Google Plus: The Evolved Online Network

I first heard about the new Google online networking platform at SXSW in Austin this past March (when it was simply referred to as “Circles”) and was very excited at its potential.  Could Google continue its dominance and splash into yet another market that seemed impenetrable, like the mobile phone?  Its no secret that I’ve essentially sold my soul to Google and most of its products, so I crossed my fingers and have been overall pleased with what I have found.

The rulers of “search” have  evolved the “social network” paradigm and shifted it to a simple “online networking” one. Google Plus takes the best of what Facebook (social) and Twitter (information) has to offer and combined them into a place where you don’t have to choose whether its “personal” or “professional.”  It makes perfect sense as we continue to live and share more of our lives online.  Earlier this year, I wrote a post on the importance of creating Facebook and Twitter lists as a way to organize and connect your online networks.  Google Plus makes that its centerpiece.

Circles
As you enter Google Plus for the first time, it is clear that Google wants YOU to determine how you share and connect with others online.   Just because someone adds you to a circle, does not mean you have to reciprocate.  In this way, Google Plus really isn’t a “social network” by definition (in terms of mutual connections, like Facebook and LinkedIn).  It is very easy to create and add circles for however you define your online networks and communities and therefore can share relative content easily.  As in real life conversations, there are some things I want to share with family and close friends, versus those I work with, met a conference once or twice, or never met in person before.  Targeted sharing is what it is all about now, and don’t be surprised if Facebook updates its sharing function to make this easier for you to do in the near future.  As it stands now, your family and friends don’t even need to opt-in to be part of Google Plus, simply add them to circles via their email address and they can still get pictures/video/etc. if you post to Circles via email.

Fine tuning your Circles is the best way to get the most out of your Google Plus experience.  Take time to do this first before doing anything else.

Quick Tips:
1.  Circles are made for SHARING:  Create circles of connections that you will want to share with (e.g. Work, Family, ‘How I Met Your Mother Fans’, etc. OR by content area, like Technology, Higher Education Web, Residence Life, etc.). These are the circles you use to control access to everything you share. People can be in multiple circles to accurately reflect who they are to you.
2.  Make a circle for READING:  Decide on a few people you really want to keep up with and add them to a separate *Inbox or *MustRead circle. (Adding a * in front of the name sorts that circle to the top of the circles list on the left side of the stream)

Hangouts
I love this feature.  It beats Facebook’s Skype integration in that I have the option of video chatting with more than one person.  Imagine being able to quickly get a group of people in one of your circles together for a quick chat about anything.  I can’t wait to see this concept really take off when most people have a webcam on their laptop or desktop AND a front facing camera smartphone.

Huddle
While the group text messaging idea is not new (GroupMe, Beluga, WhatsApp), the integration into Google Plus is an interesting one.  I haven’t been as impressed with this feature simply because only those with the Google Plus app (only on Android phones, for now) can participate in a Huddle.  If this feature really is to take off, users need the ability to choose how to receive group texts (via SMS OR push notifications via Google Plus).  This is why GroupMe is still my favorite group text message app.

Higher Education Implementation
There are many potential ways in Higher Education to use Google Plus once it is fully open:
1.  Classroom “Circles”:  Whether you are a faculty member or a student, imagine being able to create circles for some or all of your classes.  You could “hangout” and expand on class discussion, organize current and future projects, and on the go, “huddle” when you need to share information quickly like a cancellation or a reminder to bring something to class.

2. Group Appointments via “Hangout”:  Imagine Faculty/Staff/Teaching Assistants Office Hours, Academic Advising, Pre and Post Orientation, Student Organizations, telephone interviews, etc. all being done via “Hangout”. Even better? Your upper level administrators (e.g. President’s, VP’s, Chairman of the Board, etc.) holding their regular “open office hours” this way once a semester or year?

3.  Connecting With Students Online: Some of my colleagues and friends in Higher Education have been hesitant on connecting with students on any online network.  I hope that once Google Plus takes off, they rethink their positions and connect with students on Google Plus and use it like faculty could use it with their students.  Its time for us to build this bridge and cross it.

4.  Google Plus For Businesses: I am VERY excited for this development and can’t wait for it to be released.  Once Google Plus creates their version of the Facebook Fan Page, I think many Student Affairs units will find it quite useful, especially if they have spent time developing their Fan Page.  For example, imagine having a “BSU Campus Center Information” Google Plus Page that has “Hangout” consistently open.  A guest could join the “Hangout”, ask a question, and get their answer.  If my staff was having problem answering the question, the staff member could “Huddle” me in!  At this point, I could either answer via “Huddle” or come “Hangout” and be part of the conversation.  For those campuses already using Google products like Gmail and Calendar, they should be salivating.

Random thought after I hit ‘post’, one could also use “Huddle” for conferences, conference planning teams/committees, etc. Create that “Circle” and then give it a try.

What are your initial thoughts on Google Plus? Do you have any tips you want to share as you begin and continue use this new online network?