Circloscope - Circle Management Tool

+Circloscope Premium is an excellent tool for circle management: I do recommend the paid version for 5 AUD.

My 50 most relevant profiles on Google+ and around Google

Here's information about where the data comes from:

Relevance score is a number calculated by Google+ itself, based on the interactions between you and people in your circles across various Google products.

These interactions could even be sending and receiving emails via gmail, having chat or hangout, plussing, resharing, commenting on google+, etc.

Currently, there're no official material on the subject but you can search the circloscope community for "score" in order to see some good discussion and read various observations on the subject, between power circloscope users :-)

How to get yours:

Buy Circloscope Premium!

Step 1:
Head over to www.circloscope.com and install the latest version of Circloscope Premium  (v2013.5.18) on your Chrome browser.

Step 2:
Open circloscope by clicking on the icon on your chrome toolbar. And go to "Action > Visualize > 50 Most Relevant".

Step 3:
Take a screenshot of your 50 most relevant people and edit the photo as you like :-)

Step 4 (optional):
You can notify them as well using circloscope by:
1- Filter > Sort By > Relevance (Z-a)
2- Select the first 50 thumbnails by mouse dragging
3- Action > Export Selected > to TXT
4- Open the resulting file and copy-paste Google+ ids to your post.

Step 5:
Publish the post with these instructions, your 50 most relevant photo, the notifications (optional) and this hashtag  

My top 50 across Google products engagers:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

It's nice to be engaging with you all, either on business or pleasure.
With quite a few I have mostly email or Hangout interactions for business, but they still show up here.
Here is my original post with +mentions so you can add people.

More about Circloscope - instructional post from the developer +Ehsan Ahmadi Gharacheh 


Very interesting! :-)  Or is it? Please leave a comment!

     

Photos and videos in profile tabs - Google+ update

Having had time to look around the new Google+ profile design, I'm quite content with the changes Google has made.  Try looking at your own profile as the Public and you'll see the difference.

Some people were panicking because they saw private photos or videos displayed but those are only visible to yourself and to those they have been shared with.

Photos tab

Overall a new, fresh look.

At the end of the photos tab page one can find this:  If you have been tagged in, let's say Hangout screenshots, they are portrayed here.  Again only the images shared in Public.

Video / YouTube tab

This was a cause for concern for some users:  These are the videos uploaded directly to Google+.

Viewing the profile as yourself, you can see all the private and secret stuff, but no worries, no-one else can. 

Only those you have shared the videos with have access.

This is what the Public will see: First all the videos you have uploaded to YouTube and which are public. After these come those the videos that have been uploaded to Google+ and have been made public.

You control what anyone can see on your profile: The privacy settings can be modified just the way you want them to be.

Google+ support pages for photos

Your Google+ settings for privacy

Earlier posts about the new profile:   Details about the update   Ideas for images with a bonus

Is there something else you'd like to see on your profile?  Or rather not see at all?

10 Google+ profile images for ideas

I was browsing around the Google+ after the update for new profiles and found some nice uses of photos and of course, Photoshop in some cases.  Good & useful links at the end of this post.

Enjoy and perhaps get some ideas for your own profile:

If you don't have any good photos yourself, take a look at this:

Here is a very kind offer from +Trey Ratcliff

An album with 1000 of his photos, free to use! (Creative Commons non-commercial)

Here are images from me, also free to use for non-commercial purposes

Looking for a collage of your photos to screenshot and crop? Change your own Google+ ID in the URL. You may also edit the width: Now 200. Just change the number there at the end of the URL.


This is what Google+ and the Circleverse is all about. Sharing.

Google+ updated profile: Upgrade!

Google has made changes in how our profile on the Google+ looks like. One can partially opt out of the "upgrade" but with the larger image I must admit this looks good!
If you don't want the really large image, then you'll have the same old banner size but note that the avatar pic and texts have been moved to the bottom.

Why this change? Because of the Feedback the users have sent. +Chris Messina posts more about the reasons for the change.

Warning: Once you change, that's it. No going back.

The photos can be from your posts, albums or hard drive. Choose, crop and save. With the white text next to the avatar image, it'd be good to have a dark lower part of the picture, though there is some partial shadowing done by Google.

The old banner image size of 940 x 180 pixels was a bit awkward, the new photo is much larger than before (from the minimum of 480 x 270 to 2120 x 1192), and displays in 16 x 9 when fully expanded.  What may prove a bit more difficult is the round avatar crop:  Brand logos don't necessarily quite fit inside the balloon...

Could we have a round crop, please Google?


Googler +Sara McKinley posted about the update:

Some profile & page improvements, per your request

We spend lots of time listening to your feedback, and today we're launching some profile and page updates that you've been asking for. These include:

- A new tab for your Local reviews. In addition to your photos, +1's and YouTube videos, there's now a place for all your Local reviews. Highlight your favorite restaurants, or hide the tab completely via settings -- it's completely up to you.

- An easier way to edit your info. The 'About' tab now consists of separate cards (like Story, Places, and Links) -- each with its own prominent edit link. As always: you can share specific fields with specific circles, or keep them just for you.

- Bigger cover photos, with a better aspect ratio. Cover photos are much larger than before (up to 2120px by 1192px), and they display in 16x9 when fully expanded. This way more images can be used as cover photos, and there’s more room for your selection to shine.

Everything's rolling out gradually, so check back soon if you don't see it yet. Once it’s live let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The whole look is much nicer and clearer, with each category of content in its own box. The editing is also easier, each box has it's own Edit button.  And Reviews are now visible in a tab so this is a welcome change for the Google+ Local pages.

Photoshop measurements

For those familiar with Photoshop, you could download this image and use it as a model for optimizing the large image.

Thanks to +Stephan Hovnanian for a great job here:

The blocking and reporting are now under a cogwheel in the profiles:

The new hovercard needs some work with the texts... Hmm.

This is new: You can now to start a Hangout, send an email or chat with the person, directly from the hovercard - depending on their settings.  If a person is in your chatlist you can start chatting but if they are not, and they only allow their circles to contact them, well.

You can check your profile from this link to see if the upgrade is available to you.  Other changes in your profile, check this link.

Mobile users: You can choose which part of your big pic shows when your profile is viewed via the mobile app by clicking the camera icon when viewing your profile and repositioning the image.

And here are some ideas for cover photos with a nice surprise at the end of the post!



Do you like this change, will you upgrade or keep the old banner? Why?

All new Google+ Explore - What's Hot for you!

I've been criticizing the Google+ Explore stream in the past, on this post for instance.
This tab view may be different depending on which language you use Google+: I have US English as the primary language. Change yours in the settings.

It seemed to be full of nonsense and Facebookish photo posts and depending on your settings you saw some of those in your main or home stream.  Not all want the aphorisms or poolpics...
I have been asking for more serious posts.

There are millions of people who like the aphorism posts so that's why they're on top of the Explore stream. But for us who are not interested in those, unless we visit that stream we shouldn't see them in our Home stream.

The change is rolling out slowly, the posts we get to see lifted in our Home stream, with our own preferences (+1's) and those of the people we engage with.  Still extensive testing and work going on. Hopefully soon the WH throws more topic-related posts our way, posted by people not yet in circles...

The What's Hot is a mixture of the most popular posts and what Google thinks might be interesting to us.

The recent change is in the posts Google lifts up in our streams: I'm getting all sorts of interesting stuff from people not in my circles but on topics I'm interested in and have posted about.
I'm not getting the most plussed posts in my stream anymore but the ones with less popularity and "more sense" to me. :-)
It's all coming together, the brand new social. Without silly paid ads.

Just based on our own interests.
They know who are in your circles, what posts you have plussed, about the topics you write about and share with the Circleverse. 
Patience.

EDIT: The latest example above:

This post had only 3 plusones and one share, so you'd not think that this is the normal stuff for the Explore stream.

However: This is just the thing for me, based on my posts, topics, interests and followings.

I'm a Finn like the two divers. I have been to Phuket several times, have posted about Phuket and shared photos of Phuket dives. I had no idea that these three profiles existed on Google+.

But Google+ knows, all about me that I've wanted to share and now it's starting to pay off.

I just circled all three, then went to +Merlin Divers Co., Ltd. page and circled some more...
Excellent!


Settings:

I've had my Explore stream setting on fairly muted:  Getting a silly post every now and then, just keeping an eye on that stream.  Well, I'm changing that right now, up one notch.
This is so interesting: To see what Google comes up with!

The chief architect of Google+, +Yonatan Zunger just commented on my post where I was wondering about the interesting content appearing in the stream:

Yup; it's a lot more personalized. We're working to really make a system that recommends things (content, people, etc) specifically to you. It's nowhere near perfect yet, but we've made a lot of progress.

Later he added:

These changes are happening all the time and have been since WH launched. This is a cumulative thing, not a single big revision to WH. 

Well, the way I get interesting posts lifted from the WH into my stream now, I say thank you Google.  This is one of the best things that can happen - at least I think so.
If you don't see the change yet, be patient.

By the way, all your saved searches are to be found on this Explore tab, too.

This I do like:  To see really useful posts in the "What's Hot & Recommended" box appearing in my Home stream.
Now I feel they're recommended to me!

There is another side to the story:  

I was wondering how my posts about Google Drive, Gmail or Thai food suddenly gained so much interaction lately.  It seems there are other people also interested in those, so the posts have made brief appearances in the WH stream.

Game changer or?

What about you, have you paid any attention to the Explore stream? Has it changed for you in any way?

Link dumping is not recommended on Google+

Don't just dump a link in your post!

Using Hootsuite or similar has its dangers if the post is aimed at Twitter and 140 characters...

Read on.

Google+ link sharing

When sharing a link, use the ‘link box’. It makes the post look much nicer, without the URL showing in the text.

Have to say, there is a small bug: One sometimes has to paste the link twice before it shows. Or you can just paste the link in the text box, watch it appear with the thumbnail and then just delete the link from the text.

Rel=follow link

Many times there is a choice of thumbnail pictures to be displayed, so just mouse over and toggle the small arrows on top of the picture to change it.  If it's your own content, make sure your post includes at least one good image for an attractive thumbnail!

Non Rel=follow link

If the link does not come out nicely, doesn’t have a picture, for instance; then you can download a picture which catches the attention and just add the link inside the text, maybe in the end with a 'Read more' suggestion. Though then the link will not be crawled for the SEO purposes.

This is not the best way to share a link, but as we are "hoomans" sometimes this can be the best we get from the ol' brain:

It's much better to write a few words why you are sharing the link: Maybe copy part of the key text and use a snappy headline.  Making a short list of the contents is always good, too.  And asking a question to get people engaging with you.

Noteworthy

- Good news for brands: Any content that is posted in Public Communities on Google Plus is indexed by Google. Please keep in mind that the Community should be public and not a private one.

- Don't share directly from Twitter, that is annoying on Google+ especially if the text is full of #hashtags
Google+ is not Twitter.

Hashtags are useful for search but don't overdo them!  One row at the bottom of the post should do the trick, unless you'd like to use one main hashtag in the headline for more value.

- Editing already published posts is possible: Delete a photo and replace it with a link. Not possible the other way round, unfortunately.

I wish Google would give us a WYSIWYG -like text editor for posts: Like we have already on our profile's "About" page...  That would be a game changer for bloggers and writers.

Rel=follow -what does it mean?

AuthorRank vs Brandrank?

Something you'd like to add?

Verify and book your Google Plus business page!

This post is mainly about travel.  Well, not as such.
There are many tourism organisations on Google+, or that's what you'd think.

One of the successful ones is +Visit Greece with over a million circlers or followers.
They've taken the job at hand and made the best of it.

This page is verified: 

See the little grey V after the name. People know they can trust the posts from this page.
They have a community visible on the profile page, too. That gives a chance for Greece enthusiasts to share photos, tips or stories themselves as there is no "wall" on Google+ and one cannot post on any business page, unless in the comments thread to a post.

Then comes +Visit Norway:  Lets take a look at another, at first look a similar Page:

This page is verified, too.

What are they doing wrong, because they only have only around 4000 followers on Google+?
They are sharing the Twitter posts here. Using Hootsuite or automatic posting.
Google+ is not Twitter, nor is it about 140 characters.

The Google+ has unlimited characters on posts. Well, very close, anyway.
The thing here is:
Google+ users have grown accustomed to good content. Not just dumping links but one should be actually explaining why you share any.  Give the story some depth and background. Engage.

Then there are the rogue ones;


Thailand has no verified Page on Google+. I just wonder why...
It could be that this is the real deal but we have no way of knowing because the Page is not verified via the email or the official site.

Someone can pinch your company name?

Anyone can create a business Page with whatever name on G+.  I have done so for +Tourism Malaysia Nordic. We did some business together and I have suggested to them that I could start producing content and promoting the Page if they're too busy. Or, if they wish to take the Page off my hands, they're welcome. All is paid for. It seems a pity just to leave it there without posts...

If I search for Malaysia on Google+, this is what I get from "People and Pages" search.
There is +Malaysia Airlines which is verified. Then comes +Malaysia : Truly Asia - not verified - and after that my Malaysia Nordic Page.  Pity.

What can businesses learn from this?

Grab your name now, get in Google+, the water is warm and teeming with life.

There can be several Google+ Communities with the same name, and some business Pages with the same name, too. What is yours, by rights?

Have you reserved yours already? And verified it with Google?

How positively engaging are you in Google Plus?

What is the +1 for, or what you have wanted to know about the +1 features...

Click on the images to enlarge them.

What is your input to Google+?

There is one easy way to measure your input.
Just check how many +1:s you have given inside the platform.

Come on, giving a +1 is a positive action, be it on a post or comment.

So, how many?

Check the amount here on your Google Dashboard.

Mine are 94270 given +1:s inside G+, at the moment, 

on average 159 per day since June 30th 2011 (593 days).

Just divide your given +1's with the days you've been using G+.

Use this tool to get the number of days.

Don't remember when you started on Google+?

Check here for when you posted for the first time in public, maybe that helps.
Copy your own G+ ID number from your profile URL and insert it to replace mine.
Great tool by +Jari Huomo 

Why is it not possible to see what I have Plussed inside Google+?

Many ask this. Well, with tens of thousands of given +1's it's not feasible, the list would eat a lot of bandwidth and slow everything down.
+1 is like a blown kiss, once bestowed, quickly forgotten... :-)

External +1 button for Chrome and Firefox

You can use +1 button for sharing to G+ from the web / saving stuff on your +1 tab (G+ profile) from web.  Here's my tab in case you're interested.
- before last update in FEB one could also save Google+ posts with this external +1 button, they appeared on the same +1 tab but this feature seems to have stopped working...

 (Giving a +1 to a post does NOT save it anywhere).

Get the extensions:  Chrome   Firefox

Your posts and received Pluses

If you want to see how many +1:s your posts have received, check this out: All my +

Let it load for a while until all the data is there.
Site created by +Gerwin Sturm

Oh, if you want to check your past public comments, use this Minimali.se tool, also by Gerwin.

What do the people in your Circles recommend

There is a new use coming for the external +1's given on any website.

I found this search feature on Google:

Find the Plusone (+1) recommendations from your circles in Google+ search!

This is the search I did for Chromebook like you can see in the image below, and here is the general search for given Plusones on a number of topics from your circles.


I think this G+ search feature is still in progress, but interesting nevertheless.

What if one does not want to +1...

When someone comments on my posts and the comment is not just Hiii or LOL, I usually give a +1 to the it, just to show appreciation. 

When I read my stream, I give +1's on many posts to show I've read it and also to other people's interesting comments.
If I'm not very busy, I do add a comment. If I really like the post, I share it.

There is no one right way how to use Google+ so everyone can do as they wish. I have found a good pattern for myself, which works.

I try to comment as much as I can on my own posts and if I'm busy at least reward people for taking the time to comment by giving them +1's in the threads.

That's a big part of the engaging to me: For someone else another pattern may work better.

There is no must on Google+.

Links:

More about +1 button from Google

Add the +1 button to your website

Want to save this blog post for sharing later on the Plus?
See the many ways to do it!

Do you use the +1 button internally or externally?

Got any tips of your own to share with us?

Please leave a comment!