Send to Kindle
You can’t have missed the buzz surrounding G+ communities! Like Facebook groups, only better organised and on Google Plus.
I’ve set up a Blog Tips Community here and I’ve invited a variety of bloggers, and I’d like to invite you to join us.
What’s better about G+ Communities?
First up, you can have categories in your community.
I have WordPress, Blogger, How Tos and other related blogging categories as well as a general discussion category. Categories make it easier to manage the community and find older content.
And then there’s Events and hangouts.
I’ve always felt that G+ hangouts were the biggest weapon in the G+ armoury. The potential for hangouts is tremendous and aligned with a group based on your passions – the opportunities are awesome. Yeah I know, I could get a few more superlatives in the sentence but I’m trying to contain my enthusiasm! And then there’s the opportunity for events based around your community – like Meet Up, only more interactive.
G+ communities can be open or private, the blog tips community is open.
Community hiccups
At the moment there are a few hiccups, last night I struggled to use the invite options to invite people to the community and had to resort to emailing Circles and Facebook messaging. I can forgive that on a new feature, let’s hope it gets fixed soon or our fledgling communities will wither and die. Also communities are not available on mobile devices at present. I have an Android powered Samsung Galaxy (no idea what version, but it’s the white one) and I can’t view communities on the G+ App. Let’s hope the mobile aspect gets here soon as well 
A Few Other Communities
Saul Fleischman - Social Media Bootstrapping
Lilach Bullock - Social Media Marketing
Bob Dunn - WP Chatter
Aleandru Filip - Internet Marketing Lessons
Stephen Hughes - Blog Community
Carece Slaughter and Kim Reynolds – Social Media Mentors
Guy Kawasaki – APE (Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur) (I’m currently reading the book and it’s a cracking read).
Kristi Hines – Blogging
Danny Brown and Sam Fiorella – Influence Marketing
Lisa Miller – Language Practice
Sarah Arrow - Blog Tips Community
So go check out the communities and join a few that interest you. Start your own community and fill it with like-minded people. If in doubt, start a regional community Essex G+ Community consists of only me right now, but I’ll soon find local people to join and network with.
If you’ve started a community already, please leave a link to it in the comments.
Sarah Arrow
send to a friendOr subscribe to my newsletter for awesome blogging goodies
Just had to check out your article when I saw the title. I’ve received several invites to join communities this week and all of a sudden it’s like the whole G+ activity level has ramped up. To be completely honest, I am SO burned out on Facebook. I still have a lot to learn about G+ but you’ve inspired me to get focused … and I am going to check out Guy’s community because I really like his thinking. Thanks Sarah!
(dofollow)
marquita herald recently posted..Rediscover the Magic of Impossible Dreams
Twitter: martyinmaui
Have fun and remember to create your own inspired giving community
(dofollow)
Sarah Arrow recently posted..5 Ways to use Social Media to Build your Email List
Twitter: saraharrow
Are Google+ groups private Sarah?
Marlene Hielema recently posted..Sometimes it’s okay to use Auto ISO
It depends on what settings you choose. My current communities are open ones.
(dofollow)
Sarah Arrow recently posted..3 Reasons why your blog posts are not converting #blogging
Twitter: saraharrow
I will try to join a soon as I can. I just started a new group over in Facebook, so getting things settled so I can tackle participating in more groups. I will have to check out the other communities as well.
(dofollow)
Nile recently posted..How To Split Your Posts Into Several Pages in WordPress?
Twitter: blondishnet
Hi Nile, I love the FB group, I joined in the week.
(dofollow)
There are lots of nice, friendly communities springing up, and I hope to see you in one soon.
Sarah Arrow recently posted..How to hold a social media sales party
Twitter: saraharrow
I’m LOVING the Google+ communities, Sarah.
Nice little synopsis here to see how it works. You gotta believe that this can’t hurt your SEO strategies either.
And I agree that the hangouts are tops. I’ve used them for interviews, recorded them on screenflow and voila… very simple.
David Merrill 101 recently posted..Selling Affiliate Products
Sarah, You article was very enlightening and informative. I have not gotten comfortable with G+, but the group concept sounds fun, especially if like minded people are a part of it and enjoy what your enjoy. I just may have to venture over there and snoop around a bit, join some interesting groups or start my own.
Thanks!
Lynn
Lynn Jones recently posted..Sharing Kindness at Christmas
Twitter: lynnjonesie
Hi there,
Thanks for the article.
I wonder how do you manage categories on G+ Community page?
It looks like I can either post in Discussion category or other categories but not both. And people tend to also post into Discussion category rather than categories that I created.
Thank you,
Zdenek
Games and Activities for Kids and Parents
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/117609862888825990601
Like all communities you’ll need to guide the participants in how to behave ie post in categories rather than “discussion” and enforce the rules a bit. Aside from make posts visible there seems very few moderation tools at the moment, moving posts to the correct category would be a moderation tool that would be useful.
(dofollow)
Sarah Arrow recently posted..Five Fab You Tube videos from 2012
Twitter: saraharrow
Many thanks for mentioning the Bootstrappers G+ Community!
Twitter: osakasaul
You’re most welcome Saul
(dofollow)
Sarah Arrow recently posted..[infographic] Can you overcome your business fears?
Twitter: saraharrow