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  • 20 Ways to Improve Your Google+ Knowledge

    by Debbie Hemley / September 29, 2011

    social media toolsGoogle+ is rapidly evolving.

    If you're looking for easy ways to improve your knowledge and experience with this hot new social network, keep reading.

    The fast-paced development of Google+ has become a force to be reckoned with. Social media marketers and community managers will undoubtedly feel the pressure to keep up.

    In this post, I'll share 20 tips and resources to help you keep learning about Google+ and ways to enhance your user experience.

    #1: First things first: Get started with Google+

    On July 5, SME blogger Kristi Hines published one of the most comprehensive How to Get Started guides for Google+. The post has literally helped thousands of people get started on the platform and if you weren't an early adopter, it's not too late!

    This post will provide you with the basics you need to know to create your profile, add connections, create circles, tweak settings, set notifications, see a stream of updates from your connections, give a +1 to your favorite posts, send updates, chat with friends, get a feed from Sparks and access Google+ on your mobile device.

    sme google+ guide
    The essential, nuts-and-bolts guide to Google+.

    #2: Engage and learn

    Engage in the conversation about Google+ by searching for “Google Plus tips” on Twitter. Too many to read all at once? No problem, you can save the search and return to it a later time. When you're ready, pull down the “search” tab on your Twitter profile to access your saved search.

    google+ tips
    Search, save and retweet Google+ tips

    #3: Watch and learn

    Watch videos about Google+ on YouTube. The search illustrated below, for example, found 10,600 results for videos about Google+. Recent videos posted include Is Google+ Killing Anonymity?, Google+Games, The Google+Song,  Google+:The Potential of the Newest Social Network, Google+Invite links on Facebook.

    youtube google
    An abundance of Google+ videos can be found on YouTube.

    #4: Use Google+ Help

    Utilize Google+ Help and learn about Google+ from the people who created it.

    For example, how to upload and share photos, how to hang out, circles and privacy and keep up with what's new in Google+ with releases being made regularly.

    google+ project
    What do you want to learn about Google+?

    #5: Spark interest on Google+

    Set up a “Google+” Sparks on your Google+ account and see timely posts all about Google+.

    I found these interesting links on my “Google+” Spark. Sparks make it really easy to find what you're looking for: How Google+ will succeed and why you'll use it whether you want to or not, Google's Bradley Horowitz Discusses State of Google+ with Tim O'Reilly, The Sekrit Circles of Google+.

    google+ sparks
    Interested in Google+? Add it to your Sparks for easy access.

    #6: Become a voracious Google+ reader

    Keep up with newly released and forthcoming Google+ book titles on Amazon. You'll be pleasantly surprised to see that there are already a number of books available on Kindle and some slated to be released in paperback and hardcover this fall.

    google+ amazon
    Extra, extra! Read all about it!

    #7: Keep it simple

    Print out and share the Google+ Cheat Sheet to help you format posts, utilize hotkeys, know all about mentioning people in your posts, sending private messages and accessing permalinks.

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    google+ cheat sheet
    A must-have resource for Google+ users.

    #8: Become a Google+ insider

    Check out the G+ Insider's Guide for the latest news, tips and tricks on Google+. Currently there's a list of 13 how-to posts to “introduce you to hidden quirks.”

    Tools Resource Guide

    Looking for something to make your life easier?

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    google+insider
    A resource for Google+ how-to's.

    #9: Have an out-of-this-world Google+ experience

    Read Google+Planet to stay on top of new features. Posts include info about the new +1 button features and +snippets, hangouts now integrate with YouTube and an announcement about games coming to Google+.

    google+ planet
    The unofficial Google+ blog.

    #10: Become a savvy Google+ user

    Sign up to preview the latest updates to the Google+ platform before they are launched to the general public. If you're going to be the go-to person in your business for Google+, this will be an important sign-up for you.

    google+ platform preview
    Be among the first to preview Google+ updates.

    #11: Throw around a few figures and stats

    Stay abreast of Google+ Social Statistics.  You can see who the top 100 Google+ people are and even track your own Google+ statistics, search for people on Google+ and see a list of the hottest Google+ posts from the past 24 hours.

    google+ statistics
    A plethora of detailed statistics on Google+ users.

    #12: Be part of a Q & A

    Read the Google+ Q & As on Quora, including 11 best questions, 277 open questions, frequently asked questions and tips for marketing on Google+.

    quora-google+
    A great resource for curious Google+ users.

    #13: Show off your Google+ profile

    Promote your Google+ account by putting the Google+ Widget on your blog or website.

    google+ widget
    Install the Google+ Widget (user statistics are available within 48 hours).

    #14: Get Google+ Facebook

    Connect Google+ to Facebook by adding the Facebook Stream to your Google+ profile.

    google+ facebook
    See your Facebook stream inside Google+.

    #15: Use Mobile

    Get Google+ for Mobile. You can send a text message to your phone with a link and receive instructions on how to get started.

    google+ mobile
    Use Google+ on the go.

    #16: Use Google+ Tweet

    Integrate Twitter with Google+.

    google+ tweet
    View your timeline, URL shortening, photo sharing and more.

    #17: Become socially active on Google+

    Find Google+ Groups and submit your profile to a group. For example, you can find a group of social media marketers or social media smarties.

    groups-google+
    Expand your Google+ reach.

    #18: Find out who's who on Google+

    Find a selection of popular user-curated lists on Google+. You can search, find popular lists, create your own lists and see a hall of posters of some of the most followed Google+ members.

    counter google+
    Find new people on Google+.

    #19: Keep it short and friendly

    Make your Google+ URL short and friendly by shortening it on gplus.to. For example, before shortening my Google+ ID, it looked like this: http://plus.google.com/114279510179117392107/posts. After shortening, it appears this way: http://gplus.to/dhemley.

    #20: Here's a tip on Google+ for businesses

    Stay on top of the plans for Google+ for business profiles. Follow this important advice from Google's Christian Oestlien: Use a consumer profile of a real person at your company who is “willing to represent your organization on Google+ in the meantime until business profiles are rolled out.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4oafKRykUg
    Who will represent your business on Google+?

    Are you committed to incorporating Google+ into your social networking mix? What tips and resources can you add to this list? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

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    Tags: Google+

    About the authorDebbie Hemley

    Debbie Hemley is a freelance writer and social media coach. She helps businesses develop and maintain social media content strategies. Follow her on Twitter @dhemley & Facebook.
    Other posts by Debbie Hemley »

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