Your Google+ Tips of the Week | Issue 111

Google+ Tips of the Week - July 26/14 issue 111

• Hangouts Events SEO - 10 Video SEO Tips
• Grow Your Following on Google+
• Showcase App for Hangouts On Air

Google+ Hangouts Events and SEO

Ronnie Bincer posted the news last week that Google+ was rolling out an experiment allowing us to find YouTube Live Events or Hangouts On Air on Google search.

For example, if I created a HOA Event featuring Ronnie talking about his Hangout Mastery Community, you could do a search for "Ronnie Bincer" and  find my event. Then you'd be able you to click the "watch live event" icon and watch it live.

Watch a live event

A live event will start to show up in search up to 3 hours before it starts. Here’s how to watch a live event:

1. Go to google.com and search for the event or the name of anyone in the event.
2. Click Watch live event to be taken to the event page.

If the event is happening now, you can touch the play on the video to watch the event live.

If the event is happening later in the day, click Yes under "Are you going to watch?" to add the event to your Google Calendar.

There’s not a lot of information as to what ranking and authority determines your ability to show up, but optimizing the Event and YouTube video certainly can’t hurt.

And regardless if this experiment rolls out in your area, good SEO practices will help your HOA be found in regular search. (Especially personalized.)

Event and Video SEO tips:

1. Optimize the title of the Event/Video for relevant keywords.

2. Keep the title short (within 70 characters) and the most important, at the front.

3. Be sure the title reflects the content.

4. Write a detailed description and include keywords.

5. Keep the first line of your description brief as it will appear as a snippet.

6. Before your Event goes live, go to your YouTube Live Events and enter same details .

7. Add annotations and CTAs (call to actions) .

8. Use tags that are referred to in the video.

9. Add the video to a playlist on your channel. Mine is G+LunchBunch Shows. 

10. Embed the video on your blog with a summary or time stamp and share on social.

  

Grow Your Following on Google+

And this just in….

Showcase App for Hangouts On Air (pdf)

(click above link for PDF)

This news caused a ripple in the G+ stream on Thursday when Google rolled out this much anticipated HOA app.

I much prefer “showcase” to  “shopping” as it was called in beta as the latter brings Chiapets and Chop O Matic to mind.

“Using the new Showcase app, hosts can now direct viewers to websites, merchandise, YouTube videos, your Google+ profile and Google Play content, all in a rich display on the right-hand side of the Hangout broadcast.”

I ran a bit of a test with it and am including some screen captures here to give you an idea of what it looks like.

I'll checking it out in more detail soon, but from what I see, it behaves much like the Q/A app insomuch as it appears on the HOA Event page video placeholder along with the  Start - Trailer - Q/A icons.

Video placeholder on Event Page

Will open side "showcase" panel

Once you click on the Showcase App icon on the left menu bar, a side panel opens where you can enter a link to a website.

For this test, I included links to: my Subscriber Opt-In form, Website and G+ Community.

edit image slideshow

If you have multiple images on your site, they will scroll on the sidebar in slideshow format. You can edit which will show.

Pre Broadcast view on Event Page

As with the QA app, this works only for hosting a SHOAE (Scheduled Hangout On Air Event).
Once you create the event:

1. Activate the Showcase icon

2. Click Start and enter the HOA, 

3. Enter the links you want to appear in the Showcase panel. (You might need to activate it from the side apps menu - writing this on same day it rolled out. :-)

4. Images on site you linked to will appear in slideshow. You can edit images and text you want to appear. 

5. Click on "Show item" save. Only those items you choose will be seen by viewers.
Note; on replays, all items you've shown are displayed.

6. Exit the HOA environment

7. Good idea to deactivate the Showcase app (list will be saved) This allows people to leave comments on the event page if they've hit the start arrow on the video.
If that happens, a new window opens which will hide the Event comments. 

From Showcase App for Hangouts On Air PDF

Getting Started

• Click on the Hangouts icon in the navigation bar, then click “Start a Hangout On Air.”
• Click the “Showcase” icon on the Hangout Event Page, then click “Play.”
• Enter the desired website URLs. Click ‘Show item’ to check URLs have autosaved.
• Note that if your Hangout is scheduled for a later date, you can disable the app
• until right before your event and it will save all of your cards.

Tips

• Link to websites with multiple images to showcase a slideshow of images
• on a card.
• Click “Edit” to remove images or edit text within the card.
• Use the toggles to hide and unhide the card from your audience.
• Leave the Showcase App (not the HOA) by clicking on the “X” in the top right corner.

Use Cases

The Showcase App can help create a more engaging experience during your live 

broadcasted Hangout.

You can:

• Sell merchandise

• Reveal new video content using YouTube 
• Promote a film or album release with links to ticket sales, trailers and
• Google Play content
• Rally constituents or build awareness for key causes and issues by linking to 
• relevant resources and websites 

plus:

• Link to your Subscriber or Webinar Landing Page
• Link to a previous HOA or your HOA YouTube Channel
• Link to websites/articles of your guests

How do you see using the Showcase App?

Thank you very much for sharing your time with me.

I hope you found this helpful and that if you did, you'll share this newsletter with your friends.

Although the LunchBunch show is taking a summer holiday, you can catch up on past shows on my YouTube channel or Google+ Page.

Your Google Plus Tips for July 12th

Your Google Plus Tips for July 12th

1. To Mute or To Block? That is the Question! 

2. How to create your Google+ Hangout “Lower Third” Video

3. How to build your network on Google+

Know when to mute them, know when to block them.

Do You know the difference between “muting” and “blocking” someone on Google+?

Google Plus Top Contributor (TC) John Keats, published a recent post addressing the differences between the two methods of dealing with people or Pages you’d rather not engage with.

Here’s the summary:

Mute:

• Prevents the profile or page you mute from notifying you in the future.

• You will still be able to see each other's profiles and posts, and to comment on each other's posts.

• Their posts will even continue to appear in your Home stream (assuming you have them circled, that is).

• Nothing the person you mute does, however, will trigger a Google+ notification for you.

Block:

Block is a much more powerful tool. When you block someone:

• You will not see their content in your stream (even though you'll remain in their circles).

• They will be be removed from any circles of yours that they appear in.

• They will be removed from your extended circles, even if you have mutual connections.

• They will not be able to add new comments to your content.

• They will not be able to see your comments on other people's posts.

• They will not be able to view any of your posts that you share after you blocked them. (They will, however, still be able to see posts you shared with them before you blocked them.)

• They won't be able to mention you in posts or comments.

Generally, I uncircle people that are either inactive or post content I’m not interested in.

I mute people or Pages when I don’t want to receive notifications from them. (Usually invitations to communities or events.) 

I’ve only blocked two people in my three years on this platform, both cantankerous trolls.

You can see John’s full post here: To Mute or To Block? That is the Question!

How to create your G+ Hangout “Lower Third” Video

In this video, I go through the steps of creating your Google+ Hangout “lower third” using the Hangout Toolbox. 

This is the fastest way to have that identification bar appear below you.

I included this video in my recent blog post: How to Create Custom Hangout Lower Thirds which details how to make custom lower thirds and other graphics for your Hangouts.

How to build your network on Google+

Here, Ronnie Bincer shares 5 fundamental steps towards building a dynamic Google+ network.

The reason I like embedding Google+ posts is to allow you to not only enjoy the content the author shared, but to also benefit from the added gems found in the comments.

A Google+ post is a living document. Assuming there is engagement, the comments left on a post are a continuation of the conversation started by its author. 





Thanks very much for taking the time to read this.

Now go out there and enjoy the summer.

issue #109

Your Google Plus Tips for June 28

Your Google Plus Tips June 28th

1. Authorship: What’s Changed?

2. 10 Tips for Getting Started on Google+

3. Don’t Be a “Blue Head”

Authorship: What’s changed?

I had the pleasure this week of interviewing  Mark Traphagen, on my G+LunchBunch Show.

Mark is the Senior Director of Online Marketing at Stone Temple Consulting and is the recognized authority on Google Authorship.

Mark shared why Google Authorship is important in establishing Authority and dispelled misconceptions such as simply having "rich snippets" guarantees you a premium spot on search result pages.
Adding to the confusion about Authorship was the June 25th, Google announcement from the IO14 Developers Conference that it is removing photos from search engine results pages (SERPS)

From the moment it was posted by Google Webmaster, John Mueller, the conspiracy rumours flew.

As he points out in the comment section of that post, this move by Google has no impact on Authorship.

Mark responded to this move and the kerfuffle it created on his G+ post: Google Is Removing Author Photos from Search. Why? 
He also wrote an Op-ed in SearchEngineLand: Google Removes Author Photos From Search: Why And What Does It Mean?

You can watch the show and read the comments on the event page: Google Authorship: Hits & Myths

Here are some key take aways:

1. Continue to set up Authorship connections between your Google+ profile and the content you publish anywhere on the web. Resource: Google Authorship Official FAQ

2. “Qualifying authors will still get the byline on search results for their content, even if the photo and Google+ circle count no longer show.”

3. By pulling what many saw as the major advantage of Authorship, Google is making it clear that it can’t show favouritism to Google+. Building your authority is still the best way of getting you well positioned on search.


If it matters to you that people know and trust what you’re about, then:

- Build the type of content that helps people.

- Create content that shows you know what you’re talking about.

- Engage, answer questions.

10 Tips for Getting Started on Google+

- from the LunchBunch

A year ago I asked our #GPlusLunchBunch to share Tips for Getting started on Google+  

Here are 10:

1. Decide who you want to reach and what topics interest you, then do a search and organize them in circles. Search for keywords and hashtags specific to your interests and goals. - Sherry Nouraini

2. Use Hangouts to extend your reach beyond Google+ to drive people to your site, Events Page or YouTube channel.

3. Produce content. Treat Google+ like a blog. Produce your own content and use supporting links to build your authority in that content. Don’t just “link share”. Add commentary to your shares. - Randy Bowden

4. Join a Community, interact by asking and answering questions then create your own. Communities are topic specific They offer a great place to show off your expertise and build influence.

5. Just do it!  Spend time listening to people who know their Google+.  Approach it in pieces and in different ways until you find your Google groove. – Bill Vick

6. Lurk before You leap!  Just as you wouldn’t dive off the end of a dock without knowing the depth of the water at your feet, take the time to see what’s happening on the platform. Read posts on topics you’re interested in. Join Hangouts and see how they work. Play with “Circles” management. - Kerry Armour

7. Wear water wings!  Find influencers to help you keep your head above water as you learn the strokes. Google+ is not an out-of-the box toy, it’s more “Legos” than “Barbie”. - Jessica Dewell

8. Make circles make sense  by organizing them according to your needs. On your personal profile that may be according to who engages with you the most. On your Brand page, that may be according to level of engagement or place on the “sales” funnel. - Carrie Keenan

Your four top circles appear above your Google+ stream. 80% of my engagement happen within those circles so it’s wise to make sure they’re populated by people you want to interact with the most.

9. Be a “friend stealer”  Find people to circle by checking out who your friends follow and recommend. It’s a trick I use on Twitter and Carrie Keenan does this on Google+. Once she checks out their profile, she adds them to a “New People” circle and over time, she either moves them up her circle ladder or un-circles them.

10. Find yourself a Hangout buddy and practice using Hangouts On Air (HOA) and Hangout Video Chats (HVC). It’s one of the most popular features of Google+ and is used by many who aren’t active otherwise. -  Scott Scowcroft

Don’t be a "Blue Head"

As the The Beatles sang, “Please, Please Me” and show me who you are.

Nothing says “Don’t circle me” like a blue head., and I’m not talking blue rinse, here.

You can’t make friends with a “bag” over your head.

If you’re not sure how to change your profile photo, here are directions fromGoogle support:(also includes directions for Android, iOS and mobile web)

Desktop

1. Open Google+ and select Profile from the drop-down menu in the upper left corner.
2. Click About below your cover photo.
3. Place your cursor over the blank face, or your profile picture if you have one > click the camera icon.
4. Use your cursor to move your chosen photo into the “Drag photo here” box. You can also click Select a photo from your computer to choose a photo file.
5. Crop your photo > click Save as profile photo in the lower left corner.

Your profile image is 270 px by 270 px and is displayed as a circle.

Your photo should be front facing and well lit. This is especially important as this is your Google profile image and will follow you around the internet (except on SERPs) see Google Authorship.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you found it helpful, please share.

And if you haven’t already, join our Google+ Tips & Topics Community.

You can catch up on past #GPlusLunchBunch shows on my YouTube channel or Google+ Page.