Since its launch at the end of last month, Google+ has garnered a great deal of (well-deserved) attention. Hundreds of thousands of people have been busy testing it out, asking questions, sharing tips, and casually chatting with one another.
Are you among the lucky ones who have been invited to use Google Plus? And are you looking for tips to make the most of this very promising social networking site? If so, this article is for you! Here are 10 tricks that you may want to implement right away.
Google Plus vanity URL
For the moment, users of Google+ cannot claim their vanity URLs. However, there are ways to get around that problem.
- If you own a domain name:
1) Log into your web hosting provider.
2) In your admin panel, look for the subdomain area.
3) Create a subdomain called "google".
4) Redirect that subdomain to your Google+ profile page (e.g. http://google.cendrinemarrouat.com).
- If you do not have a domain name:
Use a URL shortening service. Bit.ly and Tinyurl, for example, let you customize your short link (e.g. http://bit.ly/cendrinemarrouat).
Extended Share for Google Plus
Do you want to share your Google+ updates and links with your Facebook friends and Twitter followers? There is an Chrome extension for that.
Extended Share for Google Plus adds a "Send to ..." link under each post. Clicking it will prompt a dialog box asking you where you want to share your post.
To install Extended Share, visit the Chrome Web Store.
Liquid G+
Make your stream a little more exciting by displaying it in a two-column layout. Check out Liquid G+ and start enjoying Google Plus even more.
Tagging
When it comes to tagging people, Google Plus works like Facebook and Twitter. Just use the @ symbol and type the person’s name.
Hotkeys
Navigate your Google+ stream with ease by using the following keys:
- Space: Scroll down stream
- Shift Space: Scroll up stream
- J: Scroll down stream one post at a time
- K: Scroll up stream one post at a time
- Q: Go to chat (left column)
- Return: Start comment
- Enter: Skip line in comment and start new paragraph
- Tab + Enter: End comment
Email notifications
As soon as you sign up for Google Plus, you will start receiving notifications every time people leave comments under your updates, +1 them, tag you, or add you to one of their circles. This can become annoying very quickly.
In order to avoid this issue, visit your Google Account settings and uncheck the types of notifications you do not wish to receive.
Sparks
With Google Plus, you do not have to limit yourself to following people. You can also search for and discover interesting content to share with others. This is what Sparks is about. Visit the ‘Welcome’ section in the left sidebar of your Google+ page and click ‘Sparks’ to start.
Basic formatting
Liven up your updates. Add some basic text styles. For example:
- Paired asterisks (*Google*) bold the text: Google
- Paired underscores (_Google_) italicize the text: Google
- Paired dashes (-Google-) make strikethroughs
Hangouts
Google Plus allows you to start and join video chats with the click of a mouse. Visit the ‘Welcome’ section in the left sidebar of your Google+ page and click ‘Hangout’ to start.
Inviting people to Google Plus
Are your friends dying to try Google Plus? Inviting them is a very easy process. No need to use a special code or link.
1) Create a circle called ‘Google+ Invitees’
2) Enter the email addresses and names of the people you want to invite
3) Click ‘Save’
4) Update your stream with a message like “Test” or “Here is a new batch of invitations”
5) Make sure that you only share the update with members of your Google+ Invitees circle
6) Click ‘Share’
Do you know others tips? If so, feel free to share them in the comment section below.
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Cendrine Marrouat may be contacted for potential interviews, reviews and general enquiries at info@cendrinemarrouat.com
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