Google+ for Beginners: tips and tricks

Google plus vs Facebook

Google+ is a lot of fun, particularly if you’re NOT an MLM marketer, overpriced vitamin salesperson, or similar, all of whom have been banned (I’m sure just temporarily, but how sweet the moment is, however brief). But how do you get the most from this brand new social media platform without wasting hours of your time?

You read this post!

Here are the greatest tips gleaned right from the maw of Google+:

A basic outline to Google+.

So Google launched a new thingee called Google+ and folks are all atwitter about what, exactly, it is.  Or does.  Or is supposed to do.  Or will do, when you do whatever you’re supposed to do when you find out what, exactly, it is.  If you’re curious, you’ve come to the right place: an article written by someone who describes unknown things on the intertubes or intratubes as “thingees” and “whatzawhozits.”  You know, I talk techie.  I’ll try to tone it down.

From Bradley Cooper:

If you’re new to GOOGLE+ and you’re trying to figure out the Streams, Circles and Sparks, here are some tips:
– the stream is where all the circles meet. You want to be as far up the stream as possible. Everyone does their business in the stream and it floats downstream. You end up getting all the streamwash from the upstreamers. Google+ will soon introduce Paddles. This will help you get upstream.
– the circles are groups you put people into. You put them there so you can manage your stream. Here are some sample circles you can create that will help you maintain huge upstream status: Big Defecators, Screamers, Cat Picture People, Jargonmakers, Triviawretchers, Ponceypontificators, BallsOutMonsters, SensitiveFeelers.
– Sparks are some kind of aggregator about things you’re interested in. The feeds are so banal that you may want to rename it weak embers. Or Duds. You can create your own like Porn and such.
Good Luck!

Which of course leaves out the fact that over on Yelp, they’re evaluating the quality of your stream.

From Annie Jennings:

Social Media Explained

Of course, as Gary Jones points out, it’s omitted Yelp: where SHOULD I pee?

Does everyone hate Yelp or what?

A really useful Chrome extension to display your G+ updates on your browser bar.

From Phandroid:

Google+ Cheat Sheet

The limitations of G+ superstardom, from Gilles Vitu:

G+ maximums

What we’re all trying to get to, via Cam Meadows:

+ infinity

and beyond!

Here’s how to pretend you’re on Twitter when you’re on G+.

Here’s how to pretend you’re on Facebook when you’re on G+.

Remember Tom from Myspace? Tom is still your good buddy, and he has some really useful G+ tips for you.

In case you can’t read those last tips, because they’re on Google+, you can always ask me for an invite.

Google Plus is Noah and now SO ARE YOU