Google+ Putting it to work

Posted by Pierre Khawand on Mon, Aug 22, 2011 @ 04:00 AM

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Google+ is about sharing on the web, just as we do in real life. Today, I want to help you put G+ to work. Let's explore ways in which you can leverage G+.

Organize an evening with friends. Share your plans with specific friends — location, time, and details. Your friends can interact with each other in the Comments section in real time. Rather than exchanging countless emails and text messages, Google+ can streamline your planning.

Publicize an event. Share an event, whether a guest speaker or even a committee meeting with your audience. Allow others to comment on the details. You might even negotiate the meeting agenda.

Write a blog. Leverage your stream to promote your interests and passions. Make your posts public so that anyone can read them. Allow others to interact and comment; make yourself available to your readers. G+ is flattening the world by dramatically facilitating the exchange of information between and within all cultures and social groups.

Write a micro-blog. Rather than a traditional blog, like the previous suggestion, keep your sharing short and simple, Twitter-style. Make your point in a few characters, and share it with the world.

Get feedback about a product or project. G+ developers are showing us how to interact directly with end-users. They get immediate feedback on feature sets, and occasionally, they invite users to Hangouts to gather ideas.

Hold office hours. University professors are already planning to use Hangouts in lieu of traditional office hours. Organize Hangout help and review sessions.

Meet with your book club. Why drive 30 minutes to meet and discuss this month’s book. Organize a Hangout and share on the web. Additionally, each week pick someone to write and share thoughts about the reading, and encourage others to reflect in the Comments.

Get advice. Where should we have dinner? Where should we visit? What should we wear? How do I do Calculus? Share your question, and brace yourself for a flood of advice

The ways in which to use G+ are unlimited. We've only scratched the surface.

How do you use Google+? Please share your experiences in the comments below.

If you would like an invitation to join G+, please leave a comment below, note your interest, and we’ll do our best to make sure that you receive an invitation email as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

Google+ Project Website

Google+ Support Site

Accomplishing More With Social Media Webinar Series: 9/19, 9/26 (12:00 to 1:30 pm Pacific Time)

LinkedIn for Sales Professionals! Webinar: 8/5 and 10/14 (9:30 am to 11:00 am Pacific Time)

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Topics: Google+, social media, Technology

Google+ We'll help you configure Notifications

Posted by Pierre Khawand on Wed, Aug 17, 2011 @ 04:00 AM

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

When others share with you, you want to know about it, but notifications can be disruptive. Fortunately, Google+ allows us to customize notifications.

Let’s set-up your notification preferences.

Click the small sprocket or gear icon in the upper right corner of your G+ screen. In the drop-down box, click Google+ settings.

g privacy 1

You will land on a page that allows you to set your delivery or notification preferences. You can receive notifications by (1) email; (2) SMS text messages; and (3) in the Google+ bar.

G+ allows you to customize numerous events, such as when you’re tagged in a photo, have a post shared with you, or are added to a circle. G+ even provides for notices when others comment about you in photos.

As you can see in the screenshot below, I turned off all of the notifications except “Shares a post directly with me.” A direct share is similar to an email, so I want to make sure that I do not overlook something shared only with me.

g notifications

Even though I have most notifications turned off, the Google+ bar still notifies me about all events. The Google+ bar is the black bar at the top of your web browser. On the far right, you will see your name, followed by a small box with a number. The box turns red when you have unread notifications.

g notifications 3

Click the notification box, even if it’s grayed out with the number 0, indicating that you have no unread notifications. A live screen will drop down with a list of your notifications. You can navigate through this list and even comment, just as you would in your main web browser.

g notifications 4

Google+ enables you to tailor notifications, and from the G+ toolbar, you can interact with your stream quickly and efficiently.

If you would like an invitation to join G+, please leave a comment below, note your interest, and we’ll do our best to make sure that you receive an invitation email as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

Google+ Project Website

Google+ Help Articles on Notifications

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6 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Topics: Google+, social media, Technology

Google+ Learn how to configure your Privacy Settings

Posted by Pierre Khawand on Mon, Aug 15, 2011 @ 04:00 AM

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Google+ allows you to selectively share information on the web, much like you share information in life. Just as you are careful about what you share with others, G+ allows you to do the same by customizing your privacy preferences.

Today, let’s configure your privacy settings.

Click the small sprocket or gear icon in the upper right corner of your G+ screen. In the drop-down box, click Google+ settings.

g privacy 1

You will land on a page that allows you to set many features. Click on the link in the upper left, Profile and privacy.

g privacy 2

Read through the numerous options that allow you to control what you share and with whom you share it. Today, I want to highlight two, Public profile information and See how your profile appears to other users.

Your Google Profile is a public web page that tells about you. To modify your settings, click on the gray box, Edit visibility on profile.

g privacy 4

Your Profile page will open in the edit mode. Click on a box; for example, click on the Introduction. A window will pop-up, and a small box will allow you to customize who can see this information.

g privacy 5

Each section in your Profile can be customized. You can make it public to everyone, limit it to your circles, or even customize the visibility.

G+ makes it easy to check your settings.

Return to “Google+ settings” (see above), click “Profile and privacy,” and look for the box, See how your profile appears to other users. Enter someone’s name or email address in the box and click Preview. Your Profile will appear just as if you were that person.

g privacy 3

Terrific work! You are well on your way to leveraging the power of Google Plus.

If you would like an invitation to join G+, please leave a comment below, note your interest, and we’ll do our best to make sure that you receive an invitation email as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

Google+ Project Website

Google+ Help Articles on Privacy Settings

Accomplishing More With Social Media Webinar Series: 9/19, 9/26 (12:00 to 1:30 pm Pacific Time)

LinkedIn for Sales Professionals! Webinar: 8/5 and 10/14 (9:30 am to 11:00 am Pacific Time)

7 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Topics: Google+, social media, Technology

Google+ Learn to use the new G+ bar

Posted by Pierre Khawand on Thu, Aug 11, 2011 @ 04:00 AM

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

I want you to learn to use the Google+ bar, the black ribbon that appears at the top of many Google websites, such as search and Gmail. I want you to learn to save time and avoid frustration.

A screenshot from a Google search page is shown below. The black ribbon at the top is the Google+ bar.

g toolbar 1

If you're signed in to your Google account, on the far left, you will see +[Your First Name]. On the right, you'll see your Google Profile picture.

Click on any item to open the associated Google product.

Click +[Your Name] to open Google Plus. Click Web to search, Gmail to open your mail, and so forth. If you want to open a Google product that is not visible, click on More and a drop-down menu will open. For example, click More and then Documents to open Google Docs.

I find this to be a welcome time saver, a quick and efficient way to navigate between Google products.

The gear on the far right is reserved for modifying the settings. These settings change as you change products, Gmail settings for Gmail, Calendar settings for Google Calendar, and so forth.

A screenshot from Gmail is shown below. Clicking on the gear opens a drop-down menu that allows you to adjust your Gmail settings.

g toolbar 2

To modify your main Google Account settings, such as your password, click on your picture or your full name (far right). As you can see in the screenshot, a drop-down menu allows you to change your Account settings and Profile.

g toolbar 3

The items between your full name and picture are dedicated to Google Plus. Click Share, like the screenshot below, to share something on Google+.

g toolbar 4

The box between your full name and Share alerts you of G+ notifications. Click the box to review and interact with all of your Google+ notices.

g toolbar 5

Good work! This is a lot to digest in one post. Experiment. Click the icons. I hope you find the new Google+ Bar a useful tool to enhance your productivity.

If you would like an invitation to join G+, please leave a comment below, note your interest, and we’ll do our best to make sure that you receive an invitation email as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

Google+ Project Website

Google+ Help Articles on the Google+ Bar

Accomplishing More With Social Media Webinar Series: 9/19, 9/26 (12:00 to 1:30 pm Pacific Time)

LinkedIn for Sales Professionals! Webinar: 8/5 and 10/14 (9:30 am to 11:00 am Pacific Time)

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Topics: Google+, social media, Technology

Google+ Learn how to Hang Out

Posted by Pierre Khawand on Mon, Aug 08, 2011 @ 06:00 AM

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Google+ redefines how we share information with others on the web, and perhaps the most exciting new feature is Hangouts.

Hangouts are group video chats. Currently, up to 10 people can video chat together in real time, for free!

Let's set up a Hangout.

From the main G+ screen, click the green button in the lower right corner labeled, Start a hangout.

describe the image

A new window will open, and next we will select who we will invite to join our “hangout” by clicking in the box, Who do you want to hangout with?

The default blue icon includes everyone in all of our circles. You can either accept everyone, or click the “X” to remove the default and select your own participants. For example, if you want to invite just your family, select the Circle, “Family,” assuming, of course, that you have added people to your Family Circle.

Just as we learned with sharing, you can fine-tune who you want to invite to “hangout,” by including specific people, Circles, or everyone, the Public.

g hangout 2

Once you’ve selected those you want to invite, check your hair, and then click the button, Hangout. Google+ will immediately notify each person (more about notifications later) and begin the chat session.

Google+ allows you to join Hangouts, both private Hangouts to which you have been invited and public Hangouts initiated by others. On the main G+ page in your “Stream,” that is, in all of the stuff that people in your circles are sharing with you, if you see a “Join this hangout” button, click it. You will be guided to join the “hangout.”

g hangout 3

Give Hangouts a try. Invite your friends, or watch for +Michael Dell to begin a public hangout. Michael is extremely popular, so you have to click fast to hang with him!

If you would like an invitation to join G+, please leave a comment below, note your interest, and we’ll do our best to make sure that you receive an invitation email as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

Google+ Project Website

Google+ Help Articles on Hangouts

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Topics: Google+, social media, Technology

Google+ Learn how to Share Stuff

Posted by Pierre Khawand on Fri, Aug 05, 2011 @ 08:45 AM

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Google+ is about sharing, sharing different things with different groups or circles of people. Today, I want you to learn how to share.

Sign-in to your G+ account, and near the top of the main screen just under the heading, “Stream,” find the gray box, “Share what’s new…”

Click inside the box.

g share

The box expands, inviting you to type. For practice, type a short note introducing yourself to Pierre, the founder of People-OntheGo. “Hi Pierre, my name is <insert your name.> I work at <name of your organization> in the <name> department.”

g share 1

In the lower right corner of the box, find the four icons: the green camera allows you to add photos; the white-and-red icon, videos; the paper clip, links; and the red tack, your location. If you’re adventuresome, click the green camera icon and upload your picture.

Next, we select who we will share this information with. Click the blue button, + Add circles or people to share with… You can share with individual people by entering an address, with groups of people by selecting any or all of your circles, or with everyone by making it public.

Today, let’s share with Pierre. If you completed our last post, Pierre is already in your Business Contacts circle, so in the sharing box, type Pierre Khawand.

g share 2

Finally, click the Share icon.

Congratulations! Now that you’ve mastered sharing, you are ready to share specific things with specific people, whether a private message to one person, a public message to everyone, or a custom message to only a few.

If you would like an invitation to join G+, please leave a comment below, note your interest, and we’ll do our best to make sure that you receive an invitation email as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

Google+ Project Website

Google+ Help Article on Sharing

Accomplishing More With Social Media Webinar Series: 9/19, 9/26 (12:00 to 1:30 pm Pacific Time)

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Topics: Google+, social media, Technology

Google+ Learn how to set-up Circles.

Posted by Pierre Khawand on Mon, Aug 01, 2011 @ 08:34 PM

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Google+ is about sharing information with different circles or groups of people. In our last post, we learned how to set-up our G+ account and update our Profile. Today, we want to introduce Circles.

All of us have a variety of relationships or “circles” of people with whom we interact — family, classmates, colleagues, associates, customers, and so forth. Google+ allows us to create our own Circles, giving us the power to share different things with different circles of people.

Set-up a Circle

Log in to your account and click on the icon at the top of your screen that resembles two Olympic rings with a third ring dislodged.

g circles 1

At the top of the next screen, you will see three categories of people, “People in your circles,” “People who’ve added you” to their circles, and people to “Find and Invite.”

Click on Find and Invite.

g circles 3

Google+ will suggest people you may want to add. You can either add someone yourself by clicking on the blank card in the upper left titled, “+ Add a new person,” or you can search by entering a name in the box at the top of your screen, “Find People.”

To practice, let’s create a new Circle titled Business Contacts, and add Pierre Khawand, the founder of People-OntheGo to the Circle. In the search box at the top, type Pierre Khawand and press Enter. A card with Pierre’s picture will appear.

g circles 2

Next, drag and drop his card in the gray, dashed circle on the far left titled, “Drop here to create a new circle.” Next, click the blue link, Create circle.

A pop-up will ask you to enter a description for the Circle. Type “Business Contacts,” and click the blue box, Create circle with one person.

g circles 4

Congratulations! You have created your first Circle and are well on your way to leveraging the power of Google+.

If you would like an invitation to join G+, please leave a comment below, note your interest, and we’ll do our best to make sure that you receive an invitation email as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

Accomplishing More With Social Media Webinar Series: 9/19, 9/26 (12:00 to 1:30 pm Pacific Time)

LinkedIn for Sales Professionals! Webinar: 8/5 and 10/14 (9:30 am to 11:00 am Pacific Time)

Google+ Project Website

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Topics: Google+, social media, Technology

Google+ Receive an Invitation and Set-up your Account.

Posted by Pierre Khawand on Sun, Jul 31, 2011 @ 09:43 AM

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Google+, or G+ for short, redefines how we share information on the web. To get started, you will need an account, so today, we want to help you sign-up and create your profile.

Create your Account

Navigate to http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/ where you will land on the G+ welcome screen. In the upper right, click on the blue button Join.

G Join

As you may have heard, you will need an invitation to join Google+. If you would like an invitation, please leave a comment below, note your interest, and we’ll do our best to make sure that you receive an invitation email as soon as possible.

Welcome to Google+. From the Welcome page, you can watch three short videos that overview Circles, Hangouts, and Sparks, and you can complete your Profile.

Set-up your Profile

Click on the blue button near the bottom of your screen, Complete your profile.

Take a few minutes to enter information about yourself and upload a picture or two. The Introduction section is a great way to tell others about yourself. Enter the cities where you’ve lived, your schools, and your job. In a later post, we’ll learn how to customize the privacy settings for each of these categories.

Great job! Congratulations! Once you have created your Profile, it only gets easier and a lot more fun.

Additional Resources

Accomplishing More With Social Media Webinar Series: 9/19, 9/26 (12:00 to 1:30 pm Pacific Time)

LinkedIn for Sales Professionals! Webinar: 8/5 and 10/14 (9:30 am to 11:00 am Pacific Time)

Google+ Project Website

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Topics: Google+, social media, Technology

Google Plus: What does it mean for +You?

Posted by Pierre Khawand on Thu, Jul 28, 2011 @ 07:54 PM

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Three weeks and 20 million users — Google Plus is everywhere, from the headlines of the New York Times to the millions of “walls” on Facebook. What is Google+, or G+ as it’s commonly called?

What does Google Plus mean for +You?

describe the image

Google claims, “The Google+ project makes sharing on the web more like sharing in the real world.” Even though Google+, Facebook, and Twitter are often used in the same sentence, Google is carefully positioning G+ as a platform for sharing information, as opposed to another social media site.

G+ is designed around the metaphor of a circle.

g circles

All of us have “circles” of friends, circles with our family, close friends, classmates, colleagues, associates, customers, clients, and so forth. Moreover, we share different things with different circles. We tell our parents one thing, our close friends another, and our business associates still another.

G+ enables us to share different things with different groups or circles of people electronically, just as we do “off-line” in everyday life. We can share stuff with one person, with a group of people, or with anyone and everyone, the public. Stuff can be most anything, notes, pictures, videos, web pages — virtually anything.

In the following series of posts, we will show +You how to put Google+ to work, including how to sign-up for G+, set-up your profile, arrange your circles, and share information. In our next post, we will help you join and set-up your account.

Additional Resources

Google+ Project Website

Accomplishing More With Social Media Webinar Series: 9/19, 9/26 (12:00 to 1:30 pm Pacific Time)

LinkedIn for Sales Professionals! Webinar: 8/5 and 10/14 (9:30 am to 11:00 am Pacific Time)

7 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Topics: Google+, social media, Technology

Being productive on the road! From Laptop to iPod! And how to optimize

Posted by Pierre Khawand on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 @ 11:22 AM

I found myself at Starbucks this week, trying to take advantage of this precious hour I had in between meetings. It was quite noisy but this didn't bother me for too long. I quickly got my iPod ready and put on my favorite music. Then within minutes, I was setup, connected, and fully functional. This made me think about productivity on the road and the tools we use today compared to those we used in the mid 90's when many of the technologies that we take for granted today were then in their early development.

My on the go toolkit today

Laptop + Spring 3G card + iPhone + iPod (classic) + headset + paper journal + pen

And power cord, extension cord, and network cable--just in case.

productivity on the road

When on the go internationally

Even though these are applications and services, but they play such an important role in staying connected and being productive overseas:

Add Google Voice, Skype, Skype-Out, and Skype iPhone App.

And not to forget one more useful addition to the mix the Kindle iPhone App.

How can it be optimized?

Consolidate the iPod and the iPhone
Would be nice to have one provider instead of two (but for now AT&T has a hold on the iPhone and offers the voice/data capabilities internationally, while Sprint has the impeccable signal in the San Francisco area).

Soon, I will write more about what this looked like in the mid 90's

What does your on the go toolkit look like today? And how can it be optimized?

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Topics: tools and supplies, Technology, productivity

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Google+ Putting it to work

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Additional Resources

Google+ We'll help you configure Notifications

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Additional Resources

Google+ Learn how to configure your Privacy Settings

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Additional Resources

Google+ Learn to use the new G+ bar

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Additional Resources

Google+ Learn how to Hang Out

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Additional Resources

Google+ Learn how to Share Stuff

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Additional Resources

Google+ Learn how to set-up Circles.

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Google+ Receive an Invitation and Set-up your Account.

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Additional Resources

Google Plus: What does it mean for +You?

Guest blog article written by Steve Loosley, Tech Blogger

Additional Resources

Being productive on the road! From Laptop to iPod! And how to optimize

My on the go toolkit today

When on the go internationally

How can it be optimized?

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