Google+

Google has unveiled a whole new set of tools for video chats on the Google+ social network.

As you can see by the Google+ Hangouts dashboard icons embedded above, you have new options. If you select the “Screenshare” icon, you can select any open window on your desktop to share with other people in the Google+ Hangout. If you have a Google eBook open on your desktop, everybody in the video can read the book along with you–perfect for a long-distance bedtime story or video book club.

If all the participants click the “YouTube” icon, you can share a video. The “Google Effects” icon allows you to pick funny hats, facial hair and other silly visuals. You can also share a manuscript in progress in a video chat by selecting “Google Docs.”

 

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Google+ has added a useful new feature to Google+ Hangouts, allowing you to share documents inside a video chat on the social network.

Using the new tool, you could host a live video workshop with your writing group, work on a script with a friend or discuss line edits with your editor. The whole meeting can take place in a live video chat, allowing participants to join from around the country.

Is this something you would use with long distance writer friends? Check it out:

To try it out, just click on the new “Docs” button inside your hangout:
- you can add an existing document, or upload a new one
- added documents are available as a list on the left-hand side
- you can switch between and collaboratively edit multiple documents at once
As always, let us know what you think in the comments, or via the “Send feedback” button! (Via Social Times)

At the Inside Social Apps conference in San Francisco today, Google+ director of engineering David Glazer said that the company will integrate personal Google+ pages into many aspects of your online experience.

If you want to see how your Google+ page already affects search results, click the “personal results” tab at the top of the screen the next time you perform a Google search. Glazer explained in his interview: “The obvious insight is that people care about other people so that should be baked into what you do while you’re online. The reasons Google+ is named that is we didn’t think of it as “Oh we want to add another product.” We wanted to up the game to help our users.”

Even if you don’t use Google+ regularly, writers, publishers and publishing professionals should have a strong Google+ profile to improve these search results. Below, we’ve reprinted five common Google+ profile mistakes. If you avoid these problems, you will build a stronger following and help readers find you online.

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Google unveiled some improvements on Google+ Business pages this week, allowing users to add up to 50 administrators on a single Business page–making it easier for publishers, agencies and other publishing professionals to collaborate on official pages.

We’ve listed the simple steps below–the video embedded above shows on screen examples. While the changes have not arrived for all accounts, Google predicts they will be installed in the “next couple of days.”

Here’s more about the changes: “A new notification flow will ensure that these managers stay in the loop on all the activity that takes place on a page, giving managers the ability to stay involved in page conversations. We’ll now show an aggregated count of users that have engaged with your page, either by +1’ing it or by adding it to a circle. This way, both you and your page’s visitors can get an at-a-glance summary of who is interacting with your page.”

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Today Google introduced Google+ Pages, a way for businesses to join the social network and connect with customer. Follow this link to set up a page for your publishing house, editorial services, literary agency, book or literary brand.

We’ve also added a GalleyCat page on Google+. The network’s upcoming “Direct Connect” feature will let people search for a publisher or author’s Google+ page directly through the Google search bar (the video embedded above shows you how). In the release, Google quoted a Robert Frost poem at Poetry Foundation: “we’ve still got lots of improvements planned, and miles to go before we sleep.” Below, we’ve listed the available business and brand pages.

Check it out: “For businesses and brands, Google+ pages help you connect with the customers and fans who love you. Not only can they recommend you with a +1, or add you to a circle to listen long-term. They can actually spend time with your team, face-to-face-to-face … organizations can learn more about Direct Connect in our Help Center.” (Via Simon Owens)

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While building our Writers on Google+ directory, this GalleyCat editor decided it was time to point out some common problems we’ve seen in many Google+ profiles.

Below, we’ve listed five common Google+ profile mistakes. If you avoid these problems, you will build a stronger following and help readers find you online. Even if you don’t use the service very often, you should make sure you have a strong and clear Google+ profile.

What other Google+ profile mistakes have you seen?

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Google+ Hangouts now supports smartphone video chats and will allow participants to record their video sessions–two powerful features for virtual book clubs and writing groups.

The mobile video chat feature only works on “Android 2.3+ devices with front-facing cameras” with Apple iOS support under construction. You can download the mobile app in the Android Market now. If you want to make some literary friends on Google+, check out our Writers on Google+ directory.

Here’s more about recording video hangouts from Google: “Just start a normal hangout, and you’ll have the option to broadcast and record your session. Once you’re ‘On Air,’ up to nine others can join your hangout (as usual), and anyone can watch your live broadcast … We’re starting with a limited number of broadcasters, but any member of the Google+ community can tune in. In fact: we’ll be hosting our very first On Air hangout with will.i.am on Wednesday night, September 21. For more information visit will.i.am’s or my profile on Google+.”

Google+ has leveraged the Google Books library, helping the social network’s users link and comment on the Google eBook they are currently exploring.

Check it out: “Let’s say you are reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and you’d like your friends to read it with you (or you have a witty comment to let loose). Simply click on the Google+ Share box on the About the Book page or in a Google Books preview, enter your message, then select which circles you’d like to share details about the book with, and click ‘share.’ The book cover, description and title linking back to the Google Books About the Book page will appear in your Google+ stream with your message.”

Will the new feature help you share and choose books? We recommend building a special circle for your literary friends. If you are looking for other readers in the new network, explore our Writers Who Want to Connect on Google+ directory. (Via Publishers Marketplace)

 

Our massive list of writers on Google+ has almost reached 400 accounts today. To help all these new users, we’ve collected a number of promotional tools for writers and publishing professionals on Google+.

First of all, if you want to interact with other writers or readers on Google+, add your name to our Writers on Google+ directory. Make sure your profile is simple, direct and concise. Consult Twitter Profile Mistakes Writers Should Avoid for some general advice.

Next, follow this link to create a shortened, easy-to-remember version of your Google+ URL. For instance, the service converted this GalleyCat editor’s Google URL from a long stream of letters and numbers to this handy URL: gplus.to/jasonboog.

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