Google Tools: Google+ and Google Pages
From the website development industry perspective, it appears as though soon the internet may just be called the Googlenet. Google is all over the internet and, in some ways, is actually it; but so far, Google is a benevolent ruler in many ways. Luckily for us, it's in Google's best interest that your website and your business thrive online. This is good. :)
As I mentioned in my previous website blog, I'll be walking through eight Google offerings, but Google+ in itself is enough for today's article.
Google+
For most intents and purposes, this is Google's answer to Facebook. It represents the core of its social networking platform. Google is in the enviable position to look closely at Facebook's triumphs and losses and can learn from its own mistakes with Google Buzz. The idea is to make every Google product socially compatible. In other words, if you're using Gmail, Google Maps, Google Analytics, or Adwords you can sign in once to access them all, and they're all integrated.
- Google+ and Google Pages: Social networking pages specifically engineered for Brands and Businesses. Your clients and potential clients can comment on and share company posts, get involved in running conversation threads and you can get creative with all the other Google+ tools at your disposal.
- Circles: Here is where you can organize your contacts into groups. These circles of people are separate and exclusive. It's a nice way to avoid sharing personal things with potential clients and boring your friends with your sales efforts.
- Hangouts: Invite individuals or whole circles to face-to-face video chat. Anyone in the chat can invite their friends as well. Not quite ready for the large corporate conference, but quite handy for one-on-one conversations with clients, co-workers and relatives. Good bandwidth required.
- Huddle: This is a group chat that integrates with your phone chat network. It does require an iPhone or Android app download. Huddle allows you to keep track of those complex discussions and choreograph lunch meetings by getting ahold of colleagues as they are on the go, all through your established Google+ circles. You can also speak with up to 9 participants at a time.
- Sparks: This is for browser time when you just want to catch up on a topic, or get the quick info on a subject. Type in your interest topic in the search window at your Google+ home page then click Sparks to filter to Sparks only results. Google offers up all there is happening on the web concerning that topic within its network. Images, blogs, articles, events, and the like. I use this for researching my Blog topics and on Sunday Morning while enjoying a leisurely breakfast. Also, try out "What do you love": http://www.wdyl.com. This is what Sparks used to look like and is more broad spectrum. I'm not sure if this is to be shelved or still getting developed, but it's useful (although Google is not currently promoting it very much).
Is it something I should involve the company in?
Well it's off to a good start, has some interesting features, and has a long way to go to eclipse Facebook. Keep in mind, though, that with the millions of Google account users adopting and integrating, it's a good idea to get involved and add Google+ to your social networking efforts -- at the minimum with a Google Page for your business.
Bill Edmonson
Thermal Creative is a website development company in Bozeman Montana that specializes in helping businesses enhance their website performance through beautiful data driven design, superlative programming, user friendly content management systems (CMS), website marketing consulting (SEO and SEM) and email marketing.
