![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.christophergronlund.com\/blog\/tjw\/images\/gpluslogo.jpg\" "\\"Google+")
The first thing I noticed about Google+ when I received an invite and checked it out: no Farmville, Mob Wars, or other games filling people’s feeds!<\/p>\nThe first thing I noticed about Google+ when I received an invite and checked it out: no Farmville, Mob Wars, or other games filling people’s feeds!<\/p>\n
The second thing I noticed: “Aside from no Farmville, this is almost exactly like Facebook.”<\/p>\n
The third thing I noticed: I was wrong about Google+ being almost exactly like Facebook.<\/p>\n
I’ve heard people describe Google+ like the marriage of Facebook and Twitter. (I’ve described it that way myself.) By that, I think people mean that Google+ functions similarly to Facebook in its layout, but the follow feature mimics Twitter’s ability to follow anybody without them following you back. There’s some accuracy in the “Google+ is like Facebook meets Twitter,” statement, but there’s still something different about it after using it for awhile.<\/p>\n
Unless somebody is an “SEO evangelist who can show YOU how to maximize your online presence for BIG Buck$!” I’ll eventually follow people back on Twitter.<\/p>\n
If I don’t know you and you try following me on Facebook, I don’t follow back. (More on why in the next section.)<\/p>\n
With Google+, I find myself following more acquaintances and strangers, but I don’t feel as compelled to follow everybody back, like I typically do with Twitter.<\/p>\n
Everybody uses social networks differently. The way I use something is probably not exactly how and why you use it…and vice-versa.<\/p>\n
I have friends who can’t understand why I’m on Twitter because they hate it.Even after explaining that I’ve set Twitter up to feed me news and information about the things I like, it doesn’t change their minds. Other people I know have long conversations on Twitter; it’s what they love <\/em>about it. Since I disconnect from things when I’m writing and working, I don’t really chat with people on Twitter, because it’s all so short and immediate. But I’d never tell somebody to use Twitter as I use it, because we all use things (or don’t use them), based on personal preferences.<\/p>\n Facebook is a place where I communicate with people I actually know. I have a Facebook page for the Juggling Writer<\/a>, but it’s never really worked well for me. Just because it hasn’t worked for me, though, doesn’t mean I’d never tell others to avoid Facebook pages. A photographer friend’s<\/a> business really took off because of her Facebook page. Other photographers<\/a> are doing well with Google+.<\/p>\n I’ve never understood people’s need to take sides with technology. “Mac beats PCs!” “Android phones are better than iPhones!” “Twitter vs. Facebook.”<\/em><\/p>\n I’m also not a fan of those who tell others how to use a particular technology. I think it’s important for people to be curious, check things out, and decide what’s right for them. So far, for writing and other things I do, I can see a day when Google+ is my social network of choice.<\/p>\n That may not be the case for others.<\/p>\n Naturally, I’ve thought about how Google+ can be used for writers. I’ve only just begun tinkering with its features and thinking about how I can use them, but I think it’s a pretty nifty social network. I’d write about Google+ for writers right now, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.<\/p>\n Right now, I’m going to disconnect from everything and see the last Harry Potter movie with my wife…<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\nGoogle+ for Writers
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