I think it was about a month ago that I was invited to Google+.
Eager to join the new online phenomena, I quickly joined up and was a little confused by the layout of everything. I think a lot of people whose interests did not lie in IT or broadening their interactions with different forms of social media were put off, with a friend saying "I would use it if it looked more like Facebook".
And many others must have been thinking the same thing as sites such as this allow people to convert the Google+ layout to the Facebook one to make the transition easier.
Until very recently I have re-entered the Google+ website and tried to understand the different concepts, and have realised that it IS a WHOLE lot better than Facebook.
Google+'s sleek design
Using circles allows yo to follow people without requiring the acceptance from that certain someone. But circles also allows you to be selective about who gets to see what, a tool that is especially useful allowing for me to engage online in a manner that doesn't make me feel so restricted. On Facebook, before updating your status or posting up images, I usually consider who might see it. Family and work colleagues that are my friends on Facebook stop me from going all out when I want to state how I feel.
Adding people to certain circles, so I can pick and choose who can see what and who can't.
I still want to try out the Hangout function, got some friends on standby waiting for a free moment so we can try it out! Will update on that when I get the chance to do it!
So, have do you have Google+, and what do you think?
Follow me! Cause I'm awesome :)
I'm also wandering whether Google+ will offer the same ability for businesses to promote themselves online (like fan pages, but I guess in this scenario, members would just follow the particular business). Does anyone know?
RANDOM:
I was talking to my cousin who works at NextGen Networks, a provider of data services about a recent meeting she had with her elderly superiors. The topic? Introducing NextGen to the social networking websites to increase their exposure.
This situation was a clear portrayal of the digital immigrants and digital natives that reside in modern society. Especially when the 'wannabe' digital immigrants were clinging to every word of the digital native's words regarding their interaction with sites such as Facebook.
The funnier thing about this whole situation is that these superiors didn't want their customers to be interacting with them i.e. commenting on their Facebook fan page. They only wanted another route to communicate information to their customers. Which defeats the purpose of the whole situation...
Right?
August 2, 2011 at 10:01 PM
Tried to use it. But no! No invites means no trying.
Pity, I was curious.
August 2, 2011 at 10:25 PM
I'm quite fond of Google+ but then again that's only based on what I've been able to play around with. The fact that it's simple and easy to use, reminds me of the early Facebook days... without all the inbuilt games like Farmville and Cityville.
I am definitely sticking around on Google+ and I hope you do too Lynh!
August 3, 2011 at 10:55 AM
It's great to see a social network start from scratch and build up over the next few months... a wonderful "case study in action"!
There has been a lot of discussion online regarding Google+ and brands. Despite being told not to set up on G+ yet, some brands went ahead and did it, and their profiles were soon deleted (e.g. Ford). Apparently Google have said that "something" for brands is coming soon. What? We don't know yet! Read more here.
August 3, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Ooh, this makes me interested to try it. I've applied for an invite, so hopefully I will be able to soon.
As long as it has the same Photo features as Facebook, I'd be happy.
August 4, 2011 at 8:09 PM
I've only just read your "random" postscript tonight, after skimming over it the other day. You have raised a really important issue there, and I hope that you'll be able to cover it in more detail over the next few months.
It's a huge step for an organisation to open up the channels for two-way online communication. The process needs to be carefully managed, and there are actually dangers if it's not done right. More on this over coming weeks, and I hope to see you revisit this topic!
August 4, 2011 at 8:28 PM
Hey Wags!
I thought what my cousin said was really interesting and I hope to follow what they actually do. Whether her superiors are going to embrace the ability for their customers to interact them in a way that many of them may not be accustomed to.
I think that it is an important move to move one's business into the realm of social media. In a sense, they must have realised that they did not want to be left behind in the commercial world, but are trying desperately to comprehend the new media
August 4, 2011 at 8:36 PM
Sometimes the worst thing to do is to jump into SM without being properly prepared. Sometimes doing nothing is actually better than doing it badly.
September 7, 2011 at 5:59 PM
Hahaha... all I do on my Google+ is collect friends.
I do like that Google+ has pushed Facebook to evolve though.
Have you noticed in the status update section that there's now the option to share your status updates with either the public or friends only? There's even a custom option where you can hide your update from whoever you wish to.
I love it when service providers get competitive.
Will be sticking to Facebook for now cuz I'm a sheep and not enough people have moved over to the Google+.
September 7, 2011 at 6:02 PM
Also, I agree with Wags regarding the worst thing to do is to jump into SM without being properly prepared...
Can't imagine myself being impressed with a company that doesn't engage in my attempts to interact with them through social media.