Category Archives: Google+ Blog

Slice of Life Photo

I can get caught up in taking photos of art and such that I forget to stop and take a snapshot of the daily mess that goes along with it. I hope when I am dead and buried that my kids will view these images and see that I lived a beautiful, joy filled life, despite the challenges. This has been today's image. A table full of art, creativity, the gift of wine, and the excitement of mess with a view. What isn't pictured is the chaos, the pain, the pile of 'must get dones' that didn't, but that's ok. I am cool with this pic saying the day was perfect. Hope yours was.

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VSA ARTS, for artists with disabilities

Being an artist is what I consider to be a gift, but being an artist with disabilities and part of the international Very Special Arts program along with many other artists who live with disabilities, is a privileged. If you aren't aware of the VSA program, it was created as a component of The Kennedy Center to foster the artistic talents in those who struggle with chronic illness, disease, or disability, and each state, along with many other countries have chapters which support and encourage artists like us. This month, the state chapter of Alabama will host Creativity in the Magic City in Birmingham and artists like me from around the state will gather at the AT&T Center to enjoy a night of celebration and art auctions. My paintings, "Twin Tanks, Twin Towers" was one of two chosen for this show and I am thrilled to be able to share it. If you know of an artist that struggles with disease or disability, I encourage you to reach out to the VSA Program in your state and to the national organization and become a VSA participating artist. Here is a link to the national chapter which has links to the state info as well.

http://www.vsaarts.org/education/vsa/

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Follower Counts Do Not Equate To Celebrity Status

Lately I have been getting feedback from newbies that they feel intimidated here on Google+ for several reasons but one in particular has stuck out to me as more of an issue than others. The perception from some is that "If someone has a high follower count here they will never take the time to engage with those of us who are new." I can only speak for myself but will let you in on a little secret about that crazy follower count and go out on a limb to shed some light on it. For me, it is a total crock. (ducks head) I am no celebrity and I LOVE to engage with anyone who wants to engage with me. I sit at home, in Alabama, most days in pajamas, and paint, or write, or cook, and simply take photos of things I love and I share them here. I study and work hard at posting well written/knowledgeable posts, but that doesn't make me in of need to the Google+ paparazzi. Some days I even deal with nightmare chronic pain but that's ok too. What I need for you to know is that I am an ordinary person her on Google+ who chooses to 1. Be Myself, 2. Be Kind, and 3. Reach out to strangers.

I don't sell a brand, could give a rats arse about numbers, and really want you to know that on a hunch, the MAJORITY of us that have what appears to be a large follower count to you who are new, most likely are just like me and enjoy interacting with YOU……and we are not celebrities.
So, please, ignore the follower counts. Be yourself, be kind, share what you love, and engage with others about what they love….that is my recipe for having a great Google+ experience here. (And if it helps, picture us all nekkid with hairy chests or something lol), just don't be intimidated in the least.

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New to Google+? This Will Help!

Just about all the links you can handle and more! Great info, thanks +Rahul Roy

Reshared post from +Rahul Roy

Top 50 posts of the week about Google+

(In no particular order)
1. Grow a Google+ Following and Get Users to Your Brand’s Page By +Kristoffer Howes > http://goo.gl/WFfgN
2. Google+ and Search Results Testing By +Mark Traphagen > http://goo.gl/Ponao
3. New Google, Google+ and Google+ Page Users +Denis Labelle > http://goo.gl/ZPasy
4. Interaction: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly! By +Bud Hoffman > http://goo.gl/QlDBp
5. How positively engaging are you in Google+? By +Jaana Nyström > http://goo.gl/X14E3
6. How to Get Circled by a TON of People on Google+ By +Anthony Fox > http://goo.gl/AQtCk
7. How to be really popular on G+ and get loads of followers NOW! By Matt Holmes > http://goo.gl/Adzsc
8. The G+ User Feedback Mechanism: a modest suggestion By +nomad dimitri > http://goo.gl/mbqpI
9. my point of view on the G+ ghost town stories … By +Jens Graikowski > http://goo.gl/Kn7sk
10. Newbie on G+? With less than 2000 circlers? By +martin shervington > http://goo.gl/WmslI

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11. +1-button on website also counts shares on +Google+! By +Arvid Bux > http://goo.gl/VbdZq
12. Trouble with Notifications? By +Shannon Adelson > http://goo.gl/qJ34C
13. *What Does Google+ Need to Do to Counteract the Press Negativity? By +Mark Traphagen http://goo.gl/wpHPe
14. How do you explain +Google+ to people? By +Chase Mann > http://goo.gl/sqxWu
15. 10 New Reasons You Should Quit Facebook By +Michelle Marie > http://goo.gl/qqm8R
16. Why Google+ is not a social network By +Lucas Johnson http://goo.gl/yfwC1
17. A Tip on How NOT to Get Blocked By +Anthony Fox > http://goo.gl/fE8z5
18. Announcing: Google Plus SEO Testing Network By +Mark Traphagen > http://goo.gl/WEWvo
19. GET CIRCLED By +Rehan Ahmad http://goo.gl/YWWp7
20. Let's Talk About Circles… By +Matt Holmes > http://goo.gl/wQf34

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21. Make your own Google+ ID card By +Jaana Nyström > http://goo.gl/mwvmY
22. Why is +1 Like Casanova Gifting? By +Johan Horak http://goo.gl/YRC5N
23. Google+ Photo Book is now online By +Mohammad Eshbeata http://goo.gl/jaN1n
24. 5 Ways to Save Google Plus Posts for Later Reading By +Leah Davies http://goo.gl/kK2VP
25. Unanticipated Consequences of Joining G+ By +Ted Ewen http://goo.gl/DgeHY
26. Google+ doing its part in spreading Thanks! – News Search Results get Social By +Ronnie Bincer > http://goo.gl/ryvnH
27. Google+ – Google's Collaborative Engagement Engine By +Brian Gundersen > http://goo.gl/XJSNQ
28. How to set your location By +Mike Downes > http://goo.gl/LSweF
29. 7 Google+ Infographics by +circled.us / +Michael Delgado via Denis Labelle > http://goo.gl/ryk98
30. Graphics By +Michael Stuart > http://goo.gl/nShsJ

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31. What If Google+ Ended Tomorrow? By +Peter G McDermott > http://goo.gl/vE8pw
32. The Importance of Timing By +Daniel Treadwell > http://goo.gl/SHwcb
33. Mistakes Branding and Marketing Google+ By +Damien R. von Dahlem > http://goo.gl/hT758
34. The power of Google+ By +David Kingham > http://goo.gl/4Mdfj
35. Welcome to all of you new Plussers!!! By +Glenn Rogers > http://goo.gl/nSHJo
36. Basic Etiquette & Some Tips for Google+ users By +Ronnie Bincer > http://goo.gl/E1Pm7
37. If you are having engagement problems I feel bad for you son. You got 99 followers but get feedback from none. By +Silver Suurvarik > http://goo.gl/pIBi1
38. CIRCLE MANAGEMENT By +Emilie Eggleston > http://goo.gl/Ao2mv
39. Google+ Tips: Secret Circles By +Mark Traphagen > http://goo.gl/4L7Z2
40. Search tool for comments: what Google can´t offer you is now available! By +Max Huijgen > http://goo.gl/hLeIE

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41. Google+ Is All That (And a Bag of Chips) By +Eli Fennell > http://goo.gl/KAJyj
42. Do you know About Google+ Ripples? > http://goo.gl/KapIl
43. Google+: Reputation Engine or Social Network By +M Sinclair Stevens > http://goo.gl/UeBmY
44. Managing Conversations with Curated Circles and Hashtags By +Brian Titus > http://goo.gl/s5S8R
45. Tired of Feeling Square? Make Your Profile Pic Circular. By +Eli Fennell > http://goo.gl/aZDF6
46. Google+ Guide for New Google+ Users > http://goo.gl/0QUt8
47. Google+ tip: Watch Ripples around the Web By +JR Raphael > http://goo.gl/pmelv
48. What is the Best Time to Post to Reach Majority of your Followers? By +Shamil Weerakoon > http://goo.gl/amwIZ
49. Google+ is all about helping others.. > http://goo.gl/VMdAl
50. New G+ User: How You can use Google Insights for Search By +Denis Labelle > http://goo.gl/OYkbE

Bonus: Don't be a #bluehead ! By +Lars Fosdal http://goo.gl/397CF

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External posts:

1. Customize Your Google+ Hovercard to Gain More Followers
http://www.virante.com/blog/2012/02/17/customize-your-google-hovercard-to-gain-more-followers/
2. 6 cool activities taking place on Google+ right now
http://thenextweb.com/google/2012/03/17/6-cool-activities-taking-place-on-google-right-now/
3. How Google+ Ripples Provides Social Sharing Insights
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-google-ripples-provides-social-sharing-insights/
4. Why Major Marketers Are Moving to Google+
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/why-major-marketers-are-moving-to-google/
5. 8 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Site With Google+
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/8-ways-to-drive-traffic-to-your-site-with-google/

#googleplustips #gplustips #weeklytopposts #googleplus #gplus #G+ #newbieshelp #newbiesguide

Image By +Michael Stuart

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For The Love Of Google+

Just for the record….all you people in my Googlesphere create the most hilarious, intellectual, artistic, and beautiful content of any social network I use…..THANK YOU for doing so! ( AND DONT FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD FRIENDS!)

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It's #followfriday folks!

Good Morning Googlesphere and Happy #followfriday I recently found +Sakya Schuler as she is a bit new to Google+ and she has become one of my hidden gems. If you are a parent of a young one or someone who enjoys cooking/trying new recipes you might enjoy following her. She takes a recipe online, cooks it and shares what she changes up. No fuss, just great cooking and reflecting about the process. Visit her profile and show here some Gooogle+ love today!

Reshared post from +Sakya Schuler

I have my blue and white on today for the Kentucky Wildcats!

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Pinterest Copyright Issues

I saw this pin on Pinterest last night, read through the article about the Pinterest TOS….which I loathe by the way, and am now as conflicted as ever. Based on the article/TOS discussion are we really setting ourselves up for liability by pinning images there? Do we really claim ownership of an image which lets Pinterest off the hook? If so, why would a stratup like this hang it's users out to dry? Does anyone with a lot more knowledge about copyright and TOS issues have a take on what is really going on? I have pinned many images from professional photographers and artists, but gave them credit, and as I understand it now, I am still claiming ownership of their image by pinning…..it's a bunch of crap I say. What say you?

http://www.knoed.com/thewindowseat/pinterest-change-your-terms-or-were-leaving/

Embedded Link

Pinterest: Change Your Terms or We’re Leaving | The Window Seat
I'm pretty new to Pinterest myself, but Kim has used it for awhile. We both love it. But recently, we read an article about their scary Terms of Use. The word is slowly spreading and it's made…

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Google+ Timeline What are your thoughts?

The potential of the Google+ Timeline is interesting in regards to giving people considering following you a much better 'picture' of what type of posts and content you share. I realize there are some tweaks needed, it is so like FB that it's plain out copying, but the concept of giving us a page/wall of most popular posts is a great idea I think. When a new member joins Google+ they may/may not visit our profile and view our current posts. If they were given a link to a page of our most popular posts, I think it would be an excellent way of helping convince someone they should follow you….or not. Any thoughts out there about this Timeline idea? I am just curious about it really, but will add the link to my About Page regardless. (Would love to edit it though and delete the dead pics…..sigh) Thank you +pio dal cin for sharing this with me too!

http://www.googleplussuomi.com/timelinetest.php?googleid=108112557629934458248&sort=best

If you want to see your own Timeline, simply delete my profile number in this link and add yours.

Embedded Link

My Google+ Timeline

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New to Google+? This Will Help!

Before you cringe at another circle share hear me out on why this one is a bit different, especially for Newbies here on Google+. Google promotes a SUL list to newbies when they join made up of celebrities, etc. Some of those users interact with new followers but the majority don't embrace or promote community here on Google+. The members of this circle are users who wish to send a message to the community and Google that what makes Google+ so great are the ACTIVE users and engagers here. +Anthony Fox worked hard to create this group, aimed especially for newbies, so that they could begin following a group that would actively engage with them. It is by no means all inclusive. These members, including myself, have taken a pledge to interact and engage with you, because we believe in community here.
It is not at all about numbers. I don't ever seek out followers for numbers. I simply am who I am and believe in what we have here…..and I love to welcome new folks. If you are new here, consider following all/some of these folks to build up your stream. Engage with us. If you want to help send a message to Google that there is a better alternative for newbies than the SUL….share this message.

Reshared post from +Anthony Fox

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We Are the Community ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

We believe Community is what makes Google+ special.

We believe Community should be promoted to newcomers.

Share this to send that message to Google.

Share this because YOU are the Community too!!

Share this Now.………..Share this Now.………..Share this Now.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: #TheCommunity :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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Parenting Networks on Google+ Circle

Last week I spent hours going through search to locate pages and people that actively share posts/resources about kids, for kids, and for parents of kids. With millions of users here I thought it would be easy, but it wasn’t. I did manage to come up with about 50 people/pages/organizations that were specifically found to promote kid play and family fun, but I haven’t actively engaged yet with all of them. If you are a parent here on Google+ with babies to teens and wish to connect with parenting resources here on Google+ this circle might be for you. If you are a parent/page/organization that is not in this circle but shares posts that promote creativity in kids, family fun, and education then let me know so I can add you. I would love to see Google+ become a hub of parenting/kid connections here on Google+. (For those of you who personally responded in my post the other day, I have a separate circle for parents in my personal network and added you to that.)

By Ardith Goodwin

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