When Google+ went beta last year I was invited in to have a look around. I created my profile, added friends to circles and it wasn’t long before I thought “Now what?”. I couldn’t see what G+ was trying to be or where it would fit into my life. Admittedly I am still questioning this, but their recent re-design this week has helped me focus a little more.
The layout of Google+ prior to this update didn’t do anything for me. It didn’t feel nice or comfortable. Put simply it didn’t make me want to use it. It’s hard to say exactly what it is about this new design that works for me, but it feels more interactive, like there’s more to see and touch. It feels more organised, it’s like Google+ finally grew up.
The ability to create a cover photo to one’s profile feels like another step in the right direction. It feels more personal to me, so naturally the photo I have chosen as my cover is one I recently took of my beloved Converse.
There are a number of my friends who have used Google+ on a daily basis for sharing things. Some moved away from Facebook completely to use G+, others creating a profile but leaving soon after. I have tried persuading some friends to give Google+ at least a go, but Facebook is now so ingrained into their daily lives that it’s difficult for them to be open to the idea of yet another “social network”.
Twitter is and always will be my number one go-to social network for all the wonderfully rapid interaction and easy-ways-to-access it reasons, but I’m starting to see where Google+ may also start to matter in my life. Photos that I may want to share with my closer friends, but not my wider followers on Twitter or Flickr. I can be as open or as private as I want on Google+, allowing certain circles to access things that others cannot. This is where it gets good; sharing with people you care about.
If you’ve never tried Google+ or you have but you’re still unsure about it, check out this article which may just change your mind. Or you could just add me to your circles – now who wouldn’t want to see an exclusive photo of me as a kitty?!
