This is a guestpost by Srinivas Rao from The Skool of Life.
I’ve been spending quite a bit of time on Google Plus and I’m finding that the quality of conversation with content creators is significantly higher there.
So I decided to put that theory to the test and ask some bloggers to share their best tips to on using Google Plus.
Here is a list of 14 bloggers (including myself) that are rocking the world of Google+ to connect and engage with new people, expand their reach and create more content. And they share their tips with you:
1. Chris C. Ducker
I’ve just recently included my Google+ profile link in the FIRST email my newsletter subscribers receive from me after opting-in… I’ve seen a dramatic jump in the number of people adding me to their circles. Sometimes is the simplest, easiest to execute things we forget that make all the difference. Connect with Chris on Google+
2. Branicka Underwood
From time to time, especially when I notice a lot of new people added me to their circles, I will post a message asking them to introduce themselves so we can connect. With so many new users (and some of them spammers) I could not keep up. But posting the message got some really great new people to tell me about themselves and I added them back. I made some great connections and communicate with them almost daily. Connect with Branicka on Google+
3. Sarah Peck
Tips I’d recommend, in no particular order; first, as with any social network, it’s always about community and interaction: I find I get the best results by engaging with people on their pages and comments as opposed to trying to bring people to my page. I’m still new to this community / circles, and so I have to do as much responding and commenting as I do sharing. Second, a lot of people seem to see G+ as “another” thing they have to do. I think that everyone has to choose what’s the best use of their time and money and resources — not everyone has it in them to build out several social media platforms. If you already have an active facebook community and a good newsletter crew, you don’t have to then bring everyone over to G+ and insist they use that, too. G+ may be a different audience for you, or a different tool that you can use to gain insights. For me, I connect most with other bloggers and small business owners here and less with my readers and business community. Do I learn a ton? Yes. Are my readers and followers here yet? No — and that’s fine! I still gain a lot by being on here, listening, watching and learning. Connect with Sarah on Google+
4. John Falchetto
Like any other social network, the goal should come before the action.
I think we need to ask ourselves what are looking to achieve here on G+ that we are not already doing on Twitter or FB? Connect with John on Google+
5. Bryce Christiansen
My tip is to not be afraid of hosting hangouts. I’ve hosted several public hangouts and always have new people join that I had never met before. We discuss a topic and get so much out of the interactions with people who are just as excited about social media as I am. Great way to meet new people and make connections. Connect with Bryce on Google+
6. Christian Hollingsworth
Make Google+ different. G+ comes with a unique set tools and uses apart from other social networks (e.g. longer posts are allowed). Don’t just make G+ your place to spew and re-digest information you’ve already posted on other networks. Use your inward creativity – and let it come forth in an outward, different way! Connect with Christian on Google+
7. Francisco Rosales
I think as a good step to get started, we should change our mentality about the network and don’t compare it with Facebook. One of the most important aspects of G+ is its open network approach which is built more like Twitter than Facebook. In other words, think more of “followers” than “friends”. You do not need to have a mutual connection to have a person in your “Circles” or to freely interact in a conversation and this makes it a great venue to meet new people and expand your reach as a blogger.
Finding new people in your niche is as easy as searching for specific keywords, from there you can engage in existing conversations, find related content and add folks to your Circles.
One more thing I’ll add: If you have an existing community on Facebook, don’t stop nurturing that, this is not a “one or the other” thing. Connect with Francisco on Google+
8. Mars Dorian
If you post a link to one of your articles, chose an interesting blog post image that works well in smaller sizes. Most people choose generic stock photos, but if you aim for a custom & curious little image, people think “WTF is that ?” and are more likely to click on it. It really works. Connect with Mars on Google+
9. Karl Staib
My tip would be to stay curious. In other social networks I’ve gotten into routines. I have the same people on my lists and I don’t branch out as much as I used to. This is especially easy to do in Facebook because of their algorithms. I created a “get to know better” circle. Once I get to know them they move into a more defined circle for their interests. My goal for Google+ is to use it as a discovery platform instead of just hanging out with the same people. I also think we need to utilize G+’s more open platform. I love throwing Twitter parties because it gathers like minded people around a subject. G+ is now able to do this as well with their hashtag system and the topper is the Hangout feature. Once the 1st party is over you can create a 2nd party by adding a Hangout for additional Q&A. Connect with Karl on Google+
10. Leo Widrich
One thing that I found to work really well, if you share posts with specific circles it comes up as a red notification saying “shared this post with you”, whilst it’s key not to overdo this, I feel if you do it ever so often, it can increase engagement with your Google+ posts a lot more – I always open these posts! Connect With Leo on Google+
11. Srinivas Rao
I think you should have spend as much time as possible on Google+. The thing with new platforms is that we often don’t even know how they can be used. People had no idea we would find so many uses for twitter.
I think given that Google+ is in its infancy, early adopters will be rewarded. Connect with Srinivas on Google+
12. Conni Bisealski
Google+ is a great way to meet other people and make new connections. It’s much more open and public than Facebook in that respect. To benefit from that, it’s important to have a proper filled out profile – even if you don’t have your own website or blog. (No info, no interest)
- I enjoy checking out the ‘suggestions’. I have come across some really interesting people that way.
- I love it when people share their circles of cool/remarkable/interesting/fascinating people. They are worth gold.
- Google+ for me is sort of like an extended version of Twitter as it is very interest based (probably an aspect most of my friends on Facebook don’t get)
- It is my favorite social media channel to connect and interact with people from the blogosphere. I also really enjoy the intellectual level and thus quality of discussions here. Connect with Conni on Google+
13. Kelby Carr
Be sure to implement the tools available on your blog: buttons so people can G+ each post, using rel=publisher tag/Google+ badge on your blog and using the rel=author tag on your posts. Also be sure you are using Google Analytics. It pulls in nice statistics about social sharing of your blog on Google+. Connect with Kelby on Google+
14. Angela England
I think one of the powers of Google + is being able to implement circles for SHARING as well as monitoring activity. I can share a pregnancy related post with those I know are specifically interested, without “spamming” everyone with it. It’s especially important for someone like me that doesn’t focus on one small niche – I’m active in social media and blogging communities, as well as pregnancy, homesteading, and gardening. While that diversity is a huge part of who I am as a human being, that doesn’t always mean that everyone from all those circles wants to read everything I write. Believe it or not. Connect with Angela on Google+
Srinivas Rao is the author of The Skool of Life and the Host-Co Founder of BlogcastFM, where you can get access to a FREE webinar on The 7 Pillars of Blog Traffic. Connect with Srinivas on Google+
