Google+ Improvements and Updates

If you’re a regular Google+ user, you’ve probably noticed that the social site has recently undergone a facelift.

In April, Google+ introduced a revamped navigation system, new features, a more visually oriented format, new profile pages, and a redesigned look for Google+ Hangouts.

Some important features have moved around, and all in all, the new look appears to be a bit simpler to use. The navigation tools for Home, Profile, Hangouts, Photos and More have shifted from the top of the home page to a convenient, clean, left hand toolbar. You can rearrange the order of these tools by clicking the icons, holding and dragging to the desired location (the exception to this is the Home icon, which is static at the top of the list). If you hover over the images, a list of related options appear, such as “Add Photos” when you hover over the Photos icon. You’ll notice the “Explore” icon, which is a new feature enabling users to check out the most popular/trending topics on Google+ (similar to Twitter Trends).

The new format emphasizes the visual. Images now appear larger in your newsfeed.  Each post in the newsfeed has a more distinct separation from the post that proceeds and follows it, which means that each post stands out a bit more, and the “photo bleed” feature seamlessly incorporates photos into posts that include visuals. Additionally, the new “Activity Drawer” (located right beneath the posts in your newsfeed) lists any and all “+1s,” shares and other activity related to each individual post.

There are also improvements for Google+ Hangouts (the social site’s multi-person video chat feature). Hangouts now has a separate home page, which includes a list of all Hangout invitations, popular Hangouts and other information. To access this page, click the “Hangouts” icon on the left hand toolbar.

ISM is on Google+! Find us here and be sure to follow our updates!

Google+ Brand Pages

As we mentioned in Blog Post #8 (our introduction to Google+), Google+ recently announced the launch of “brand pages.” These new brand pages are similar in function to Facebook’s fan pages, as Google+ users can add these organizations, brands and companies to their circles and can follow their updates.

Why should your brand or company join Google+? For one thing, it’s never a bad idea to keep up with the latest Google trend. After all, the search engine giant is estimated to process over one billion search requests every day. Additionally, adding your brand to as may social media sites as possible is a great way to improve your SEO (search engine optimization), as well as grab the attention of potential customers or clients who may be partial to one social media site over another.

Once you’ve got a Google+ personal page (refer back to Blog Post #8 for information on how to do this) or a Google account, setting up your brand page is simple. Visit www.google.com/+/business/ and follow the prompts to begin set-up.

You will need to choose a category for your business. Select this carefully, as it is difficult to change, once you have set up your page. You will have the choice of: Local Business or Place (appropriate for hotels, restaurants, stores or services), a Product or Brand (suitable for apparel, electronics, financial services), a Company, Institution or Organization (for non-profits, companies, etc.), Arts, Entertainment or Sports (for TV, music, athletes, books, films) or Other (if your business does not fit into any of the aforementioned categories).

Next, you will be prompted to enter some basic information about your business, such as name and website. You will be allowed to choose a sub-category for your brand, and you will get to add a tagline and photo. You are limited to 10 words for your tagline, so be selective! For the last step in the set-up process, you may announce your new brand page to your personal Google+ circles.

Once your page is set up, you can begin adding your connections to your “circles.” The default circles for your brand page include “Team Members,” “Customers,” and “VIPs.” Unfortunately, at the moment, there is no way to claim a “Vanity URL” (as per Facebook fan pages) for your brand page, so you will need to use the full link/URL to direct people to your page.

ISM is on Google+! Find us by searching “Instant Social Media” from your Google+ page or by visiting us at https://plus.google.com/106583857486747666915/posts.

What’s All This Buzz About Google+?

What is Google+? Essentially, Google+ is the search engine giant’s effort to develop a social network to rival Facebook. Google+ acts as a “personal profile” extension of your Google account, and closely interacts with other Google products such as gmail, Google docs, etc.

When first launched in June 2011, Google+ was only available through invites from current users. As of September, the social network is now available to the general public. Get your profile started today by logging into your Google account (or create one at www.gmail.com). Click on your email address in the upper right hand corner and click “Create Profile” to get started.

After you’ve filled out your information, your Google+ profile will appear in the left hand corner as “+Your Name” as soon as you sign in. (screen shot).

Google+ allows you to add a profile complete with photos, personal information, games and more. The main components include a Stream (a “newsfeed” type feature), Hangouts (video chatting), and the ability to group your connections into Circles according to your relationships (close friends, acquaintances, coworkers, etc.).

One of the main draws to this social network is that you can adjust your status updates (or “shares”) to apply exclusively to different circles. For example, you can direct certain updates towards your “coworkers” circle or only your “close friends” circle. While it is possible to create lists on Facebook that operate in a similar manner, it is a much more complicated process.

You may have heard about the recent launch of Google+ Brand Pages, comparable to Facebook’s fan pages, which was announced just last week. In future posts, we will go into greater detail about these new pages, so be sure to stay tuned.

Our thoughts?  Currently, there are about 40 million Google+ users (compared to FB’s 850+ million users). However, there is a great deal of debate about how many of these users are actually active on the network.  While Google+ does seem to offer some distinct advantages to other social media sites, it still seems to be too soon to tell. The true test will come in time, and will depend largely on their ability to keep up the momentum.

Social Media and Why Your Business Needs It

Welcome to Instant Social University, your go-to guide for all things social media! Class is officially in session. Consider this first post your “syllabus,” touching on the topics that we will be covering throughout the course of this blog.

Have you noticed the influx of “thumbs up” Facebook icons that have popped up everywhere lately? On your restaurant menus, at the grocery store, on local and national news stations, even in your attorney or realtor’s office? How many times have you heard the phrase “’Like’ us on Facebook!” or “Follow us on Twitter!” in the past several months? These are just a few signs of the pervasiveness of social media.

   

Social media has become much more than a mere fad amongst college students. It is a new way of communicating, socializing, and – more and more – conducting business.  Facebook now has over 870 million users, a staggering figure. This online community has enormous potential for your business, brand, and ultimately your bottom line. But to take advantage of all the benefits that Facebook and other social media sites have to offer, you’ve got to learn to walk before you can run.

In this blog, we will be covering the basics of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as how your business can utilize Foursquare, Yelp, YouTube, Google+, blogging, etc. We will also be providing updates on what’s new in the world of social media, the latest and greatest toys, gadgets and apps that will keep you connected, tricks of the trade, secrets on how to grow your Facebook & Twitter Fans and Followers, how to successfully manage an online Facebook ad campaign and more. ISU is your resource for how to get the ball rolling and for maximizing your social media efforts.

It wouldn’t be “Back to School” without homework, so take a few moments to answer these questions, or at least give them some thought:

• What is my business/team’s ultimate goal through social media? Do we want to simply increase brand recognition or create a community?

• Which social media sites am I most interested in? Which resources work best for my particular business/company?

• How much time am I willing to dedicate to my social media campaign? Do I need to hire a professional (like ISM) to handle it?

Make sure to check out this blog as well as our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/InstantSocialMediaCo. And feel free to ask us any questions via comment, post, or email stephanie@instantsocialmediaco.com. Our next post will deal with the basics of Facebook in “Facebook 101.” Until next week, class dismissed!