Today On Google+: Top Users Hide Followers, Gender Can Be Hidden & How Google+ Is Built!

Below is today’s top news relating to Google+, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. Googler Shares How Google+ Is Built I’m a technical lead on the Google+ team is an “ask me anything conversation” with Google engineer Joseph Smarr, Technical lead for Google+.  Smarr answers 20+ questions on the […]

Chat with SearchBot

Google Plus FeaturedBelow is today’s top news relating to Google+, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.

Googler Shares How Google+ Is Built

I’m a technical lead on the Google+ team is an “ask me anything conversation” with Google engineer Joseph Smarr, Technical lead for Google+.  Smarr answers 20+ questions on the framework and build of Google+ including questions on Circles usage and whether or not Sergey Brin was used as the silhouette for the generic profile picture.  It was also made clear that  new features are “absolutely on the way.”

Google+ Is Built Using Tools You Can Use Too is a post from highscalability.com that breaks down the technology behind Google+.  In the article many tips are given for mimicking the development environment for Google+, and is a great look at exactly what it takes to run the various elements of +.

Most Popular Google+ Users Start Hiding Follower Info

Mark Zuckerberg & Top Google Execs Drop, By Choice, From Most Followed On Google+ by Danny Sullivan covers the removal of select internet celebrities and Googlers who dropped off the top listings in Google+.  By hiding follower counts, these users knowingly disappeared from the list, but gained privacy as their follower information is no longer visible.  An argument is also made about it now being “cool” not to show your count.

Profiles Can Now Hide Gender

Google+ Users Can Hide Their Gender was announced on YouTube by Frances Haugen, a Gogole product manager,  as a feature being implemented this week.  Many news outlets and brands (which should not technically be on Google+) have now revered to an “other” gender.  In addition to the hidden gender, gender neutral language will be used for describing any actions taken within Google+.

Google+ How-To’s & Fun

6 Examples of Google+ Advertising is an article from Search Engine Journal that breaks down 6 powerful marketing scenarios that Google+ could possibly leverage.  From re-marketing to targeted circles, Glenn Gabe looks at how Google+ could monetize their new social service.

A Handy Google+ Cheat Sheet was created by Simon Laustsen.  The sheet contains formatting help, uploading tips, keyboard shortcuts and general information for the new Google+ user.  This was also translated into 12 languages for all you international Google+’ers.

The Complete Video Guide to Google+ is an impressive list of videos from Social Times.  Videos include general overviews to tutorials on specific elements.  Got a question that you haven’t figured out yet, odds are that one of these videos can help you.

How To Use Hangouts in a Business Setting is a post from Bradley Horowitz, Vice President of Product Management at Google, with great conversation in the comments.  Many great suggestions are presented including screen sharing, realtime Docs integration and an increased number of users in a hangout.

More News Organizations Are Using Google+ is a post from Breaking News which documents all of the news organizations on Google+ currently.  Of course all of these news organizations are going against Google’s guidelines, so follow them while you still can!

If Google+ Was a Club is a funny cartoon that depicts one new users experience on Google+.

 


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.


About the author

Greg Finn
Contributor
Greg Finn is the Director of Marketing for Cypress North, a company that provides digital marketing and web development. He is a co-host of Marketing O'Clock and has been in the digital marketing industry for nearly 20 years. You can also find Greg on Twitter (@gregfinn) or LinkedIn.

Get the must-read newsletter for search marketers.