Your Google+ Guide: 15 Tips For Newbies ~ THEGAMETECH

While Google+ has a slick design and Google clearly tries to make the platform as intuitive as possible, your first few days with the new social network can be overwhelming.

You may expect to log in and immediately see all your friends' activity with no effort at all. Or perhaps you're looking for a Facebook clone in every sense. You'll find neither on Google+.

The "Welcome" screen helps. When you start up Google+ you're told that the project "makes sharing on the web feel like sharing in real life." You see Circles, Hangouts and Sparks as three important areas.

But what does it all mean? What exactly are these "Sparks" and "Circles"? And what are the other key features of Google+? You can use this handy guide to learn all about G+ features. But that just gets you started. How can you make the most of your Google+ experience?

That's where the tips below comes in. Here are 15 pointers to utilize the social network to its full potential.

1. Start By Finding People You Know

You can use the "Find People" search box at the top of the site to search names, company names, places (cities/towns), schools, etc. to find people you know.

Open up the profile pages for each of these people and hover over "Add to circles" to put them in a circle (friends, family, acquaintances, following or make a new circle).

2. Then Find People You Don't Know

After circling those that you do know, start circling people you don't to widen your network. Search by topics you're interested in, work/school experience, or location.

Remember, as you create circles, circles are not public. Adding someone to circle, while they will get a notification, is not "friending" them on Facebook or creating a close bond between you and them. It's simply curating/personalizing your streams so they're more interesting to you. The more people you add, the better your G+ experience will become.

3. Get Organized With Lots Of Circles

Create circles big and small (and populate them): some for sharing, and others you purely follow, simply to keep tabs on topics/industries that interest you. Make some that are more targeted, such as just people who work at a specific company. Take time to add hundreds of people to circles, as only then will your home Stream transform to real-time.

4. Follow Googlers

Among the most engaged users on the platform are those behind it: Googlers. They're quick to respond to feedback, often post about new features, and also share the most innovative uses of G+ which will give you ideas.

5. Make A Bookmarks Circle

You can create a bookmarks or favorites circle to save your favorite posts on Google+ or read them later. You don't need to put anyone in that circle. Simply share posts to that circle when you want to save them.

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