they are (and even in the case we do we need to be put there, we don't get to put ourselves there =P)
And not only Google is concerned about the power people have over their circles selection, it definitely doesn't want to do anything automatically for the user, specially something as intrusive as having the user follow people from the very beginning without an opt-in system. I can already smell headlines complaining about how disrespectful Google is =P
I'd say their approach up to now has been balanced and good, only if a little bit annoying after you've used it and don't wish to see it again: the suggestion part at the "explore" "aplication", once to the right of your stream.
Good! Where is the inside?
Unlike Facebook, there is no public forum to go to in order to introduce yourself. Many of us have lots of people circling us everyday. It's hard to get people once they are here to get engaging on others posts. All the "instructions" we share about how use G+ will only work if they actually see it. Sure they could search on Google itself for it, but when they come to a network they need to see it there.
Maybe similar to Myspace, maybe we need a first "friend" or page circled. Like a G+ tips page, and that way at least those people will see that in their stream. That way at the least they may be able to get that information (like search for this or that, circle someone–and when you do comment on their posts, view shared circles, etc). That page could also maybe show top shared circles of the day so they have a place to see them and get to look through people to add. I know this is kind of something G+ would have to do and not us, but it is the only thing I can think of.
I didn't mean Google should "manage" or "provide" circle membership or entice with new member circle control. I meant there is not enough information out there that clearly portrays the power and magic of circles once you're on board. Additionally, however, I'll add that some of my favorite connections in G+ thus far have come as a result of someone else sharing a circle with "us" and developing my own circles from there. 🙂
Public forum? Then I would say these are button-qualities. Mh, what's on the table?
One of the issues that I have uncovered is that most non-google plusser's, need an incentive to move away from another social network. For example, I am already on Facebook and Twitter, but I was thinking of joining Linkedin, so I don't have enough time to devote to anything new.
Innovation is the ultimate incentive over the long-haul and user control is an anchor. 🙂
That's a good point +Peterson Silva. I have noticed that G+ users tend to be sensitive about these things. Which is unfortunate because I think it would be a great help to newbies who don't have the benefit of friends who can introduce them into circles.
Google should sponsor a a top 10 "most shared" circles for different topics and suggest them to new users when they run through the tour.
When I started I was finding it mostly useless, then I added +Fraser Cain's science circle and +stephanie wanamaker's top engagers circles and it transformed the experience. If I had seen topic circles, capped out at 100-200 users each (500 is intimidating to a newbie), introduced right at the beginning I feel like it could have made a big difference.
Additionally, I've been fighting with some of my teacher friends to take advantage of hangouts for classroom exercises. If you can pull working scientists into a classroom to talk about their fields you not only expand the audience of G+, but show real value in the process.
+Andrew Eva that's why I keep circle sharing as I have gotten feedback that it was very useful and transformed their stream its all about who you circle here!
I so would love to help with this +Lynette Young I believe that G+ is a whole new world, and we may have to build a groundswell by getting out there and enticing one by one.. until we reach enough new users to make G+ growth go forward on its own momentum..
I value the friendships I have made here. As we have discussed before, those of us who met at the NYC HIRL and in all probability every other HIRL, have found that they related to one another with a level of trust that went deeper than one would expect at a first face to face meeting. Hangouts have allowed us to see the true faces of a host of people, we may never have met were it not for Google+
I have seen more charitable ventures begun, more thought provoking discussions, more honest discourse since I joined at the beginning of July.
I believe there are many many more like us who are looking for something more.. we just need to reach out.. ( I am after all the Eternal PollyAnna)
Google creates FREE products like: Google, Gmail and Docs. Google makes money to develop these through advertising. If you look at Google+ ads, instead of Facebook ads, you get more FREE products. If you like FREE stuff – share this post and join Google+.
posted to Facebook 5 minutes ago.
how?
Why not let one "hire" another one's browser! And a living memo amoeba with notebook on the desktop. Yeah, a book-style terminal!
umhhhhhhh
umhhhhhhh
umhhhhhhh
umhhhhhhh
i is good idea,need to be done insteps ,by invite,direct talk ,make affordable.
i is good idea,need to be done insteps ,by invite,direct talk ,make affordable.
i is good idea,need to be done insteps ,by invite,direct talk ,make affordable.
i is good idea,need to be done insteps ,by invite,direct talk ,make affordable.
Thank you +Visnja Zeljeznjak. I've decided to "nuke" this comment with everything I've got 🙂 Because, what you write on Google+ actually matters! What do I mean by that? Well, everything is indexed, because it's Google's. "Stuff" you write on Facebook is rarely quality content, so most of the time you don't even care if it's indexed, and it's not. Or do you? Well off course you do when you are promoting your business!
Now, I came running to Google Wave, I came running to Google+, I came running to Gmail on that famous April fools day. Google plus kind of cooled off. But than I started to put some discipline on my life, I don't spent time watching TV, but I spent an awful amount of time on Facebook. But why? Than I realized, people and content on Facebook most of the time makes me nausea. It's like eating at McDonalds three times a day. So I began my quest on a way out. I asked on Facebook if I should create another Facebook profile. Since I am a power user (I blog a lot, I am on Twitter, I am on Tumblr, I am on Linkedin and on Google+ (multiply that by 2 for my company) I didn't really want another Facebook profile.
And than 2 crucial tipping points happened. First I saw 3 very intelligent people whom I cared deeply were really active on Google+. +Visnja Zeljeznjak, +Muamer Mujevi? and +Sasha Matijasic. It seemed to me they really cared, and that they are actually writing and sharing some smart awesome content contrary to the "stuff" on Facebook. That got me really thinking. And just when I posted a few posts, and analyzing what to do, the second tipping point happened.
+Guy Kawasaki published What the plus. And when Kawasaki speaks, I listen. He is like the Porsche Panamera Turbo (Mrs Kawasaki will know what I am talking about). I read few of his books, watched few of his presentations, and follow him on few social networks :D. I listen.
Anyway, Kawasaki shared his ebook for free via Facebook. It was a Sunday morning, and I managed to download the book on my iPad while in bed. Suffice it to say I've read 60 pages before getting out of the bad, and that I wasn't planning on reading that book. Next thing you know, it's Sunday afternoon and I am in my office pimping my Google+ profile, editing about me, uploading photo to scrapbook, etc.
But here's what really blew my mind, and what Kawasaki reminded me, and I knew this all along, but forgot about it.
Before the social networks, when search engines were dying and Google kept growing SEO was a hot job. Maybe it still is. Back then, everybody including me, used to fantasize how great it would be if PEOPLE would vote on which page should be on top of the results page. There is no search ENGINE that can do a better job of arranging the order of SERP than 1 billion Internet users! Google just has to arrange what people are voting up! Google even tried that. For a time they put a little plus in the SERP and let people up vote what they think it's important, but it didn't work! Once you understand that Google+ (or to say their users) is reorganizing data and making it universally accessible (which is at THE CORE of Google) than you will understand why Google+ will win! Google is leaving the organizing to users instead of engines. Although it may not work well yet, long term, this is a huge win!
I know a lot of people are angry because Google is giving them local results. That's because they are thinking you are looking something to buy (and it's in Google's best interest), and a result for a shop on Antarctica won't help you, you need something next door.
It's a work in progress for Joe's sake! Do you remember what FB, Twttr, or Lnkd looked like 12 months after launching? We shouldn't focus on bringing the late adopters or laggards to the party. Bring more Kawasakies, Scobles, Vaynerchuks, Ferrisses. Early adopters, trend setters, opinion makers!
And like Kawasaki said in What the plus. Google owns the playing field and it can't tilt it. They have the biggest traffic in the world and it costs them nothing to shift it towards Google+. What do I mean by that? I am sure you know, but let me catch some keywords. Have you compared Facebook product "Fb photos" to Picasa? Fb videos with Youtube? Heck, Youtube gets 1 hour of video every second! How much would it cost Google to advertise its social network there? I am sure you searched something on Facebook, how did that work out for you? Google search takes 1 billion queries PER DAY, can you even imagine how much traffic that is? Can you imagine seeing a Google+ ad 1 billion times a day?
If a user is going mobile, since those are the trends according Apple, well, not a problem! Here's a whole platform that currently has the most users worldwide – Android. If you have a cheap and clunky smartphone, not a problem, you can still enjoy Google+.
And if that wasn't enough, all Google services are more and more connected each day. If you use Gmail, you will touch Google+. If you are watching movies on Youtube, or generally searching Google (and you are logged into your account) just +1 and sooner or later you will become a G+ user.
On the day Google launched Google+,they opened a champagne and celebrated. Friendster, My Space, _________ fill in the blank. Evolution.
Now that I am finished, I am calling this: Why I gave Google+ a second chance manifesto.
Thank you +Visnja Zeljeznjak. I've decided to "nuke" this comment with everything I've got 🙂 Because, what you write on Google+ actually matters! What do I mean by that? Well, everything is indexed, because it's Google's. "Stuff" you write on Facebook is rarely quality content, so most of the time you don't even care if it's indexed, and it's not. Or do you? Well off course you do when you are promoting your business!
Now, I came running to Google Wave, I came running to Google+, I came running to Gmail on that famous April fools day. Google plus kind of cooled off. But than I started to put some discipline on my life, I don't spent time watching TV, but I spent an awful amount of time on Facebook. But why? Than I realized, people and content on Facebook most of the time makes me nausea. It's like eating at McDonalds three times a day. So I began my quest on a way out. I asked on Facebook if I should create another Facebook profile. Since I am a power user (I blog a lot, I am on Twitter, I am on Tumblr, I am on Linkedin and on Google+ (multiply that by 2 for my company) I didn't really want another Facebook profile.
And than 2 crucial tipping points happened. First I saw 3 very intelligent people whom I cared deeply were really active on Google+. +Visnja Zeljeznjak, +Muamer Mujevi? and +Sasha Matijasic. It seemed to me they really cared, and that they are actually writing and sharing some smart awesome content contrary to the "stuff" on Facebook. That got me really thinking. And just when I posted a few posts, and analyzing what to do, the second tipping point happened.
+Guy Kawasaki published What the plus. And when Kawasaki speaks, I listen. He is like the Porsche Panamera Turbo (Mrs Kawasaki will know what I am talking about). I read few of his books, watched few of his presentations, and follow him on few social networks :D. I listen.
Anyway, Kawasaki shared his ebook for free via Facebook. It was a Sunday morning, and I managed to download the book on my iPad while in bed. Suffice it to say I've read 60 pages before getting out of the bad, and that I wasn't planning on reading that book. Next thing you know, it's Sunday afternoon and I am in my office pimping my Google+ profile, editing about me, uploading photo to scrapbook, etc.
But here's what really blew my mind, and what Kawasaki reminded me, and I knew this all along, but forgot about it.
Before the social networks, when search engines were dying and Google kept growing SEO was a hot job. Maybe it still is. Back then, everybody including me, used to fantasize how great it would be if PEOPLE would vote on which page should be on top of the results page. There is no search ENGINE that can do a better job of arranging the order of SERP than 1 billion Internet users! Google just has to arrange what people are voting up! Google even tried that. For a time they put a little plus in the SERP and let people up vote what they think it's important, but it didn't work! Once you understand that Google+ (or to say their users) is reorganizing data and making it universally accessible (which is at THE CORE of Google) than you will understand why Google+ will win! Google is leaving the organizing to users instead of engines. Although it may not work well yet, long term, this is a huge win!
I know a lot of people are angry because Google is giving them local results. That's because they are thinking you are looking something to buy (and it's in Google's best interest), and a result for a shop on Antarctica won't help you, you need something next door.
It's a work in progress for Joe's sake! Do you remember what FB, Twttr, or Lnkd looked like 12 months after launching? We shouldn't focus on bringing the late adopters or laggards to the party. Bring more Kawasakies, Scobles, Vaynerchuks, Ferrisses. Early adopters, trend setters, opinion makers!
And like Kawasaki said in What the plus. Google owns the playing field and it can't tilt it. They have the biggest traffic in the world and it costs them nothing to shift it towards Google+. What do I mean by that? I am sure you know, but let me catch some keywords. Have you compared Facebook product "Fb photos" to Picasa? Fb videos with Youtube? Heck, Youtube gets 1 hour of video every second! How much would it cost Google to advertise its social network there? I am sure you searched something on Facebook, how did that work out for you? Google search takes 1 billion queries PER DAY, can you even imagine how much traffic that is? Can you imagine seeing a Google+ ad 1 billion times a day?
If a user is going mobile, since those are the trends according Apple, well, not a problem! Here's a whole platform that currently has the most users worldwide – Android. If you have a cheap and clunky smartphone, not a problem, you can still enjoy Google+.
And if that wasn't enough, all Google services are more and more connected each day. If you use Gmail, you will touch Google+. If you are watching movies on Youtube, or generally searching Google (and you are logged into your account) just +1 and sooner or later you will become a G+ user.
On the day Google launched Google+,they opened a champagne and celebrated. Friendster, My Space, _________ fill in the blank. Evolution.
Now that I am finished, I am calling this: Why I gave Google+ a second chance manifesto.
Thank you +Visnja Zeljeznjak. I've decided to "nuke" this comment with everything I've got 🙂 Because, what you write on Google+ actually matters! What do I mean by that? Well, everything is indexed, because it's Google's. "Stuff" you write on Facebook is rarely quality content, so most of the time you don't even care if it's indexed, and it's not. Or do you? Well off course you do when you are promoting your business!
Now, I came running to Google Wave, I came running to Google+, I came running to Gmail on that famous April fools day. Google plus kind of cooled off. But than I started to put some discipline on my life, I don't spent time watching TV, but I spent an awful amount of time on Facebook. But why? Than I realized, people and content on Facebook most of the time makes me nausea. It's like eating at McDonalds three times a day. So I began my quest on a way out. I asked on Facebook if I should create another Facebook profile. Since I am a power user (I blog a lot, I am on Twitter, I am on Tumblr, I am on Linkedin and on Google+ (multiply that by 2 for my company) I didn't really want another Facebook profile.
And than 2 crucial tipping points happened. First I saw 3 very intelligent people whom I cared deeply were really active on Google+. +Visnja Zeljeznjak, +Muamer Mujevi? and +Sasha Matijasic. It seemed to me they really cared, and that they are actually writing and sharing some smart awesome content contrary to the "stuff" on Facebook. That got me really thinking. And just when I posted a few posts, and analyzing what to do, the second tipping point happened.
+Guy Kawasaki published What the plus. And when Kawasaki speaks, I listen. He is like the Porsche Panamera Turbo (Mrs Kawasaki will know what I am talking about). I read few of his books, watched few of his presentations, and follow him on few social networks :D. I listen.
Anyway, Kawasaki shared his ebook for free via Facebook. It was a Sunday morning, and I managed to download the book on my iPad while in bed. Suffice it to say I've read 60 pages before getting out of the bad, and that I wasn't planning on reading that book. Next thing you know, it's Sunday afternoon and I am in my office pimping my Google+ profile, editing about me, uploading photo to scrapbook, etc.
But here's what really blew my mind, and what Kawasaki reminded me, and I knew this all along, but forgot about it.
Before the social networks, when search engines were dying and Google kept growing SEO was a hot job. Maybe it still is. Back then, everybody including me, used to fantasize how great it would be if PEOPLE would vote on which page should be on top of the results page. There is no search ENGINE that can do a better job of arranging the order of SERP than 1 billion Internet users! Google just has to arrange what people are voting up! Google even tried that. For a time they put a little plus in the SERP and let people up vote what they think it's important, but it didn't work! Once you understand that Google+ (or to say their users) is reorganizing data and making it universally accessible (which is at THE CORE of Google) than you will understand why Google+ will win! Google is leaving the organizing to users instead of engines. Although it may not work well yet, long term, this is a huge win!
I know a lot of people are angry because Google is giving them local results. That's because they are thinking you are looking something to buy (and it's in Google's best interest), and a result for a shop on Antarctica won't help you, you need something next door.
It's a work in progress for Joe's sake! Do you remember what FB, Twttr, or Lnkd looked like 12 months after launching? We shouldn't focus on bringing the late adopters or laggards to the party. Bring more Kawasakies, Scobles, Vaynerchuks, Ferrisses. Early adopters, trend setters, opinion makers!
And like Kawasaki said in What the plus. Google owns the playing field and it can't tilt it. They have the biggest traffic in the world and it costs them nothing to shift it towards Google+. What do I mean by that? I am sure you know, but let me catch some keywords. Have you compared Facebook product "Fb photos" to Picasa? Fb videos with Youtube? Heck, Youtube gets 1 hour of video every second! How much would it cost Google to advertise its social network there? I am sure you searched something on Facebook, how did that work out for you? Google search takes 1 billion queries PER DAY, can you even imagine how much traffic that is? Can you imagine seeing a Google+ ad 1 billion times a day?
If a user is going mobile, since those are the trends according Apple, well, not a problem! Here's a whole platform that currently has the most users worldwide – Android. If you have a cheap and clunky smartphone, not a problem, you can still enjoy Google+.
And if that wasn't enough, all Google services are more and more connected each day. If you use Gmail, you will touch Google+. If you are watching movies on Youtube, or generally searching Google (and you are logged into your account) just +1 and sooner or later you will become a G+ user.
On the day Google launched Google+,they opened a champagne and celebrated. Friendster, My Space, _________ fill in the blank. Evolution.
Now that I am finished, I am calling this: Why I gave Google+ a second chance manifesto.
Thank you +Visnja Zeljeznjak. I've decided to "nuke" this comment with everything I've got 🙂 Because, what you write on Google+ actually matters! What do I mean by that? Well, everything is indexed, because it's Google's. "Stuff" you write on Facebook is rarely quality content, so most of the time you don't even care if it's indexed, and it's not. Or do you? Well off course you do when you are promoting your business!
Now, I came running to Google Wave, I came running to Google+, I came running to Gmail on that famous April fools day. Google plus kind of cooled off. But than I started to put some discipline on my life, I don't spent time watching TV, but I spent an awful amount of time on Facebook. But why? Than I realized, people and content on Facebook most of the time makes me nausea. It's like eating at McDonalds three times a day. So I began my quest on a way out. I asked on Facebook if I should create another Facebook profile. Since I am a power user (I blog a lot, I am on Twitter, I am on Tumblr, I am on Linkedin and on Google+ (multiply that by 2 for my company) I didn't really want another Facebook profile.
And than 2 crucial tipping points happened. First I saw 3 very intelligent people whom I cared deeply were really active on Google+. +Visnja Zeljeznjak, +Muamer Mujevi? and +Sasha Matijasic. It seemed to me they really cared, and that they are actually writing and sharing some smart awesome content contrary to the "stuff" on Facebook. That got me really thinking. And just when I posted a few posts, and analyzing what to do, the second tipping point happened.
+Guy Kawasaki published What the plus. And when Kawasaki speaks, I listen. He is like the Porsche Panamera Turbo (Mrs Kawasaki will know what I am talking about). I read few of his books, watched few of his presentations, and follow him on few social networks :D. I listen.
Anyway, Kawasaki shared his ebook for free via Facebook. It was a Sunday morning, and I managed to download the book on my iPad while in bed. Suffice it to say I've read 60 pages before getting out of the bad, and that I wasn't planning on reading that book. Next thing you know, it's Sunday afternoon and I am in my office pimping my Google+ profile, editing about me, uploading photo to scrapbook, etc.
But here's what really blew my mind, and what Kawasaki reminded me, and I knew this all along, but forgot about it.
Before the social networks, when search engines were dying and Google kept growing SEO was a hot job. Maybe it still is. Back then, everybody including me, used to fantasize how great it would be if PEOPLE would vote on which page should be on top of the results page. There is no search ENGINE that can do a better job of arranging the order of SERP than 1 billion Internet users! Google just has to arrange what people are voting up! Google even tried that. For a time they put a little plus in the SERP and let people up vote what they think it's important, but it didn't work! Once you understand that Google+ (or to say their users) is reorganizing data and making it universally accessible (which is at THE CORE of Google) than you will understand why Google+ will win! Google is leaving the organizing to users instead of engines. Although it may not work well yet, long term, this is a huge win!
I know a lot of people are angry because Google is giving them local results. That's because they are thinking you are looking something to buy (and it's in Google's best interest), and a result for a shop on Antarctica won't help you, you need something next door.
It's a work in progress for Joe's sake! Do you remember what FB, Twttr, or Lnkd looked like 12 months after launching? We shouldn't focus on bringing the late adopters or laggards to the party. Bring more Kawasakies, Scobles, Vaynerchuks, Ferrisses. Early adopters, trend setters, opinion makers!
And like Kawasaki said in What the plus. Google owns the playing field and it can't tilt it. They have the biggest traffic in the world and it costs them nothing to shift it towards Google+. What do I mean by that? I am sure you know, but let me catch some keywords. Have you compared Facebook product "Fb photos" to Picasa? Fb videos with Youtube? Heck, Youtube gets 1 hour of video every second! How much would it cost Google to advertise its social network there? I am sure you searched something on Facebook, how did that work out for you? Google search takes 1 billion queries PER DAY, can you even imagine how much traffic that is? Can you imagine seeing a Google+ ad 1 billion times a day?
If a user is going mobile, since those are the trends according Apple, well, not a problem! Here's a whole platform that currently has the most users worldwide – Android. If you have a cheap and clunky smartphone, not a problem, you can still enjoy Google+.
And if that wasn't enough, all Google services are more and more connected each day. If you use Gmail, you will touch Google+. If you are watching movies on Youtube, or generally searching Google (and you are logged into your account) just +1 and sooner or later you will become a G+ user.
On the day Google launched Google+,they opened a champagne and celebrated. Friendster, My Space, _________ fill in the blank. Evolution.
Now that I am finished, I am calling this: Why I gave Google+ a second chance manifesto.
Wow +Goran Duški? you really spoke your heart out. I'm sure +Lynette Young will not mind you giving praise to "What The Plus!" since she wrote a chapter of the very book 🙂
Wow +Goran Duški? you really spoke your heart out. I'm sure +Lynette Young will not mind you giving praise to "What The Plus!" since she wrote a chapter of the very book 🙂
Wow +Goran Duški? you really spoke your heart out. I'm sure +Lynette Young will not mind you giving praise to "What The Plus!" since she wrote a chapter of the very book 🙂
Wow +Goran Duški? you really spoke your heart out. I'm sure +Lynette Young will not mind you giving praise to "What The Plus!" since she wrote a chapter of the very book 🙂
Wow +Goran Duški? you really spoke your heart out. I'm sure +Lynette Young will not mind you giving praise to "What The Plus!" since she wrote a chapter of the very book 🙂
Oh yea, how woman should interact with Google+, that was great, I loved that! Especially the part how you should be careful when you use hangout (with camera).
Oh yea, how woman should interact with Google+, that was great, I loved that! Especially the part how you should be careful when you use hangout (with camera).
Oh yea, how woman should interact with Google+, that was great, I loved that! Especially the part how you should be careful when you use hangout (with camera).
Oh yea, how woman should interact with Google+, that was great, I loved that! Especially the part how you should be careful when you use hangout (with camera).
Oh yea, how woman should interact with Google+, that was great, I loved that! Especially the part how you should be careful when you use hangout (with camera).
Some great comments here both for and against. Personally I think there is room for both. As many have pointed out, the crowd is different. People are coming to Google + for different reasons and you can't find the same content on FB (i.e. "its snowing outside") I don't really want to have to sort through all the FB chatter to get to the goods I can find on here, even though I'm still a noob. Thanks +Lynette Young for starting this conversation !
I think hangouts could be a big part of that effort. Drawing people into conversations with external links and tweets of when said conversations are happening. I'm still trying to really find a spot in this community myself, but I agree with +Herb Butterfield , the crowd here is looking for something other than what the likes of Facebook offer. Sounds terribly elitist, but true none the less.
Show hangouts. I experienced my first and its awesome. Hangouts is a big part of what social sites should be like……its promise. Facebook is inferior to Google plus because of hangouts alone.
Great topic. In order for Google+ to really take off, I think 2 things have to happen:
1. G+ has to make it easier for non-techies/curious people to learn how it works. I liked the walk through, but most of my friends that join always end up having to ask me for help, and I have to end up writing some basic tips for almost every one of my friends.
2. We have to stop using other social media, period. It does no good if there is an amazing social networking site out there, (like, I believe, G+…) if we keep updating our status on FaceBook or Twitter.
Now, I'm not saying one should go delete every other site they use. There is certainly value in every website, in some form or another. But we have to stop thinking, "Oh, I'm so updating this as my status on FB." Or, "Oh, I'm going to tweet this!". I've had Google+ since beta, as I'm sure many of you have, and I was actually able to get a lot of my friends to join. But… the excitement died out. None of my friends update. I don't update. The only reason I'm back here and so excited about G+ again is the new layout they have. The ribbon is just gorgeous. And now that I'm here, I remember what I loved about it so much: the ability to mute posts, circles, hangouts, etc. Google+ will take over everything, because everyone uses YouTube, Google search, etc, it's just a matter of when, not if.
In the end, we have to let go of all these other sites and just jump with what we want to use. I don't understand this whole 'hoard every friend you've ever made over your life' idea, and that's what most people have. That's why people won't delete their FaceBook, no matter what. "Oh, I never check my FB, I just use it for family." How many times have you heard that before?
I've deleted FaceBook a countless number of times, but there are always people that just won't try something new. So I got mine again, and just put one status: "Here's my link to Google+, FaceBook is lame." And that's it. Besides friend requests, I won't even check it anymore. This ensures if there is anybody from my past that wants to keep in touch with me, they'll know where I am. Of course, I'd rather delete my FB in general, and Twitter, but I'm going to try to get a few more converts before I do.
I'm jumping late into the conversation. People are going to use what they feel comfortable using. For those who left, at least the ones I know, they felt like nobody wanted to really connect. Like there was all this talk about it being much more social over here, but when they tried to engage, they were ignored. So they gave up and went back to Facebook. I'm a huge advocate of G+ and I push it every change I get. Other feedback I've gotten was that not everyone is open or ready to do Hangouts and put faces with names. They felt it was too invasive.
Note these are not my opinions, just the feedback I've gotten. I've instead, tried the business approach. I present it as a way to not advertise but get to know people and the probability of conversion. I'm careful with whom I share this with because the last thing I want is to have every spammer and their momma coming here solely for business prowling.
I honestly don't know what I can do besides what I've been doing but I'm open.
I have been telling people that if they want to connect with me especially for business, google plus is a more serious platform. Those that have converted see google plus as an upgrade an adult version of Facebook. Personally I like the content of google plus. It still need a little work but it's perfect for the business and research crowd especially with the phone interface.
The key thing g+ allows is authorship..with linking your blogs and website to your g+ profile makes you an author according to google and this is seen prominent while some search google .
At the end … Google fills web with great contents
+Dileep G authorship is one of the 'hidden gems' I'm most excited about, but I don't think that non-business folks care about that.
+Dileep G authorship is one of the 'hidden gems' I'm most excited about, but I don't think that non-business folks care about that.
+Dileep G authorship is one of the 'hidden gems' I'm most excited about, but I don't think that non-business folks care about that.
Got Makowsky? billboards nationwide.
After thinking about this (and seriously pondering the idea of +Matt Makowsky billboards…) I feel the solution might rest with small & very large businesses. Matt's billboard idea wasn't too far off…. We see Google+ commercials already, but the social proof isn't when the company itself pushes a platform, it's when the businesses do.
Mainstream people first started hearing about Twitter and Facebook because news outlets such as +CNN International and +Nike put the logos on their marketing and interacted with their customers and viewers on the platforms. While it may be very difficult for me as an individual to persuade people to come here to hear what I have to say (that isn't published on any other media) – people have shown they are willing to follow their favorite brand or company — in exchange for value.
This value isn't always coupons or free stuff, but sometimes exclusivity or information (among a million other tricks the marketers have up their digital sleeves).
Solution? We need a good number of brave & forward thinking small & large businesses to take the plunge. WE are the people that work at these firms and own these companies. Sometimes our names don't carry much 'weight' – but our brands do.
g+ is a social networking site. All my friends are currently on facebook. I post something on fb and I get many comments and likes. I post something on g+ and I get crickets. If people want to do social networking, they are going to go where they can be social.
btw: I didn't find this post on g+. I found it when I found Lynette's blog when I googled "meme". +1
+Joe Gutel that's sort of crazy that you found me via "meme"! YIKES! I agree, if it's crickets, it's boring – but to jump in and start talk talk talk all the time seems self-serving.
I want to know what happens when all the friends and family everyone hates in the Facebook garden come over here and 'do things wrong'. This type of thinking is divisive, it certainly doesn't make it welcoming for men and women and gets a little creeper/cultish.
Oh, and, trending topics.
Excellent questions +Lynette Young. I would certainly love more people on G+ because it would mean deeper discussions, or at least more perspectives and interaction. However, rather than the amount of people, I much prefer the quality of people. I encourage everyone I know to join Google+, but the ones that often decide to do it are those that are tired of facebook or actually see the potential and uniqueness of Google+. But none join just because I talk them into it; they have their own incentives. With that said, the experience we have on Google+ is literally in our hands, we make what we want of it. Inviting "outsiders" into our "home" can't hurt our experience, only enhance it. So what's the harm of "converting"? The means of doing so will differ from person to person, but I find conversation and personal stories have been the most effective.
I deleted myself from facebook permanently – and so have a number
of my friends and family lately.
I think they're bleeding members in large numbers, and a lot of people may just be reverting to old fashioned emails.
I'm giving G+ a spin to see how it works…quality seems high.
I noticed a couple of articles in The Times (UK) over the past two or three weeks that point to people being unhappy the way spotify and pics tagged on one social media site broadcasts whatever you're reading watching listening to etc.on another.
Here our government wants new powers to snoop on us all!
Hope G+ keeps this invasion of privacy out of G+ – in this age of ubiquity serious consideration has to be given to some virtual
relative privacy being attainable, even desirable.
nice
The one advantage Facebook uses is marketing. They have others marketing for them. Google plus is a much better social platform but I don't see as much marketing. I am really excited about some of the features of google, all thats really needed is exposure. Facebook can't compete with google head to head, just market more.
I love how
I think we have to be careful not to think G+ or fb or wherever is the only space. Different peoples brains work differently and it seems that this is the main driver. It's what you personally get along with, I don't mean people but the methods of interaction. I have friends I have invited many times but they find it difficult to figure out so they stick to twitter and maybe fb. They in turn have invited me to their favourite spaces but sometimes I just don't get it quick enough and move on.