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Google+
After not having used Facebook, let alone any of the earlier expressions of social networking like MySpace, I thought I'll have a look at Google+. So far so good. What can I say, it works. Whether it's good or not so good I cannot tell, since I have nothing to compare it to, besides maybe having looked over the shoulders of those using Facebook.
Who here is using it, what do you think about it? How does it compare to other social platforms? What do you think is missing?
Something I haven't figured out yet is how I can send a message to a single person. Of course I could stick that person in its own circle, that would do it, from my understanding. But I wouldn't exactly call that very practical.
Any ideas how that works?
The simple reason that I joined is to have a platform for the future YWAM Base we are pioneering. So, it's not really anything for me personally. For that same reason I might join Facebook, as well. It's one way to communicate with the YWAM world, people who are interested, etc.
Now the question remains, will Google+ be the next big thing, never take off, or something in between? After all, even Google's own Eric Schmidt said that this is actually not about the social platform but rather an identity service, it's about the Google Profile which is needed, and Google+ is optional. See here:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/117378076401635777570/posts/2y7vqXBtLny
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/08/28/1536235/schmidt-g-identity-servic... (as always with slashdot, be watchful with comments there, but it might give some good additional information)
How does this apply to us as YWAM with all our travels? Obviously this is the same issue with Facebook or anything else online. However, the TOS of Google requires a real name, an alias is not allowed.
How do you handle this, what's your advice to people who want to join?
Social Media Overload
To be honest the main reason why I'm having a hard time with Google+ is that it is now another network that demands my attention. I'm already active on Twitter and Facebook, and a little bit on LinkedIn. Now Google+ is another network on top of that...
Google+ is also discouraging companies, businesses and organisations from signing up for it yet. It's in the works, read more here, but don't jump the gun yet as the profile could be removed.
Google+ could be good for networking and connecting with people, and I will continue to monitor it and comment on it occationally (here's my Google+ profile if you're looking). It looks like a good blend between Facebook and Twitter, but I don't know yet if it has legs...
Many tech bloggers who were excited and hyped it up when Google+ started have slowed down their use of it. Again, there need to be the people for it to work.
I am excited about the possibilities of using the Google+ Hangouts. 9-people video conferencing looks like a good option, although I have not yet tried one. It could be a great tool to connect for missions planning and prayer. I've also wondered about the possibilities of using it for group or round table discussions as part of a podcast...
If it were not for the work I do in YWAM I would probably not be on Facebook any more. I find it to be a good source for YWAM news and for connecting to other YWAMers, friends, family and supporters. That said, it can also be quite overwhelming and frustrating.
Twitter is my preferred social network, but most of my friends and family aren't there, so it has limited functionality for me at the moment.
I'm still confused as to how LinkedIn could be used as a mission. There is a YWAM Group there, but with the typical audience on LinkedIn I'm not sure how to use is an organisation.
agreed...
Hi Bill,
I have to agree with you, it's yet another platform to deal with. If it weren't for the future project I'm planing, I would not touch G+. Being more a forum type person I always feel a bit awkward with something like G+ or similar platforms. Or better say, I feel limited, as I can't work with it as I would like to.
The hangout feature looks fun, though, I have to admit. I'll to check that out one day. However, I can't quite imagine how it should work with some discipline of the people involved. Unless, of course, there are some GENESIS like feature implemented, mainly for a host being able to mute other participants. The thought that all, up to 9, microphones are always open is somewhat scary. Every sneezing, noise from putting a cup down, general network noise coming through, let alone laughing or applauding that might be lagging behind the actual comment due to latency, etc. I always find that kind of "noise" more disturbing when coming through a conferencing system compared to the real world "noise".
Well, we will see. Have to try it before I can actually complain. Who knows, maybe Google got it right and things don't sound as overwhelming and artificial.
One of the most important things for it work, and I have to agree with you here, is that it needs people. I'm always a little bit confused about Googles invitation system. I remember Google saying something about their Wave project being discontinued because there were not enough people interested. But as far as I know it never went out of the invitation only state.
Now G+ is also by invitation only. Well, you can sign up, I actually tried that. I got the message saying something like the project is still work in progress and they currently don't have enough capacity to add more people but will send a note once they added more server capacity. After 2 weeks having heard nothing, someone sent me an invite to that same email address and I got in instantly. So much for lacking capacity...
IMHO, this invitation only process is not helping them to get it off the ground. Therefore including for people creating their profiles, which Google is most interested in. There is nothing wrong with testing something, nor inviting a bigger audience to test something new. But it needs eventually grow out of that or G+ will end up like Wave. Not enough adoption by people because... well, you can't join easily.
That said, I'll continue to check it out, post in a manner that even if it shuts down nothing of value is lost. And, of course, hope that Google will eventually allow organisations to have a profile. At which point I'll convert mine to that so I can use it as I initially intended to. If it works the same as for personal that is.
PS: Bill, regarding your profile, I actually have added you already. But I guess since Steve is not exactly an uncommon name I might match my profile picture here to what I have at G+ to make it a bit easier.
--~~~~~
Cheers,
Steve
Somebody's terminal is dropping bits. I found a pile of them over in the corner.
Companies and Organisations on Google+
Alright, I have now found you on Google+ and can put the those two profiles together in my head as one...
If Google+ goes the same direction as Facebook you will probably need to keep your personal profile and use it to manage the company or organisation page. It will be interesting to see what path they take on it...
profiles
I didn't even know that about Facebook.
So, I guess we wait and see what Google comes up with.
--~~~~~
Cheers,
Steve
Somebody's terminal is dropping bits. I found a pile of them over in the corner.
G+ messaging
Hi Steve, it took me a while to learn too, but when writing a message, at the bottom is the green circles as default delivery. Delete that and then just type the name of who you send to, and, if they are in your contact list that should work easy, peasey...
Blessings
Mike
Thanks Mike
Thanks for that tip Mike. Something so simple in concept, but different that what we are used to so easy to overlook.
messaging
Hi Mike,
good to see you. Or better say, good to read you... ;)
Yeah, it sure is a little learning curve for me, specifically as I never used anything like that before. But slowly I'm getting used to it, it's not like I spend all day in there to check out every button and function.
Anyway, thanks for the tip, I'll try that. May I should try that with you since I found your name twice on G+. 1x with and 1x without a profile picture. They haven't cloned you, or...?
--~~~~~
Cheers,
Steve
Somebody's terminal is dropping bits. I found a pile of them over in the corner.
Google+ duplicate accounts
Somehow I had 2 accounts in the beta and cannot merge them into one.
I think the 'jury is still out' on google+ It had some great features but is not (IMHO) so user friendly. It can be good but I too am confused with it. Great potential, but as Bill says, I do not want to have yet another social networking site to keep up alongside the others, and it is too early to ditch FB yet. (but that WILL COME)
Blessings
Mike
confusion
I might think that there are different reasons for us for being confused about some aspects. For you, and probably most others who have used Facebook before, there are some things that probably work different. You want to do "the usual" but it's not where you always knew to find that function or how you are used to do it.
Me, on the other hand, I have not used anything like that type of social media before. Meaning, for me it's learning from scratch. Finding out for the first time how basically anything is done.
Then, again thinking about my initial question, how to send a message to a single person, it seems like something we both had trouble figuring out how it works. That somehow tells me that there might be room for improvement, something for Google to look into.I think this is something that should be do-able more obvious / easier.
If it's something that only a newbie, like me, is struggling with, I might call it learning process. It's something totally new to me, I need to find my way around it.
Something that is difficult for someone coming from another social platform like Facebook, it's probably more to do with adjusting to a new platform. Things which seemed to be straight forward and familiar are not working the same any more. At this point I would say it also comes down to personal preference. There will always be people who prefer doing the same task this or that way.
Overall though, I think Google has done a pretty nice job with that platform. It's easy enough to get started quickly, get some messages out, add photos, etc. There is time to get into some details later.
Again, I can't compare it to Facebook since I'm not using it. So, I don't know how much is more or less a copy of it. Sure the general concept is a copy of Facebook. But they are not the only ones copying the concept of it. I heard, though, that Facebook has done a little work and polishing up on their platform due to what Google has done.
So, it looks like it's proven again that some competition is good for the user.
--~~~~~
Cheers,
Steve
Somebody's terminal is dropping bits. I found a pile of them over in the corner.
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