I am convinced more than ever, especially in light of the almost serendipitous news of the Instagram and Twitter ‘issue’ (serendipitous for Google that is), that Google+ is more than I have given it credit for up until now.
Sure there are not as many people blah, blah, blah but what resides there are things that are focused more on productivity than wasting time. Of course, you can waste plenty of time there as well but why do that when you can do other things.
One of those is become part of the new Google+ Communities. Here’s a video
I have admitted it before here on Marketing Pilgrim and will do it again right now, I have underestimated and truly underutilized Google+. This opening paragraph from a TechCrunch post by Drew Olanoff says it well
Whether you use Google+ knowingly or not, meaning whether or not you actually engage on the destination site, you have to realize that the project has been a complete shift for the entire company as a whole. Even though it has a separate name and a separate URL, you simply cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that the social tools within the project have been weaved into Google’s biggest products. If you call Google+ another “social network”, you are simply missing the point.
It could be time for a change of perspective for me at least.
Here are some of the benefits of Communities from Google’ blog post.
From photography to astronomy (and everything in between), Google+ has always been a place to crowd around common interests and meet new people. What’s been missing, however, are more permanent homes for all the stuff you love: the wonderful, the weird, and yes, even the things that are waaay out there. With Google+ Communities there’s now a gathering place for your passions, including:
-Public or private membership to support all kinds of groups—from topics and interests to local neighborhoods to regular poker nights
-Discussion categories to find the conversations you care about most
-The option to start hangouts and plan events with community members
-The ability to share with your community from any +1 button across the web
All of this goes on top of the rollout of Snapseed for Android which I have used for all of a few minutes and can see that this will be fun.
Snapseed: beautiful photos with your mobile device
Great pictures aren’t taken, they’re made—and Nik Software has been helping people make awesome photos for years. Having welcomed Nik to the Google family, we’re excited to bring their Snapseed app (last year’s iPad app of the year) to Android. It includes:
-Basic adjustments like tune, straighten and crop
-Creative filters like drama, black & white, and vintage that you can apply individually or in combination
-Control Point technology to selectively enhance your photo—to brighten just a face, for instance, or deepen just the sky
-The ability to share your creations via Google+ and other services
Snapseed is rolling out now to Google Play and the App Store, and starting today, both versions are free.
If you’re a volume player for social media then Google still isn’t for you even though its numbers do seem to be growing (I know, I know it’s about engagement. Well, maybe engagement is actually doing something rather than peddling stuff around thoughtlessly?). I have to think that Google’s tools are looking somewhat similar but very different than the rest of the social space all at the same time.
Do I sound like a Google apologist? Maybe so but it really stems more from being tired of everything else.
What about you?
Source : internetwebsitedesign[dot]biz
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