What is Google+ (Google Plus)
Google+ is a social network, like Facebook.But unlike Facebook, Google+ is a social network which is gaining millions of users, fast.
One of the major reasons for this is that Google+ provides much better social interactions, with great control over sharing of data and maintaining privacy.
Here's a great video on Google+
Why use Google+ (Google Plus)
Google+ has a clean user interface, and has very visible controls when it comes to sharing information - thru circles and 'Public' etc tagsGoogle+ also offers better control in sharing - you could share with only family, only friends, only colleagues and so on depending on the circles you create
Also apart from networking, what I've found is - your public posts in Google+ get indexed quickly, they are integrated seamlessly into Google search, and they get a good ranking too in search results.
So Google+ is also a good platform to talk about what you love, and to have your content reach people.
How do you signup for Google+ (Google Plus)
To signup and create a profile on google+, visit https://plus.google.com/(or on your cell phones visit google.com/+ in your mobile browser)
Even if you have a google account, a google profile, or a gmail account, you'll still need to signup for a google+ profile.
You can only create a personal profile on google+.
You cant create a business profile on google+. (To get your business on Google+, you create a Google+ Page)
Be advised that google wants you to use your real name for your google+ profile, and may take down your profile if they believe you are using a nickname.
Google Plus Circles
The problem with today's online services is
"We only want to connect with certain people at certain times, but online we hear from everyone all the time."
"Every online conversation (with over 100 "friends") is a public performance, so we often share less because of stage fright."
"We all define "friend" and "family" differently - in our own way, on our own terms - but we lose this nuance online."
- excerpt from the Official Google Blog
Google+ Circles helps you organize everyone according to your real-life social connections - say, 'family,' 'work friends,' 'music buddies,' and 'alumni'.
Then, you can share relevant content with the right people, and follow content posted by people you find interesting.
These hand-picked videos introduce you to, and provide a good overview and feel of Google+ Circles
1) Welcome to Google+ Watch this short video to learn what circles are and how you can use them to share with the right people.
2) Google+: Explore Circles Learn how Circles in Google+ can make sharing on the web a little more like sharing in real life.
3) Share Your Favorite Circles with Others You can now share copies of your favorite circles (like Photographers or Celebrities) with others on Google+.
"We only want to connect with certain people at certain times, but online we hear from everyone all the time."
"Every online conversation (with over 100 "friends") is a public performance, so we often share less because of stage fright."
"We all define "friend" and "family" differently - in our own way, on our own terms - but we lose this nuance online."
- excerpt from the Official Google Blog
Google+ Circles helps you organize everyone according to your real-life social connections - say, 'family,' 'work friends,' 'music buddies,' and 'alumni'.
Then, you can share relevant content with the right people, and follow content posted by people you find interesting.
These hand-picked videos introduce you to, and provide a good overview and feel of Google+ Circles
1) Welcome to Google+ Watch this short video to learn what circles are and how you can use them to share with the right people.
2) Google+: Explore Circles Learn how Circles in Google+ can make sharing on the web a little more like sharing in real life.
3) Share Your Favorite Circles with Others You can now share copies of your favorite circles (like Photographers or Celebrities) with others on Google+.
Google Plus Hangouts
Whether you're home or hitting the
streets with your mobile phone, Google+ Hangouts lets you bring up to 9
people into your world. The video hangouts are the next best thing to
everyone being there.
These hand-picked videos introduce you to, and provide a good overview and feel of Google+ Hangouts
1) Google+: Explore Hangouts Hang out with up to nine friends, in real-time video, from anywhere. Pop in and out as you want.
2) Google+: Hangouts Introduces Hangouts with a few thoughts on the spontaneous get-together.
3) Highlights from the Black Eyed Peas' Google+ Hangout Highlights from the Black Eyed Peas' Google+ Hangout during their live concert in Central Park on Sept 30th, 2011.
4) Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu hang out on Google+ The Inaugural Desmond Tutu Peace Lecture
5) Black Eyed Peas hanging out on Google+ Live from Central Park, New York, the Black Eyed Peas hang out on Google+ -- before, during and after their Concert 4 NYC.
These hand-picked videos introduce you to, and provide a good overview and feel of Google+ Hangouts
1) Google+: Explore Hangouts Hang out with up to nine friends, in real-time video, from anywhere. Pop in and out as you want.
2) Google+: Hangouts Introduces Hangouts with a few thoughts on the spontaneous get-together.
3) Highlights from the Black Eyed Peas' Google+ Hangout Highlights from the Black Eyed Peas' Google+ Hangout during their live concert in Central Park on Sept 30th, 2011.
4) Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu hang out on Google+ The Inaugural Desmond Tutu Peace Lecture
5) Black Eyed Peas hanging out on Google+ Live from Central Park, New York, the Black Eyed Peas hang out on Google+ -- before, during and after their Concert 4 NYC.
Google Plus Settings
Your Google+ Settings are located at https://plus.google.com/settings/plus
The settings enable you to change the language of your Google+ account, connect your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other profiles to your Google+ profile, download your Google+ content, and control every aspect of your Google+ account.
This hand-picked video provides a good overview of Google+ Settings
1) Google+: Explore Settings Learn how you can use settings in Google+ to manage who you share with and what you share.
The settings enable you to change the language of your Google+ account, connect your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other profiles to your Google+ profile, download your Google+ content, and control every aspect of your Google+ account.
This hand-picked video provides a good overview of Google+ Settings
1) Google+: Explore Settings Learn how you can use settings in Google+ to manage who you share with and what you share.
Google Plus Games
"Google Plus gives you control over where you see games, how you play them and with whom you share your experiences.
On the Games page you can see the latest game updates from your circles, browse the invites you've received and check out games that people you know have played recently.
The Games page is also where your game accomplishments will appear. So you can comfortably share your latest high score - your circles will only see the updates when they're interested in playing games too.
If you're not interested in games, it's easy to ignore them. Your stream will remain focused on conversations with the people you care about."
- excerpt from the Official Google Blog
These hand-picked videos introduce you to, and provide a good overview and feel of Google+ Games
1) Google+: Explore Games Learn more about games in Google+.
2) Games Post and Stream Improvements Games on Google+ now let you add comments to your games posts; the Games Stream updates in real-time; and keyboard shortcuts are now available.
On the Games page you can see the latest game updates from your circles, browse the invites you've received and check out games that people you know have played recently.
The Games page is also where your game accomplishments will appear. So you can comfortably share your latest high score - your circles will only see the updates when they're interested in playing games too.
If you're not interested in games, it's easy to ignore them. Your stream will remain focused on conversations with the people you care about."
- excerpt from the Official Google Blog
These hand-picked videos introduce you to, and provide a good overview and feel of Google+ Games
1) Google+: Explore Games Learn more about games in Google+.
2) Games Post and Stream Improvements Games on Google+ now let you add comments to your games posts; the Games Stream updates in real-time; and keyboard shortcuts are now available.
