While learning any relatively new social network, it is hard to get a grasp on everything you can do on that site; especially when that site is Google. Google+ is constantly updating their platform to make it more user friendly and interactive. Unlike other social networks that announce a change and slowly roll it out to users, Google just does it. While you are sitting there playing catch up amongst what you can do on Google+, here are some features that often go un-noticed.
All About Circles
Circles are how you separate your friends, but they can also be used as a way to target who can see your posts. When posting something on your page, you can select which circles can see this post, make it a public post, or make it a private post between a few people. These will still appear on your profile for you to see, but only people within the circle that you shared it to can see. After you build up a specific circle, you can share that circle so people can have an already set circle made for them. With this circle feature you are also about to control what news appears in your newsfeed by clicking on one of the categories at the top of your newsfeed page and changing it to one specific circle.
Muting a Page
Are you tired of your notification center being over loaded? This could be because you have not muted brand pages you are following. Just like you can turn notifications from communities off, you can turn brand pages off from receiving their notifications. By their profile image and name there is a drop down menu where you can select “mute”. By muting them you can still see their posts in your newsfeed, but it will leave your notification center open to things directly involving you.
Mentioning Someone
The only way to be absolutely sure that someone sees a post is to “+” them within the post. Even when you are sending a private message to them, it is a good idea to also “+” them within the post. Why? Because if you do not “+” them in the post you want them to see it will only show up on their newsfeed instead of in their notification center.
You Can Search Hashtags
Want to know more about a certain topic? Not only can you search hashtags on Google+, you can also search hashtags in Google search. A new feature on Google allows you to view relevant posts from Google+ in the lower left hand corner for you to scroll through. From here you can also navigate to view hashtags from Facebook and Twitter.
The best way to learn the ins and outs of a new social network is just by using it more. Spend more time on the site and ask people for help if you are unsure of how to do something. People are more than willing and welcoming to new faces on Google+!