What Google+ Needs To Do

There’s a new(ish) kid on the block and he’s got about 40 million friends so far. Are you playing along with him yet?

There are a lot of haters against Google+. My friend, Kacy Maxwell, had a great line in a comic he drew about it, “I’m not wrong, I’m just not right yet.” Now, I’m a supporter of Google+ and have had the greatest time using it so far, but I understand his point. I’m actually in the camp of “I’m not wrong, I’m just not right yet”-ers. I think Google+ is going to be very big and very influential, but it has some moves to make before it gets there. Even when Facebook was starting out, it had some changes it needed to make for it to be great. I’m of the opinion that we should grant Google the time to make its necessary changes to be great. Here are the changes I think Google needs to make to Google+ in order to be a heavy contender in the Battle of the Social Networks.

Google+ A Go-Go

Google+ has made a lot of upgrades since its birth, hundreds already so far, and they are announcing more updates, like upgrades to brand pages and picture and video developer API access, almost daily. So, why should I waste my time writing about things they need to change to become more user-friendly in this “birthing time” of theirs? Don’t I know that no network is perfect when it is first introduced? Just look at how long it took MySpace to be a major player, or how long Facebook laid below the surface before taking over the world. Trust me, I know all that, and that is precisely why I’m writing this post as a call out to Google.

Right now, Google is running with newborn legs and chasing a gazelle. They need to build some sturdy, robotic legs soon if they plan to catch up or change the game that’s being played.

I’m a BIG fan of Googles and I don’t want to see Google+ go the way of Buzz or Wave. I’d like it to stick around (and I know about 40 million other people who agree). These are some areas Google needs to listen to me about and start the process of integration soon. Developer APIs and back-end changes are great, but unless people start using their profiles regularly, those changes won’t matter in the long-run.

Google+ Profile

This may sound like an odd statement, but the thing that Google+ needs to do to make more people use their profiles is to make it so no one knows their using their profiles. When I sign into Google, I should automatically be signed into my Google+ account (or be asked to do so if you’re opposed to cookies and data being saved). I should immediately be taken to my stream and given the chance to search, which will then populate the center of my screen, leaving my profile options easily accessible around the edges.

So, I’m doing my trusty Google search on the engine I prefer, but I still have my Circle, Share and Plus options around the side. I’m going about my daily activities, but sharing and checking in just became a WHOLE lot easier. Google+ wants more people to use their profiles? Build an integrated search with the profiles as the frame and they will come.

Gmail Integration

I LOVE Gmail. I’ve been hooked ever since I got a “secret” invite years ago. I basically refuse to use any other email client unless I’m going to get fired for not using it (suck it, Entourage). One thing that has perpetually bothered me about Google+ so far is that there’s not an easy way to check my Gmail from within my profile. Sure, I can click on the Gmail tab in the top bar and open a new window or use one of the many Google Chrome Gmail extensions or the Apple Store Desktop App, but I don’t want to do that. I want to be able to look over on the side of my profile (while in my awesome search) and see my emails. Like this:

Isn’t that beautiful? So simple, too. And it doesn’t even mess up my profile layout or my search for Awesomeville. Again, I’m still using the Google suite (it may even convince some of those who haven’t yet switched over to Gmail to finally take the plunge) and I haven’t even left my Google+ profile. Isn’t that what Google wants, total encapsulation of what I do online to happen under the Google umbrella? Get on it Google, let’s do this.

Google Calendar

 I’ll keep this point short, but I want my Google Calendar right below my Gmail window. I want to be able to see a miniature version of my day and when I hover my mouse I want it to expand like an image that I can interact with. Keep It Simple Google.

When you roll your mouse over the thumbnail calendar, it then looks like this:

This just keeps getting better and better. How could I possibly have anything else for Google to do? Stay seated, we’ve got a few more suggestions to go.

Hangouts

Hangouts are one of the features that I love and feel that right now, Facebook can’t really touch. Hangouts will keep Google+ alive even if every other feature is a little too familiar. Having said that, there are a few things that will make Hangouts better.

Google has been talking for some time about their Hangouts with extra features which allow you to name the Hangout, screen share and pull in Google Docs, etc. While those changes are great, Google needs to get on the ball and roll out Hangouts On Air to everyone. Right now, only about 10 people can join the Hangout. Hangouts On Air allow brands and users to include 10 people in the conversation, but then anyone else who wants to can view the Hangout as if they were watching it on TV (or watching a video podcast).

Hangouts On Air are also recorded by Google. This is a brilliant feature that needs to be rolled out to every, single Google+ Brand Page. Imagine the possibilities on scheduling weekly Hangouts and allowing brands to talk directly to their customers without having to learn new equipment or buy expensive programs and having those efforts recorded by Google, allowing for easy uploading onto a *a-hem, a-hem* YouTube channel.

This needs to happen tomorrow. Get on it, Larry Page.

Unique URLs

Do I really need to explain this one further? It’s a well-known fact that “www.plus.google.com/u/joeystrawn” looks WAY better than “http://plus.google.com/u/1/108392736218720456351/“. Let’s make that happen.

The End+?

Damn, I’ve blathered on for much longer than necessary. I’ll end my thoughts now.

There are a lot of things that Google+ is doing right, but others have written about those and you can find their posts (which would be much better than mine on the same issues). These are things I hope to see soon from Google to make a good product great and then from great we can work on making things Awesome.

Do you use Google+? Do you want the same updates as me or are there other things you would rather see first? What are your biggest Wants from the social network? If we talk loud enough, maybe they’ll even hear us. Share this post and let’s make our voices heard and make Google+ a contender.

Thoughts?

Tags: Facebook vs. Google+, Google, Google Plus, google's social network, help with Google+, How do I use Google+?, Larry Page, Mark Zuckerburg and Google+, What's the deal with Google+?