If you are like me, you are hearing all the hoopla about Google+ but haven't had time to check it out much less figure it out yet. I wanted to give all those who want to get started with Google+ a quick outline to get you started…
Google+…Google does Social Media and You Can Too!
Over 18 million users are +1ing their way into Google+ fun, according to the newest estimates released by Mashable. With users still only able to play by invite (Google+ is in beta), industry experts expect those already record-breaking numbers to skyrocket once the newest social media player goes public. Like any new social media tool there is a learning curve. With Google+, the curve isn't that hard to climb, you just need to know where to start.
If you have not received an invite and would like one, ask away, since I love to share the fun!
Must-do tips for Google+ user fun (and success!)
Start small but aim big! Use your Profile to its full potential—it’s the first place potential new followers will check to see who you are and why they should follow you! Many users are reporting that their Google+ profile is the first result in any search of their name. Can you afford to waste this excellent opportunity?
Click the blue button in the right-hand corner of your profile page that says “Edit Profile.” Once you do, you can then click on whatever part of your profile you want to change.
Fill it out! I know, it sound easy, but many Google+ users don’t take the time, which means that if yours is complete, you will stand out!
Use your voice and be yourself. Yes, you want a professional tone, but put your own personality into it and make it fun for other Google+ users to read!
Include your links (available on the right), as many of them as you have, to all your different websites and social media points of connection.
Use all available branding real estate. Once you have put in all the information, using great keywords and an authentic voice, you still have one, often-overlooked place to play: The photo bar resting above your “about me” section. Upload a few photos so people can see who you are and connect with the real you!
Now that you’ve established your Google+ identity, personalize your experience by taking a few minutes to change up a couple of features.
Add pictures. If you don’t have a Picasa account, now’s a great time to create one and add at least a few photos to it. Link your Picasa account to your Google+ and those who are curious about you will have more of you to look at! You can also pull your photos from Facebook or Picassa into Google+. Here is a great link that shares how you do this.
Have fun with your Google+ circles! Not only is it a fun way to personalize your experience, it is useful too. Remember, you can post to individual circles, many circles, or share publicly. You can also use your circles to control how busy your stream is, and what kinds of content you see.
Follow, share, and learn. Remember that learning curve for Google+? Well, no “how-to” article is going to give you every tip and possible way to make your experience the best for you. Only you can do that!
Remember to pay attention to who you are sharing your posts with, you can choose who to share every single post with. Way cool!
Find your friends to follow by connecting with your email account and seeing who is already on Google+. Put out a call on Twitter and ask to connect with your Google+ friends. Share your link on your Facebook page.
Eventually you’ll attract a follower you just aren’t so sure about. Maybe they have offensive content or are harassing you in some way. Block them. Google automatically adds them to their very own circle of blocked followers. This way, you can purposefully keep more sensitive content from them by only posting to the circles of friends you want to share and be connected with.
This is just one last tip that is fun and a way to help you easily share your Google+ profile across the social universe. Google hasn’t yet started giving vanity URLS, but you have a couple options for an easy-to-remember Google+ profile URL:
Create a Google subdomain on your website and redirect it to your profile, so your permanent Google+ address would be something like “google.yourdomain.com.”
Go to your profile and look for your user ID in the URL, which is a long series of numbers. Copy those numbers and head to http://gplus.to and register for your own short URL. Here’s mine: http://gplus.to/kimgarst
I look forward to using this great new social media tool with you. If you are already on Google+, look me up and say hi! If not, hit me up for an invite – I’m happy to help! In the meantime, let me leave you with this neat Google+ Cheat Sheet.
What’s your biggest “Must do” tip for new Google+ users? Post your comments below as I would love to learn more about how you use Google+!
Kim Garst has been a Mompreneur for almost 20 years and has built a 7 figure income from her home. Currently she shares her business and marketing savvy through coaching and consulting with clients around the world. Kim specializes in helping you get more sales, more leads and more clients utilizing social media and the Internet as a whole. Her systems are easy to implement and get quick results for small businesses as well as new and established solopreneurs.
About Author
7 thoughts on “A Quick How-To Guide for New Google+ Users”
Great overview of Google + So far I think I've done all these activities…still getting a feel for the place. I'm finding that each social media outlet or site has an atmosphere that is both interactive and manageable–it's sort of like traveling to a new town and getting a feel for the nightlife 😉 Google+ strikes me as open and nicely organized at the same time. I won't feel 'at home' there for awhile, but it's exciting getting to know this new place!
I think I am going to have to print this out and make a check list for myself and use it step by step! I love the clarification because I really didnt know how to use it or why I would use it!
Clear, concise and easy to follow…my kind of info Kim!
Great work! Some really great tips there and thanks for the blocking tip, ran into today and wasn't sure if that was the way to handle but I see i was right, so thanks for the clarity. 🙂
Kim, great post! I spent a few days last week trying to figure it out and ended up walking away from my computer a bit frustrated. Time was the problem because I am way too busy. I did sit down this past weekend and started to figure it out more and more. I have most of what you said but boy I could have used this information a bit earlier. I am going to share this for sure to help someone else who is new!
Great ideas. Not only are they useful for getting going on Google+ but they can definitely help build a presence on other social platforms as well.
Thanks Kim, been on G+ for about 2 months or so, but don’t use it much , maybe this will give me a boost. Thanks Again for the good work. Peace! ,,,RG
I’m sure there are 1000s of people like me out there who are great with their field of work and when it comes to social media, if that’s not their field of expertise, we suck. Yeah, there is so much that we don’t know. Like I tell my patients, the only thing I’m good at is being a doctor:-) Thanks Kim for all your help. You are awesome!