I was originally gonna write the next installment in the business blog post types series, but then Google+ happened.
And the whole damn interwebz blowed up.
Nobody can shut up about Google+, it seems.
And right now, you’re probably wondering if you should get into it or not, and if so, to what degree.
Because, you know, you have all this free time with nothing better to do.
Another Social Network to Suck Away My Time? SERIOUSLY?
That’s the first thing I thought when I heard about Google+ (like we all didn’t know something was coming). I get invites to social networks all the time. All these new business networking or referral sites. For example, I keep getting invites from somebody for something called KILTR. Seriously? Sorry, but no.
Referral Key is a huge waste of time. It’s like they said, “Hey, let’s create a client referral network that completely ignores how actual word-of-mouth person-to-person recommendations work. In fact, let’s just make it into a bribery network!” I canceled my account there.
There are just way more social networks than anybody could ever have time for or care about. You want to be on the ones where your clients are, foremost, and secondarily where your peers are.
Buh-bye Now!
And there are social networks that come… and go. Plurk? Does anyone even use Plurk anymore? I mean, it’s still there, and clearly there are people on it, but Plurk doesn’t even rate against the big ones like Facebook or Twitter. That’s not to say it isn’t valuable to some, but I’ll never get back the time I put into it when I don’t use it, anymore.
And there is Google’s incredible track record of miserable, embarrassing failure with all things social.
On top of all that, you feel like you barely have time to manage social media marketing as it is.
And now there is insane buzz around Google+ and you feel pressured to join it.
There’s a Reason for the Buzz
There is a very good reason for all the buzz around Google+: it’s awesome.
Think about all the things you like about Facebook and Twitter:
- Lists and groups of people
- Easy sharing of content
- Easy posting of your thoughts in a variety of media
- Everybody you know is one or the other or both
Think about all the things you don’t like about Facebook and Twitter:
- Labyrinthine, circular navigation (both)
- Limited features (Twitter)
- Too many features (Facebook)
- Privacy concerns (Facebook)
- Wants to just be the whole damn internet for you like AOL once did (Facebook)
- Spam (both, but mostly Twitter)
Now, imagine all the things you like, without the things you don’t, and that’s Google+.
Here’s What I Love about Google+
It works beautifully
The user interface design of Google+ is amazing. Stuff just works, and it works well. The navigation is clear and uncluttered. The functional elements are clear. You know what you can do and where.
Here’s an example of the little things that make a big difference: if you mouse over a person’s little info box in the Circles feature (Circles are like groups or lists), you can tell if they’ve already been added to a circle and which one because it will get a blue glow around its border. This is an important information need, met in an elegant, simple way.
By default you have preexisting circles you can add people to called Friends and Acquaintances. I really like that. Not everyone I interact with is truly my friend, no matter how much we may like and respect each other. The truth is that most of the people you deal with online are not your friends, they’re acquaintances. Google+ understands this and bakes it into the product.
When I hover over a person’s name in the Suggestions area (people I know–or may know–whom I haven’t yet added to a Circle), a menu appears letting me choose a Circle for them. Such a graceful and perfect feature.
Much thought has gone into anticipating user needs and meeting them in the easiest, most intuitive way possible.
It looks beautiful
Holy crap, somebody at Google woke up on the design side of the bed!
Google+ looks fantastic. It embodies that maxim that good design is what you have when you have removed all unnecessary elements. Google+ is supremely functional and utilitarian with a zen sparseness. There is no clutter. I happen to like the colors (coral is big this year, and it seems somebody at Google knows this).
Even better, the new look is being rolled out to Google Calendar and Gmail, for a unified experience. You already have the new look in your Google Calendar and you can turn on the new look in your Gmail by choosing that theme from your Gmail settings.
Everybody is On It (Or Soon Will Be)
Google actually has a chance with Google+. One important reason for that is the massive number of people who have Google accounts. Another is because Google is implementing a common top framed toolbar across their services. This toolbar features built-in Google+ integration (which, by the way, also works beautifully for catching up on your notices).
Check out the toolbar in my Gmail below:
I’ve circled the links that opens Google+ in the new tab (leftmost) and the notification area (right). To recap: massive numbers of Google accounts plus integrated toolbar equals “everybody is using it.”
No Stupid Games
Google+ has no disgruntled avians, no poking, no “can I bug you with stupid shit, huh? Please? Huh, can I?” apps.
No stupid games. No taking the time to refuse and block stupid games, because there just aren’t any in the first place.
What a breath of fresh air that is.
Annoyances
All is not flower petals and sparkles. There are a couple things about Google+ that bug me.
- No private messaging capability (everything is really public with the exception of private and limited Picasa photo albums)
- No way to currently send an invite to a single person
I understand there are crazy workarounds for these things, but they’re too much work to bother with. It’s easier for me to just remain mildly annoyed. We already have killer private messaging: it’s called Email (or in this case, Gmail).
I’m Off to Delete My Facebook Account
Just kidding. 
I don’t say this lightly, because I hate just about every social network there is except Twitter (ironic, I know, considering what I do for a living, but at least you know I haven’t “drunk the Kool-Aide”), but I really think you should give Google+ a try.
If you can get in, that is.
You’re probably spending too much time on Facebook, anyway.
Michael – great summary here (very smart observations). The amazing thing about Google+ is the potential. I’d bet my life that they have apps on deck like Calendar, Groups and Docs, but have held back so as not to scare people with too many features.
I’ve found myself saying “shit, I haven’t been on Facebook today…” because Google Plus is so damned useful and fascinating.
I hate being on Facebook directly. I prefer to post to it from HootSuite. I
enjoy being in Google+ because it’s so well designed. Thanks for sharing
your thoughts. I don’t doubt there is much waiting in the wings. Mashable
has already broken the news that Blogger and Picasa will be rebranded as
Google products.
Thanks man I’m glad you appreciate it. Although I joke about it in the post,
I’m seriously considering getting rid of Facebook. But if I do, it won’t be
until a bit later after we’ve had a chance to see how G+ is with more people
and features on it.
Weird… sorry for the double reply. Disqus comments in my email are ordered funny.
Michael,
Where is your Google+1 share button? I’m on overload with all this social media. G+1 seems nice and simple!
It’s coming! Along with a few other tweaks.
I agree with you completely, Michael. After a couple of poor attempts at finding a niche in the social game, I think G+ is a potential home-run.
My only reservation at this point is that most of us in there right now are of a “geeky” bent, and are probably more intent upon critiquing, tweeking and geeking than may be the case after it opens to the general public.
The gTeam, however, gets a tip o’ my sombrero for a helluva job!
Google Wave was to social media what Apple’s Newton was to portable computing. My feeling is that G+ is Google’s iPad.
Hey Michael,
I was waiting for a former Google skeptic’s point of view on Google+. Nice that it came from you. I recall a few years back when you degooglified (yes, I’m positive that’s a word) for a while. As I’m not as high on the Big G’s totem pole, I’m eager to check it out when the buzz-building is over and the common man can wade in. But your enthusiastic review does make me anxious.
Yes I have embraced the Google Overlords. No, there is no control chip
implanted in the base of my skull.
At least, not that I know of…
Hey Michael,
I was waiting for a former Google skeptic’s point of view on Google+. Nice that it came from you. I recall a few years back when you degooglified (yes, I’m positive that’s a word) for a while. As I’m not as high on the Big G’s totem pole, I’m eager to check it out when the buzz-building is over and the common man can wade in. But your enthusiastic review does make me anxious.
You just wrote this to taunt me, I’m convinced lol. I STILL can’t get in. Someone, SOMEWHERE warned the Googles I was coming!
The Googles.
LOL.
Hey Michael, thanks so much for your comprehensive review of Google+, warts and all. Since this topic exploded just days ago I’ve been trying to get a grasp of what it’s about. Only select few get into the beta testing. Any idea when it will go live? Wonder whether Zuckerberg is crapping his pants, though I heard on biz news last night that FB is integrating Skype.
Funny enough Zuckerberg has an account and is the number one followed
(circled? encircled? lol) person on Google+!
It will be open to the public within 6 weeks but people are getting in
quickly.
The best strategy is to be in the midst of your enemy
Not sure how people are getting in. I was asked to provide my email address for future notification. Pricks.
Any thoughts on any potential impact on LinkedIn, whose share price has been bouncing around a bit since its IPO.
Good question, and one I’m not sure I have anything meaningful for an
answer. LinkedIn’s saving grace is that it’s career-focused and has unique
features to that end. Down the road with Google+ who knows what will be
possible if there is an API.
I love that Google+ has the potential to truly be an all-in-one social media site for me. It makes it ridiculously easy to separate personal from professional. I know Facebook has the lists feature, but I could never find the time to go back and sort all 300+ people into lists.
My first suggestion for Google is to flash a huge “Do you want to sound like a sanctimonious twit?” pop-up whenever somebody ends their status with “Post this as your status if you think that it’s wrong to torture dogs while listening to Justin Beiber and tossing lit cigarette butts into dried grass and peeing on the grave of your mother”.
LOL! Interestingly, if you share something publicly which was originally
shared by someone else to a limited group, it DOES warn you. It says
something like “This person originally shared this with a limited group of
people. Are you sure you want to share this publicly? Be considerate about
what you choose to share.” Or something like that.
Easy to avoid Google+, just have a Google Apps account (because Google Apps accounts can’t have profiles, even when you use account switching).
Not sure how your comment is relevant. We’re not talking about avoiding
Google+.
Well, I am using plus for about two days and I am really impressed. So far no spam (or not that I have encountered). No invitations to join groups, no game requested and all those teeny stuff. I like the design, and clutter free interface that works perfect. Saves me lots of clicks too!
I did not login to FB for more than 24 hrs after plus. Ah!
That’s exactly the kind of thing that should make Facebook nervous. I do not
think Google+ will become more popular than Facebook, however.
Just watched my nightly biz show. A piece on Google+. A Canadian who developed an app to allow Facebook contacts to be transferred to Google+ had 70,000 downloads until FB caught wind of it and blocked it. Zuckerberg. What a suck!
Yeah you’d think he woulda used it himself to import his own Facebook
friends into his Google+ account!
Beautiful!
Apparently Google+ is doing some telemarketing for their new product as well. I was left a message from them but haven’t replied. Has anyone else gotten this phone call? I would like some feedback because I heard there were some scams already.
Whenever something new comes out the scammers come out too and try to
hoodwink people who don’t know any better. I certainly haven’t received any
calls from Google. If Google were going to call, it would be automated
entirely. The only way you get a live person on the phone at Google is to be
friends with someone who works there or spend at least 5 figures a month on
AdWords.
I liked all you said about the new Google+, and I amay give it a try because I need to expose my art. I do think I am a bit of a babe in the ewoods to be taking on one more system to learn. Maybe it will be good though, will never know unless I try. Like the old saying goes, “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. Thanks for the input. Well, well, another e adventure!
There is something to be said for getting in on the ground floor of
something new. Later, when everybody else “discovers” it, you’re already
popular and well-established.
I liked all you said about the new Google+, and I amay give it a try because I need to expose my art. I do think I am a bit of a babe in the ewoods to be taking on one more system to learn. Maybe it will be good though, will never know unless I try. Like the old saying goes, “nothing ventured, nothing gained”. Thanks for the input. Well, well, another e adventure!
[...] still true. Don’t waste your time yet unless it’s your job to be an early adopter. As Michael Martine wrote on his blog,”Another Social Network to Suck Away My Time? SERIOUSLY?” joining the [...]
Google+ in a nutshell…
With all the publicity that is out there right now about Google+ – its being cited as “the new Facebook” – I was going to write about it and then I got an email that did exactly that. So, here’s a great article from Micha…
Interesting take on it. I’m very dubious, and need to be convinved. (though i still reckon facebook is a fad, so what do i know!!!)
The whole damn internet is just a fad! Soon, it will all be over. After the
robot uprising and apocalypse.
I haven’t heard of Google+ yet, I’ll have to check it out…Thanks for sharing the info!
You’re welcome!
Thanks so much for sharing that information and link!
To tell you the true, Michael, I’m not too fond of any of the social media nonsense. It makes what a person does on the Internet shallow and defaces all the work people do to make money making the whole thing a popularity contest. Going to the social medias here in cyber space is like going to the ‘hot spot’ in the middle of town on a Friday or Saturday night. Big Deal!
Yeah, actually it is a big deal. That hot spot ain’t hot for nothing. The
Thanks so much for your comment!
reality is that life really is a popularity contest in many ways. Luckily
there are many different groups in which to be popular… you’re not stuck
with a group you don’t like.
Oh! Thanks for sharing!I have never heard of it, though I have been always interacting with Google (search engines, calendar, documents etc). Sound interesting huh! Sad that I may have to wait for me to be able to try it our since their page says they are still in limited trial. But then again, thanks for sharing
They trickle new people in every day and they’ll launch publicly in 6 weeks.
I am sure Michael can send an invite to both of us for Google+ and we can join the next big thing.
You cannot send invites. That’s the weird thing about it.
I am not on google+ yet but do I need another social network site. Well, its google. So, I guess i do. I liked how you compared it with facebook.
Yeah my first thought with any new social network is that I need another social network like a slug needs a Playstation.
By using features everybody already knows, but doing them much better than Facebook, Google has a good chance. However, it’s still very much Facebook’s game to lose. 750 million users aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
I think Facebook will be big player for another 3 to 5 years. In a mean while, Google will build bigger and hopefully better (secure) social network.
I would agree with that time estimate based on how things look now.
[...] Martine is next up with a very simple question: Should you use Google+? We’re already inundated with maintaining our accounts on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and so [...]
I love it how everyone is a Google+ expert after it being live for a few weeks, it’s simple as pie people. We really don’t need all these “reviews”.
Why can’t I +1 this?
I also like Google+. I think the best feature is the option to clearly group friends and choose which group should see what. There’s a difference there with Facebook that could really make a difference.
I just got on Google Plus, but what’s the difference between an Acquaintance Circle and Following Circle? It’s all so new I’m having a hard time finding help on this.
That’s a great question, John. The Following circle is more for “A-listers”
and industry leaders (celebrities, if you like) you want to keep track of,
but whom you may not ever have had any personal contact with. The
Acquaintances circle is, I think, a long-needed label because 99% of the
people we know and interact with online are really acquaintances and not
truly friends. You many expect to have very little 2-way conversations with
people in your Following circle, more with people in your Acquaintances
circle, and even more conversations with people in your Friends circle.
Of course, if these labels don’t work for you, you can rename them or create
new circles.
Makes sense. I like that distinction.
I think google + has more features and more modern it compared with other social media.
Regards,
Handcrafted silver jewelry‘s designer.
I fear the change!
No, really, I’m going to have to get into Google+ for professional reasons, I know, but until I can get in and get a feel for it myself, I don’t think I’ll be comfortable with it as yet another social platform to learn to use.
Thanks to the Chrome extension and the new Google toolbar atop most of its
services pages, I hardly notice I’m spending time on Google+ while still
sharing content and having great conversations with folks. It hasn’t turned
into the time-suck I feared it would.
Thanx for this… Put my doubts to rest… Seems like Mark’s got some work to do!
I am a Melbourne Home Builder specialising in Bathrooms, Extensions and Decking. At the moment I a struggling with getting some good traffic to my site and this article has helped me with some good ideas to move forward.
Thank You
Tim
Well Known Homes
yeah the Google+1 button could be a nightmare or a dream, I think youv’e just got to try everything so you don’t miss out on the latest gizmo
I’m having a blast, reading “Another Social Network to Suck Away My Time? SERIOUSLY?” and I’ve asked myself the same question . Like you, I’m loving Google+ for the mere fact that it’s almost Zen-like in design and then, there’s the hangout thing for all of us working virtually – closest thing to teleportation, I’d say. Cheers!
I do like the Hangout feature. I’ve had great times with folks.
Thanks for the honest shakedown. I especially liked your last paragraph. True confessions!
I actually did delete my LinkedIn account.
[...] Why you SHOULD be using Google+. Blogging consultant Michael Martine is as conscious as the next person about joining another time sucking social network, but this, he insists, is not one of those. If you want to understand, from a blogger’s perspective, the value of being involved with the new Google social group, read more at the link. Remarkablogger [...]
[...] shared. Want to learn more about how it’s done? Follow the link. startupsmartTips & TechniquesWhy you SHOULD be using Google+. Blogging consultant Michael Martine is as conscious as the next person about joining another time [...]
[...] Why you SHOULD be using Google+. Blogging consultant Michael Martine is as conscious as the next person about joining another time sucking social network, but this, he insists, is not one of those. If you want to understand, from a blogger’s perspective, the value of being involved with the new Google social group, read more at the link. Remarkablogger [...]
I’d love to hear what your take is on the Google +1 specifically. I’ve heard rumors it affects your ranks in terms of SEO but from the literature it doesn’t seem so, at least not directly.
US SEO recently posted..The Truth About Backlinks
In fact, in stead of offering backlinks and visitors, some companies now offer Facebook likes and Google +1 impressions! Seems like there is a connection with seo there?
There is no question that search and social (“Social SEO”) are merging.
More than ever, however, I believe it will be the relationships between links and their quality that will influence search rankings, rather than quantity.
I don’t believe that Google is going to give the same weight to countless plus ones when they come from worthless, nobody accounts. Even moreso when that action is automated, because that sort of stuff has a detectable signature/pattern to it.
Michael Martine recently posted..Start the New Year Right for Your Business Blog
I was curious what all the hype was about and rushed over to setup an account as soon as Google+ was released into the wild.
Love the design, the multimedia functionality, and being able to sort folks into circles.
At the end of the day though, I ended up going back to Facebook, not because I liked it, but because that’s where everyone still was.
Google+ has a feature that lets you mass invite contacts, but I didn’t want to spam them with the prospect of yet another social media site. =)
What are your thoughts on inviting people to Google+? Should they be allowed to find it on their own?
Regards,
Christina
Good points, Christina. Facebook is where everyone is for now. Who knows just how fast Google+ will grow? It’s growing pretty fast but it’s hard to compete against 750 million users.
I’m a big fan of cross-pollinating your people from one channel to another (from Twitter to Facebook, or from the blog to an email list, for example). But I never use those “spam your whole address book” tools. I prefer to send out invite posts in the network itself. For example, in Twitter I might say: “If you like what I do here, imagine it with more than 140 characters in Google+” and then post a link to my profile.
Great Article! I find Google+ much easier to work with. I’ve felt Facebook was on its way out ever since they started talking about going Public.
Pole saw recently posted..Mr.
Facebook is going to end up like MySpace. As exited as I was about Twitter its been flooded with spammers. I’m definitively going to give Google+ a second look.
Every social network follows the same steps. Eventually, marketers (both ethical and otherwise) are going to run rampant on Google+. Thankfully it’s possible to filter out most of what we don’t want to see.
Oh, I don’t think Facebook is on its way out. Not even close.
Just told by my friends to sign up for a Google+ Account and I found out that it was awesome, love the design and graphics, functionality, and security(away from spammers) of such personal account. But Facebook is really Facebook and nothing is to be compared.
Noah Chow recently posted..Send Text Online – One of The Best Ways to Keep Your Company in Touch
There is room for all 3 social networks in my view – peaceful co-existence!
1. Facebook – staying in touch with friends and family (sure, you can now “subscribe” to those beyond the realms of your social influence, but for the time being, it isn’t the primary reason people use Facebook).
2. Twitter – keeping up to date with those beyond your realm of social influence (news services, celebrities, journalists, etc). On Twitter (for the majority of users), even though the majority of people you follow don’t often know you – you still know them (mainly because, quite simply, they have some level of fame).
3. Google+ – keeping in touch and seeing content not from friends and family (Facebook) or from the rich and famous (Twitter) but from everyday, ordinary people who share similar interests to you. Keen photographer? Follow a few “circles” of photographers, and in no time you will have a fantastic stream of new images in no time. Keen gamer? Writer? Into the outdoors? Tech? Science? You name it, there are millions of people out there with similar interests to yourself, sharing or creating interesting content in subject matters that you relate to.
I have left some further thoughts about this topic at http://www.droidappoftheday.com/2011/11/google.html +
Normally I wouldn’t approve a comment that linked to another article by commenter because they’re mostly spammy, but kudos to you for leaving a valuable, relevant comment. You’re doing it right.
Good points, Christina. That’s exactly the kind of thing that should make Facebook nervous.
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I was an early adopter of G+. Loved it. Then they asked me to use my real name or leave.
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The single reason why I joined the amazing Google+ is because it looks so damn good. Their designer definitely got out of the right side of the design bed. Design is critical, especially for a tool that we use often.
Google + is the proof that internet is getting complex. I’am curious what still stands after 3 of 4 years.
[...] Why you SHOULD be using Google+. Blogging consultant Michael Martine is as conscious as the next person about joining another time sucking social network, but this, he insists, is not one of those. If you want to understand, from a blogger’s perspective, the value of being involved with the new Google social group, read more at the link. Remarkablogger [...]