Google+ was launched on June 28, 2011, as a social networking platform aiming to organize information around people, quickly attracting 10 million users. It features unique aspects like circles for managing contacts, granular sharing options, and integrated chat, though it also has limitations in user engagement and mobile functionality. The platform faces competition from established networks like Facebook and Twitter and plans to evolve through integrating more Google services and possibly introducing games.

1. sharespot.
July 19, 2011

2. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information.
They believe information on the web
is increasingly organized around people.
Thus was born Google+

3. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Google+ launched on June 28 in closed beta.
2 weeks later: 10 million users + 1 billion items shared
Distinguishing characteristics:
• Pervasive notification system
• Required to sort people into circles
• Granular sharing & viewing options
• Real names only
• Non-members receive content via email
• Could be integrated with other google properties in the future

4. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Circles
• Drag & drop (+ animations)
• One way relationships
• Sorted by “relevance” (v Katango)
• Limited to 5,000 people
• Names of circles are private
• Problems: maintenance, recall, lack of nesting

5. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Stream
• See entire stream, or narrow by circle
• You can +1, Comment, or Share
• Shares, Hangouts, check-ins show up
• Mute posts to delete from stream
• Integrated G-chat
• Problems:
• new comments push posts up
• no nested comments

6. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Share what’s new...
• Embed photo, video, link, location
• Choose circle(s) to share with
• Add a “+” or “@” to mention someone
• You can edit posts after publishing
• You can disable comments & shares
• Problems:
• No native “save draft” option
• Limited formatting features
• No support for hashtags

7. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Hangouts
• Video chat with up to 10 people
• Speaker highlighted at center
• Watch YouTube videos together
• Embedded chat
• Google translate for text chat
• Invitations can come via stream,
notification, IM
• Can’t kick anyone out of a hangout

8. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Sparks
“It’s focused on getting stuff that’s fresh and social and fun.
We’ve tried to tune parameters to get something that’s
engaging,” says Andrew Tomkins, Google+ search engineer.

9. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Photos
• Lightbox photo viewing
• Unlimited Picasa storage
• Edit photos (6 filters, crop & rotate)
• Tag people in photos
• Instant upload from mobile, or drag & drop desktop
• Problems: can’t (natively) sync to other services

10. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Profile
• Google Profile is public
• Posts are separate tab from stream
• +1s & Buzz
• Links to other profiles are easy
• YouTube doesn’t integrate videos

11. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Search Engine Optimization
• +1s impact search
• +1 buttons integrate with Google Analytics
• Your +1s are a feature of your Profile
• +1s impact Sparks

12. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Take Out
Your Google+ data is portable to other networks

13. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Pervasive Notifications
Google+ notifications appear in the “Google Bar” while viewing
Google, Gmail, Reader, Docs, Maps, etc.

14. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Mobile
• Android only app
• Check-in from Google Places
• “Nearby” circle
• Huddles = group chat

15. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Google+ (currently) lacks
• Users (even if all Gmail users convert, only 200m)
• Females (~70% male)
• Search (non-people oriented)
• WYSIWYG drafting
• “+” doesn’t play well online
• Google apps integration
• API
• Verified accounts
• Brands
• Weighted circles
• Bookmarking feature
• Events
• Clear user understanding of privacy

16. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Upcoming Google+ features found in the code
Games (Google has already invested $100m+ in Zynga, acquired Slide)
Questions
Shared Circles

17. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
What’s the future for...?

18. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Who are likely competitors?
Facebook
Twitter
Yammer
Skype
GroupMe

19. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Differences in UI
less clutter (for now) more time spent outside the stream

20. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Facebook Google+ Twitter

21. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Hacks
Search: http://gplussearch.com/
Vanity URL: http://gplus.to/username
Facebook Circles: http://www.circlehack.com
Stats: http://socialstatistics.com/
Chrome extensions
• GoogleMINUS
• Facebook inside Google+
• Gmail notifications in the Google bar

22. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
7 great articles
http://kevnull.com/2011/07/can-we-ever-digitally-organize-our-friends.html
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/getty_images_says_google_plus_terms_of_service_is_ok.php
http://gizmodo.com/5821335/so-what-the-hell-are-we-supposed-to-put-on-google%252B
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/ad-free-google-plus-50/
http://www.slideshare.net/padday/the-real-life-social-network-v2
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/06/inside-google-plus-social/all/1
http://www.bryaneisenberg.com/2011/07/google-plus-facebook-knock-off-or-something-else/

23. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Provocative Questions
• Can Google+ scale quicker than Facebook can copy features?
• Is the average user willing to use & maintain circles?
• Which Google products will be integrated with Google+?
• Will granular sharing suppress viral content?
• Can Google surface the content I want to see in my stream?
• Can Google+ empower 3rd party developers & become a platform?

24. +You Intro Features Future Competitors Resources threespot
Discussion