Mastering Google Plus: A Beginner’s Guide to Unlocking Its Social Media Potential

For many, the mention of Google Plus (G+) used to evoke a mix of curiosity and resistance. It felt like stepping into a social gathering where everyone spoke a different language, and you didn’t know a soul. This feeling was particularly common among bloggers, business owners, and individuals accustomed to established platforms like Facebook and Twitter. While G+ might have seemed daunting at first, its underlying principles for connection and engagement were, in essence, quite similar to its counterparts, albeit with a unique Google-centric twist.

This guide is designed to walk you through the basics of Google Plus, taking you through the initial steps of setting up your presence and navigating its features. Think of it as your friendly tour guide at that social gathering, helping you find your way, introduce yourself, and start making meaningful connections.

Starting Right: Your Google Plus Identity

Before diving deep into posting and networking, it’s crucial to understand Google’s core philosophy for Google Plus: authenticity. Unlike some platforms where anonymity or brand-only profiles were common, G+ strongly emphasized individual identity.

The Importance of Your Real Name

Let’s start with a foundational step: ensure your account is set up with your actual name. Not your blog’s name, not your business’s name, but *your* name. Google was very particular about this, often flagging or even suspending accounts that used fake names, nicknames, or brand names as personal profiles. The platform was built on the premise of connecting real people with real interests.

This focus on personal identity wasn’t just a rule; it was a strategy for fostering genuine connections. On Facebook, many of us initially hid behind brand pages. However, once I started making my personal identity more visible on Facebook – sharing glimpses of my life as “Joan, a person with 3 kids, a hubby, and dirty dishes” – I noticed a significant increase in engagement. People connected with me on a human level. Google Plus aimed to replicate and amplify this by encouraging users to be their authentic selves. When you’re at a party and don’t know anyone, you naturally gravitate towards someone who seems relatable. G+ tried to make it easier for people to find “someone like them.”

Optimizing Your Google Plus Profile: Your Digital Introduction

Your Google Plus profile was your digital handshake, your first impression. Just like at a party, a well-presented individual is more approachable. An incomplete or generic profile could make you seem disengaged or less credible.

Your Profile Photo: Show Your Face

This is paramount. Your profile photo should be a clear, friendly picture of *you*. For the first six months, I used my blog’s button as my profile picture. While it didn’t cause immediate harm, it certainly didn’t help me connect on a personal level. I was hiding behind a brand. Google wanted to see the person behind the content. A genuine photo of you makes you instantly more relatable and trustworthy.

The Cover Photo: A Glimpse into Your World

Don’t leave that default green blank space Google initially provided. Your cover photo is prime real estate to showcase your personality, your passion, or your brand’s aesthetic. You could use a striking single image, a collage of your work (PicMonkey was an excellent tool for this, check them out at PicMonkey.com), or even the same cover photo you use on other social platforms for brand consistency. A complete profile signaled dedication and made you more attractive to potential followers.

Filling in the Blanks: More Than Just Information

Go through every section of your profile and fill it out thoroughly. Remember to use your full, real name. While some opted for a first name and initial, the safest bet for long-term account stability on Google Plus was always to use your full legal name. Google’s anti-spam and authenticity algorithms were robust, and you wouldn’t want to invest time into building a presence only to have your account flagged.

The All-Important Tagline: Your Elevator Pitch

After your photo and name, your tagline was arguably the most critical element. This short phrase appeared in your “Hover Card,” which popped up when someone moved their mouse over your name anywhere on G+. You only had about 35 characters to make an impression, so every word counted.

• Are you a “Foodie and recipe creator”?
• A “Crafting enthusiast & DIY blogger”?
• A “Tech writer and gadget reviewer”?

Your tagline immediately communicated who you were and what you were about. When engaging with posts and comments, people often checked Hover Cards to quickly gauge if someone shared similar interests or was worth connecting with. A compelling tagline was your instant pitch to a new potential friend or follower.

Other Profiles and Links: Expanding Your Digital Footprint

Don’t forget to fill in the “Other Profiles” section with links to your blog, website, and other social media accounts. This was a valuable opportunity for cross-promotion and discoverability. You never knew who might be looking to collaborate, sponsor, or simply follow you elsewhere online. Once your profile was complete, hit “Done Editing” to save all your hard work, and you were ready to start participating.

Engaging on Google Plus: Sharing and Connecting

Your First Post: Make It Visual!

Just like on Facebook, the golden rule for initial engagement on Google Plus was to post a PHOTO! Visual content consistently outperforms text-only posts in capturing attention.

To get started, navigate to your Home page (click the little house icon in the upper left if you’re not there). Use the camera icon to upload an eye-catching image directly from your computer.

Doesn’t that image just make you want to reach out and grab those rolls? That’s the power of a great photo. Compare that to a plain link:

Boring link, right? Always grab attention with a photo!

Crafting Your Post: Text and Hashtags

Along with your photo, add some engaging text and, critically, use hashtags. Google Plus incorporated searchable hashtags, similar to Twitter, but with a unique impact on discoverability within the Google ecosystem.

Choose 3-5 relevant keywords for your post and turn them into hashtags (e.g., #ChocolateCake, #BakingTips, #FoodBlogger). As you started typing a hashtag, G+ often suggested popular choices, which could help you reach a wider audience. You could also create your own unique hashtags, like your blog name (e.g., #ChocolateChocolateAndMore), to track your content easily. Hashtags were a powerful tool for extending the reach of your posts beyond your immediate circles.

Sharing Settings: Public or Private?

Before you hit the “Share” button, always double-check your sharing settings. This was a key differentiator for G+.

If your goal was to promote your blog or business, you almost always wanted to share to “Public.” This made your post visible to anyone on Google Plus and, importantly, allowed Google’s search algorithms to potentially index it, increasing your online visibility.

Notice how “Public” appeared in green, while specific circles were blue? Sharing to specific circles (like a “Family” circle) was perfect for personal updates you only wanted a select group to see. However, if you shared to “Public,” there was no need to also share it to your other circles, as they would automatically see any public posts.

Building Your Network: Finding Friends and Fostering Interaction

Now that you’ve posted something, it’s time to find your community and make new connections. Social media is, after all, about being social.

Searching for Like-Minded Individuals

If your circles were empty, or if you were looking to expand your network, the search bar was your best friend.

Simply type in one of those hashtag keywords you used earlier (e.g., #ChocolateCake) and hit enter.

The search results would show you posts and people discussing your chosen topic. That chocolate cake might catch your eye, leading you to discover others who share your enthusiasm for it. Click on their names, check out their profiles. They might be perfect additions to your circles, or they might not. Regardless, leaving a thoughtful comment on a post you genuinely enjoyed was always a good idea. Even if you didn’t immediately follow them, they might see your comment, check out your profile, and decide to follow you!

Active Engagement: The Key to Growth

To truly gain followers and build a vibrant network, you had to be interactive. This meant:

• +1’ing Posts: Similar to “liking” on other platforms, a +1 showed appreciation.
• Leaving Meaningful Comments: Go beyond “Great post!” Ask questions, share insights, or offer genuine compliments.
• Sharing Others’ Posts: When you shared someone else’s content, add your own positive comment and, crucially, mention their name using a “+”.

For instance, when sharing a post by Kelly Miller, you’d write a comment like, “This is fantastic, +Kelly Miller! Love your insights.” The “+” before their name would send a notification directly to them, letting them know you mentioned and shared their content. Active Plussers regularly checked their notifications to see who was interacting with them, making this a powerful tool for visibility and connection.

Understanding Notifications

That little red number box in the upper right corner of your Google Plus interface was your notification hub. It alerted you to comments on your posts, comments on posts you’d interacted with, +1s on your content, and shares of your posts. Clicking on it provided a quick and easy overview of all recent activity involving you, helping you stay on top of your engagement.

A Word of Caution: Shared Circles

You might occasionally encounter posts where people shared entire “circles” — lists of users grouped by interest, often advertised as “great Plussers” or “people to follow.”

While tempting, a word of free advice: unless you personally knew and trusted the person offering the circle, it was generally best to avoid adding them. These often led to a cluttered news feed filled with irrelevant content and people you didn’t genuinely connect with, requiring more work later to sort through. True relationship building on Google Plus, or any social platform, took time and genuine interaction. There was no “magic circle” that could replace actively finding people through searches, engaging in meaningful conversations on posts you both liked, and participating in Google+ Communities. We’ll delve into communities another time, but for now, focus on organic interaction.

Connecting with Good Plussers: Learn from the Best

To truly get the hang of Google Plus, observe and interact with those who mastered it. These “Good Plussers” not only provided valuable information and engaging posts but also demonstrated best practices in commenting, +1’ing, and sharing. They were the ones who truly understood how to build a vibrant presence.

Here are a few individuals who were exemplary Plussers, known for their insights and engagement:

• Joan Hayes (Foodie and aspiring Good Plusser – that’s me!)
• Chef Dennis Littley (Foodie and great source for G+ Information)
• Gareth Mark (Foodie and G+ guru)
• Jenny Melrose (Foodie, Crafter, G+ go-to for fast answers)
• Christie Daruwalla (Foodie, excellent Plusser, loved to share)
• Rachel Willis (Foodie and Crafter)
• Holly Waterfall (Food and Wellness)
• Trish Rosenquist (Foodie and Crafter)
• Mark Traphagen (G+ techie, knew his stuff)
• Carrie Farias (Foodie, great sharer)
• Kim Kelly (Food, Photography, and Travel)
• David Leite (Food and great G+ Info guy)
• Brooks Walker (Foodie and good Plusser)

Once you got settled and started engaging on Google Plus, don’t hesitate to let me know. I’d love to connect with you and add you to my circles!

I’m also sharing content at some great parties.