#protips
Originally shared by Mike Elgan
How I do Google+.
Lately I've stumbled across a general process for using Google+ that works really well for me. So I thought I'd share it with you.
The "problem" is that there's so much happening on Google+ that it's easy to miss stuff. I've got comments on my own posts I want to read and respond to. I've got circles that are easy to miss -- for example, my "Family" circle is less active than other circles, and so I can miss those important family updates. I'm managing two Pages. I want to check my plus-mentions. I've got Notifications. And now I've gone nuts with the Communities, and I've created or signed up for more than a dozen or so.
So here's how I solve the too-much-going-on problem.
I've created a bookmark folder in Chrome called "Google+" and placed within it a link to each URL that I want to keep track of.
For example, I have a bookmarked link in that folder to the URLs for each of my circles, each of my communities, each of my Pages, my Notifications. In my case it's currently 30 links.
So then, when I want to spend some quality time on Google+, I simply click on my "Other Bookmarks" button, hover my mouse pointer over the Google+ folder, press and hold the "Command" key and click on the Google+ folder.
Chrome asks me if I really want to open 30 tabs. I say yes and they all open.
Then, I start with the tab on the right, scrolling down, reading, plus-oneing, commenting, sharing and generally engaging. When I'm done with that one, I close the tab and do the next tab.
It's a simple process, but it really works for me.
I do this, too. (Though I just open bookmarks manually, not all at once.)
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer if G+ made it easy to navigate to all of this stuff (I have so many circles that navigating through them just isn't effective), but yeah, bookmarks organised into folders are still one of the most effective ways to access things on the internet.
Interestingly, I think communities have great potential to sort of replace many circles. Not all of them, but categories really make communities desirable.
What's your suggestion for making this simpler? What would you like to see?
ReplyDeleteWell, the specific design of something is dictated by constraints, as well as the long-term vision for the project. So I can't really share anything relevant in that sense.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, speaking generally, I feel that it's good if systems are individualised and relevant to people. E.g. We used to get internet ads from random companies. Now we get ads targeted to our interests. That sort of relevancy is becoming increasingly desired in the technology we use.
Talking specifically about G+, a home stream is great and most people will look at just that, but I reason there are a segment of hardcore users who desire more individualisation and choice. It's possible to design a system that satisfies your hardcore users, while also making it accessible and simple for regular users.
Also, I feel G+ could be easier to use and navigate. In general, I feel G+ navigation requires too many clicks.
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More specifically, I'd like to access my circles streams without having to re-load the page (which is why bookmarks in a folder are nice; no-reloading... always there... usually only one click to access them since most sub-folders expand on mouse-over)--basically, an interface that is persistent that stays with you, sort of the interface of a smartphone (there's always a core, familiar "skeleton" interface that everything else is built on).
G+ has that persistent interface, but requires me to click on "Home" and then click "more" before I can access all my circles, when really, it could be as simple as mousing-over a little icon in the left sidebar that pops out a list of your circles that you can scroll through.
I'd also like to be able to re-order circles more easily.
It would also be nice if I could assign circles to categories (e.g. "Friends," "People I follow", etc), kind of like you can put bookmarks in a nested folder system. E.g. I have many art related circles, and it would be easier if they were in their own little folders (sort of like apps folders on the home screen of a smart phone), instead of a big long list of circles.
Also, in terms of communities, it'd be nice if (like I said above for circles), I could see a list of all my communities by mousing over the "Communities" icon in the left sidebar, and scroll through a list, with nice little notification icons next to them. Right now I have to click "see all" and re-load the page before I can see all my communities.
In terms of albums, it'd be nice if I could see a list of my albums expand out. E.g. After I mouse-over Photos -> Albums, a list of my albums would show up, so I can easily go straight to a single album if I want to without (only one page load) without having to first go to the albums page, then click on an album (2 loads).
But anyway... the specific ideas are less important than the general design philosophy that will ultimately inform the design and functionality of specific systems.
My design philosophy is generally:
Make things really, really easy--a joy--to use and navigate; design systems for your hardcore users, then make them accessible for everyone else.