Networking on Google+ simply is not the same as Facebook or Twitter. Facebook, we assume that you already know the person, whether from twelve years of school or in the last thirty minutes at church. Twitter is about gaining followers and following people that you want to read about in the 140 characters. Even LinkedIn has a purpose of a job.
Google is about getting the information to people through their search engine. Google+ is designed to hit the personal side of this data that any number of search engines simply seem unable to do without the human environment. To say that Google+ is only a social network is to miss the purpose. But to recognize the motive of Google and how you can leverage that can put you ahead of the curve.
- Posting Is Good, Networking Is Good Too Social media is all about interacting with others. If your sole goal is to get a post of a product or brand out there so that people buy it, you are missing the whole point of social media. In fact, Google+ is for businesses, but as far from the marketing concepts you learn in school than any other. You need to interact with people, get to know them as much as you want them to know you. The qualities of friendship play a huge role in networking on Google+.
- Categorize Your Circles Well This will allow you to view your feeds in very compartmentalized sections that may help you engage with them better. Use circles to filter specific contacts within a certain field. Even better, share your circles with others so that they can follow those you find important. This tells people in your circles that you value them and also gives credibility to your tastes in people you network with.
- Engage Well And Be Gracious Reshare people’s content, give out +1’s to those that deserve it, and do not have any ulterior motives that you expect them to give it back. In fact, I would give as much or more time to engaging well as you do writing the content that you post on it. So, if you are taking 20 minutes a day to post on your Google+ page, then give at least that sifting through your circles and loving on people in your circles.
How else can you network well on Google+?
David Bartosik says
Feels like a lot more work and valuable if other people are using it but sadly seems that it is secondary or even worse right? Thanks for trying to get the revolution started Jeremy!
seventy8Productions says
I was in that camp for a long time, but we are assuming here that high numbers is what is necessary. In fact, the lower numbers and high commitment from active users has actually made this network the perfect place for possibilities to flourish. I have received more projects in this social medium in three months as I did from Twitters 6,000 followers over a year and half.