This document provides instructions for setting up and using Google+ Hangouts. It explains how to create a Google+ profile, add contacts, enable chat, set up your Hangout settings, start a Hangout by inviting people, and how invitations to join Hangouts appear. Additional resources for learning more about Hangouts are also included.
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A Quick Start Guide to Google+ Hangouts
Mike Lee
Social Marketing, Americas
2. Video chat face-to-face from anywhere
• Supports up to 10 people
• Computer of Google+ mobile app (iPhone & Android)
Host virtual meetings
• Collaborate on office documents (Google Drive)
• Show presentations with screen-sharing
Live-stream with Hangouts On Air
• Stream your hangout publicly on Google+ and YouTube channel
• Save instantly and automatically to YouTube
What is Google+ Hangout?
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4. 1. Go to http://plus.google.com/
2. Sign in with your existing Google account (or create a new account)
3. Enter your public profile information
• Add people you know (can do this later)
• Follow influential people and pages (can do this later)
4. Upload a profile photo, or take a picture with your webcam (don’t skip this!)
5. Enter your employer, school, and location (helps with profile search)
Create a Google+ Profile
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Your profile is now set up, and you’ll be directed to the Google+ dashboard:
• Take the feature tour (recommended)
• Activate instant messaging by clicking the button on the right side
• Invite contacts to chat by entering their email address in the field
Enable Chat
5. 1. From the dashboard, click the “Find people” button
2. Click the “Your circles” tab
3. Add team members to a Circle
• If you can’t find someone’s Google+ profile, add them manually by email address
• Create a custom circles for your teams, projects, etc.
Google+ Profile – Add People to Circles
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What are Google+ Circles?
Google+ allows you group your contacts into “circles,” so you can selectively share and receive
updates based on your relationships with them.
You can create custom circles, and the same person can be added to different circles.
6. 1. From the dashboard, click the “Hangouts” button
2. Click
3. Install the Hangout plugin if a prompt appears
4. Click the settings icon in the top right
• Webcam: Can you see yourself live?
• Microphone: Does the levels bar move when you speak?
• Audio: Can you hear the test sound through your headphones?
Google+ Hangout – Initial Setup
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START A HANGOUT
Must-Have Requirements
• Webcam (built-in or external)
• Microphone (built-in or external)
• Headphones (eliminates “echo”)
If everything works as expected, then you’re ready to Hangout!
7. 1. Click the button from the Google+ dashboard
2. Invite people to join (3 ways):
• Search by Google+ profile name
• Add entire Circles
• Enter email addresses
3. Give your hangout a name
4. Click to start
Starting a Hangout
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Hang out
8. Joining a Hangout
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Invitation notifications appear in 3 places:
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Bottom of Google+ dashboard
Chat window appears with “Join” button
(only occurs if a chat invitation was
previously accepted between contacts)
Top right of Google+ dashboard
• Notification counter turns red
• Click the counter to expand
• Select the notification to join
Email sent to your inbox with “Join Hangout” link
9. Google+ Dashboard
http://plus.google.com/
Google Hangout Features Overview
http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/
12 Ways to Connect, Create, and Collaborate Using Google Hangouts
http://www.copyblogger.com/google-hangout-content/
Obama’s 2013 Google+ Fireside Hangout (Example of Hangout in action)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gU09bWifFo
Additional Resources
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