Google sure seems to be on a roll lately! Earlier this week Google brought out the much-anticipated Google +1, the mobile landing page creator, and best of all on June 29th it announced the new Facebook rival: Google +!
Of all the social networking sites that have popped up lately, Google + has struck a very sweet chord with us. Why? Because it’s core product goal is Privacy! Google + gives you complete control over who you share what type of information with!
Curious yet? Check out the video illustrating how Google + works:
Is Google + A True Rival To Social Networking Giants Facebook and Twitter?
Based on early reviews, Google + seems to have impressed many influential tech peeps and having tested it out ourselves, we can also attest to its ease of use and unique features.
Google was very clever in creating the similar feel of Facebook when it comes to Google +’s interface so it extremely easy to get started! Google + has many great features that are highlighted in this video by life hacker, but here is our personal favorite:
Circles: Circles allows you to categorize your contacts into groups, and share information that targets that specific group, this can range from family to colleagues to your dragon-boat racing club.
As a big privacy advocate, this is certainly music to our ears! We firmly believe that not everyone needs to know everything about you. Not only does such public sharing force you to give up control over who shares your information, but it can also be a safety risk.
How Can a REALTOR® Use Google +?
One word: Categorization!
The easiest way to be hidden from your friends’ Facebook News Feed, whether you have a page or a profile, is most certainly done by sharing the wrong information with the wrong crowd. Well Google +, seems to conquer this problem as it allows you to share specific information with specific groups of people.
As a simple example, say you have a group of clients who are actively searching for homes. Simply create a Google Circle specific to them and start sharing interesting listings you see, or information about home searching. Not only is this a non-intrusive way of sharing information, but it is also a great way of sharing personalized information with the right audience. It is also a great time saver as you can send out targeted messages without having to spend extra time sending numerous individual e-mails.
How about sharing positive market news with clients who are on the fence about buying/selling a house? Or even sharing your holiday pictures with clients who have become close friends! Oh the list can just go on and on. And unlike Facebook groups, the groups you belong to are kept absolutely private, and are extremely easy to create and maintain!
As of writing this, Google + is in an invite-only phase, where a select group have been given invites. But with all the buzz that has been created, we are pretty confident a mass public release is imminent!
Have you had a chance to test Google +? If so what are your thoughts on it? Will it be the downfall of Facebook? Is the privacy feature a key selling point for you, or is it irrelevant?
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