Do We Really Need Google Plus?

Some personal ramblings...


I live in 2 different worlds.

Actually more than 2 it seems as we have different parts of our lives that sometimes don't overlap very much.

The Tech/Geek/Net-connected world is one.

The not connected world is the other.

I'm mostly in the connected world due to all of my online activity.

My wife is not. She is starting to check her Facebook page daily and her email daily. And she will text, but nothing like her daughter.

So I wonder about the continued growth of social networks and social channels and social platforms and social apps and social thing-a ma-gigs.

Facebook is now Mainstream.

Twitter is Mainstream Geeky.

LinkedIn is becoming Mainstream Professional.

Google Plus?

When they launched it last week, I was mostly away from my laptop all day and missed out on the limited edition roll out.

When they reopened it last night, I happened to be online and got started.

But why?

Will it go "Facebook Mainstream"? Will it make it to Mainstream Geeky like Twitter?

The real question is will the mainstreamers who embraced Facebook add Google Plus to their collection of Social Media Communication Tools or will we need a movie, aka The Social Network to push it over the edge.

The truth is it is way too early to tell.

It's like predicting who will win the 2020 election.

What are your thoughts?


ScLoHo is Scott Howard, a Solutions Consultant with Cirrus ABS. You can contact him here:

Social Media is Mainstream

Friday I posted a story about the Online Revolution extends beyond Social Media. Click here to read more.

But Social Media continues to explode as I'm sure you'll agree after watching this 4 minute video:

Google will Automatically Search for You

As I was reviewing recently the topics I would be covering on ScLoHo's Social Media Adventure, one of the topics was Google Alerts.

I've used Google Alerts for a few years to monitor various subjects.

What's really C & C, (Cool & Convenient), is that instead of doing a search on Google every once in awhile, you can have Google automatically search for the subject matter you are looking for.

All you need is a Google account.

Don't have one yet?

Please set one up now at: https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount

Now to demonstrate in 81 seconds how to set up a Google Alert, here's @CraigDCrook:

You Don't Have To

Despite what others might tell you,

You don't have to be online.

You don't have to be on Facebook.

You don't have to be on Twitter.

You don't have to have a blog, a website, an email address. You really don't.

You can hide from all of this in the name of Privacy.

I know this because a co-worker of mine who we hired at our radio stations 2 years ago had none of these when he started.

Heck, he didn't have a computer and never used one.

He had a successful sales career selling aerial photography for 25 years to farmers.

Then Google came along.

Google Maps and Google Earth basically wiped out his business.

Now those farmers can go online and see their spread free.

So my co-worker started a new career at age 53. Wednesday he turned 55.

He has an email address. But he is functionally illiterate in this computer/internet/social media world.

See, I respect your decision not to participate but...

You are placing yourself at a disadvantage in a world that will be using these tech tools if they are not already.

Age is not the issue. I have another friend who bought his first computer 2 years ago. He is now 69 and doing more than my co-worker with his computer and online.

We have been entering a tech world that is going to separate the connected from the unconnected. And as each year passes that gap will grow wider and wider.

You don't have to know it all, no one does and no one will.

But if you DO want to do this internet/social media thing, there are plenty of free resources, including this website to help you.

I'll be back Monday with more.

Beyond Facebook

Facebook has its place, but don't believe that Facebook is everything you need to be involved with Social Media.

There are two additional Social Media sites I believe you should be on:

Twitter

and

LinkedIn.

In the days ahead, I'll give you some tips and pointers on these two social media platforms, but first here's why I believe you should be involved with these two platforms.

They are not Facebook.

For the opposite reason that I am on Facebook, I am also on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Why am I on Facebook? Because "everyone" else it on Facebook.

It's where the masses of people are. I can find nearly anyone, from my 80 year old Uncle Bill to my wife's 12 year old grandson.

Facebook is not exclusive, it is inclusive. I use Facebook to find others and to be found.

Twitter and LinkedIn, are much more exclusive. Not because they have certain requirements that keeps people from joining. They have different purposes which people don't always understand.

But like I said, I'll dig into those more in the future.

My primary online presence, my first venture into the social media world, was none of these.

In 2004, I started my first Blog. And it was my blogging that gathered attention. Google loves Blogs. Start a blog and do it right, and you can turn up in search results with Google, Yahoo and Bing.

So, Blogging is another path I'll take you on with this adventure.

And I encourage you to ask questions, make comments, agree, disagree, it's up to you. All I request is that you keep it clean and if you spam, you will be blocked.

Also depending on the time of day, it may be a few hours before I can respond.