Understanding Google+

Tips for Incoming Google+ Friends:

A guide to understanding what to expect of Google Plus, How to use it and Tips, Tricks and Resources to use it well.

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I wrote a post July 8th just over a week after Google+ I wrote it to help my friends.
Now I’m revisiting/revising it now that Google+ is Open To ALL

• Part 1: I have put a few expectations to have prior to starting
• Part 2: I have put step by step actions to get going
• Part 3: I have put tips and tricks
• Part 4: I have recapped the key principles
• Part 5: Lists of people to help you get going
• Part 6: Other write ups of interest

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EXPECTATIONS

Expect: to Think Different

It’s the same but different. It’s like Facebook… but it’s not.
So I say “think different”

Expect: Excitement

The excitement for me of Google+ is that it allows you to do “amazing things”.
“Amazing things” with what?
Well amazing thing with your interactions with PEOPLE and INFORMATION.

Read about some of the amazing things below, but don’t limit yourself to simply what I say.

Expect: Changes and Commitment

It’s new, it’s growing and the company is incredibly committed to hearing feedback and improving. So expect amazingly new changes.
You know what’s nice… I have never heard someone say they didn’t like a new change.

What we love about their changes are that they seemed influenced by desire for what’s best for the user and not what makes the most money. (Cough… FB… Cough)

Expect: NO “Wall”

There is no wall like facebook.

There is only Posts and Comments on Posts.

You are in control of what shows up on your profile.

Expect: Control

Control in what you share and what you read.
Control of your posts, your comments, your notifications.

You can write a post to:

• • One person
  • A group of people (circle)
  • All of your circles
  • Or the whole world (Public)

Expect: An “INTEREST Network”

The power early on of Google+ has been in it’s ability to attract people of same interests to have meaningful interaction with eachother.
You can see this powerfully in the photography community.

But of course it can still be used to simply communicate life aspects like facebook and twitter. This will continue to grow as more people join, it’s not the primary usage at this present time.
People of similar interests are the most likely to use more often.

Expect: Varied levels of interaction

The gist: Some will be silent – Some will be vocal

To expand

In every form of social interaction (online or not) people interact at different levels of frequency.
Each form has different frequencies from every person. Email exchanges, Phone calls, Personal Visit, Post-Mail, Facebook, Twitter etc.

A great proportion of FB users will rarely write anything on FB and use it to check up on people from time to time.
Many will use any of the forms previously stated only on a need to use frequency. “I’ll call/email when I see a need”

On the other side there are some who post more… because they thrive on interaction and/or they love sharing information be it of personal/connection nature or an educational nature.

Many are used to the FB quality interaction and have created profiles, but are waiting to make the switch when a critical mass has moved.
A great proportion of social media users

So you might connect with many on Google+ that will be silent for now… and others (like me) that say a lot.

What level of interaction will you be?
Pick any… it’s OK.

Expect: To Produce and To Consume

It’s information… some people produce and share information and others Consume it.
Those who get the most joy and benefit do BOTH.

Expect: People you don’t know to follow you

Does this mean you have to share anything or say anything to them? NO… You decide.

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The STEPS

Simplified (Later more detailed)

HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE… On GOOGLE+

1. Fill out your About section… list all those things you are interested in AND that you might talk about on Google+
2. Write a post … make it PUBLIC (if you’re wanting people from the public interacting with you). Talk about your interests and show your personality. (All business, fun, funny)
3. (For photographers) Post some pictures… be you beginner photographer or long-time-full-time photographer.
4. Follow the people you know
5. Follow the people that inspire you in your interests
6. Comment on, +1 and Share Other people’s interesting posts
7. Keep doing steps 2-6

DETAILED

JOIN

Just join… no more invites needed… go to http://plus.google.com

Make CIRCLES

Think about how you’ll interact because everyone you interact with will fit into some role with you.
Make a circle for every group of people. Do this first.

Here are some Circle Ideas (examples):

• • Friends
  • Family
  • Photographers
  • Utah Photographers
  • Located in Salt Lake City
  • LDS
  • Politics
  • High-school Friends
  • Co-Workers
  • Cute Girls
  • Wedding photographers named Jarvie
  • Basically any INTEREST you have… make a circle. Make a circle for locations. Groups of friends from different aspects of life.

DECIDE

Decide if you’re going to talk to the world or just your friends

Of course you can talk to directed at only your friends at any point even if you say stuff to the world (”Public”)
If you decide to talk to the world expect that the world will follow you back. (This means people you don’t know)

If you never say anything public no one you don’t know will ever hear you.

Both options are fine… now you decide.

ABOUT/INFO

Fill out your info.
Specially the about section.

If you’re interested in connecting with people you don’t know yet … filling this section is a Must. (Not filled and no one will follow)

I suggest you write what you’re about and what interests are most compelling to you.
People will know what interests and connections you both have in common.

Write a Post

You can decide to just listen to others but if you’re interested in others following you then you Must write a post… this tells people that you are going to be part of the community and interact.
It’s OK if all you want to do is listen and not talk

Follow Others

Follow your friends at any time.

Follow people in the community that surround your interests/circles later.

You can follow your friends earlier on in the process because they know who you are.
But if you’d like to network with other people you really should wait to add them until AFTER you write a post or two and fill out your about section.
That way these people know you’re the type that will interact

Get a VideoCam and Mic

You’re just going to have to trust be that the Hangouts technology will change the world. That we are just starting to see all the possibilities that are to come.
I would wax long and eloquently on the subject, but I’ll just ask for your faith.

Note: Many laptops have a built in Mic. (I personally suggest the logitech c910 – it doubles as a mic too)

Come Back

There’s something to be said for consistency. And hopefully you see the benefit and make the trips back. Because then you’ll get more value from the system.

You only get what you put into it.

Follow me:

Because everyone needs a great Wedding/Portrait Photographer (And Photo Teacher) in their network of friends.  CLICK

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TRICKS and Random TIPS

Notification: The red box on the top rt corner tells you something has happened. You’ve been notified = Notification Box.

+1 : It’s simple, it’s how you say I “LIKE” or I’m listening

MUTE: You can comment on something and then be notified with each successive interaction or you can mute it.

EDITS: You can edit and re-edit posts … you no longer have to simply say whoops… my bad. Fix it.

POST CONTROLS: Edit posts, Edit Comments, Disable Sharing, Disable Comments, Remove Commentary

Text Controls: *Bold using asterix*  & _Italics using underline_

Email Control: You can stop or filter the email that comes your way when people share or comment. (So no complaining)

PICTURES: They look amazing here. Make folders and upload pictures. It’s great!

Join a Hangout: Look on your news feed for “Join this Hangout”

Go Mobile: Download mobile aps on iPhone and Android.

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KEY PRINCIPLES

Invest

You have to make an investment to reap a reward.

Communicate

The desire and need to share information with others has not changed… the methods of exchanging that info has.

Trust

Your friends are not all there yet… but then again wherever you’re communicating right now they’re not there either… and even if it appears that way They are not all listening.

Trust that people believe in this system so passionately and it is backed by such talented people that it will continue to grow by leaps and bounds.

Connect

A party is not a party if you want to sit there by yourself.

Don’t complain if nothing is happening if all you choose to follow are 20 people that are boring and do absolutely nothing. (Make sure to find interesting people)

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LISTS

You need to follow people.

Beyond finding your friends, I can help you if you’re interested in Photography.

Find lists of photographers here and there and everywhere and mostly on Group.As

But if you’re like me you’ll like there:

LIST 1: (Interaction)

Follow this cast of users that are the most involved in the photography community.

LIST of Photography Interaction Community

It is not an insight into how good their photography is but how prone they are to interact with other users on Google+

LIST 2: (Utah)

Are you in Utah and a photographer?

Photographers in Utah List

LIST 3: (Full Time Photogs)

Do you aspire to do photography full time?

Follow a list of those that have done just that

Full-Time Photographers list

List 4: (Vetted by Jarek)

Whow are the really talented people posting stuff.

Well you’ll have to wait until my list is done.

But until then I am very fond of a very popular list vetted by Jarek Klimeck

165 Users Google+ Photographers Need To Follow

List 5: (Most Followed)

Here’s a list of the most followed photographers on Google+

List 6: (Me)

My shortcut link: http://jarviedigital.com/plus

I fancy myself helpful and interesting.

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Other Documents

A better guide to guide than I could come up with by +Paul Allen
“Welcome new Google+ Users!”

For photographers learn all about using Google+ with photography and the photography community in mind by +colby brown

Google+: The Survival Guide for a Photographer’s Paradise