Reports show that users already number more than 25 million, and a recent Computerworld article states that it will be second in size only to Facebook within a year. Among the differences is the use of Circles to group people by common interest, employment, family or any other logical arrangement that fits your lifestyle. It allows communication just like we would do it face-to-face. Things you would say to a couple of close friends at lunch but not to a larger group can be handled the same way with Circles. They might look like this:
- Family You Like
- Family You Don't
- General Acquaintances
- Really Close Friends
- Other Friends
- Co-workers
- Bosses and Managers
- Old Schoolmates
- People You Would Like to Know/Influence
For an individual, this could be your Circles list right now. That's because you can selectively send out a post or item that may be of interest to just one, or several of your Circles, and mark it for delivery to only those circles. However, for a business, and particularly if you want to use Google Plus like a blog for your real estate business, you need to wait for business profiles. Why?
Without being able to create a separate profile for your business, something Google says is coming soon, you can't send out Public posts without them showing up in all of your Circle members' streams. In other words, while you can send out a post that talks about your recent successes in helping buyers to get mortgages in a tough market, it would be something of little interest to your family and most of the other circles listed above. It's too much like Facebook and everybody being a friend.
When business profiles are allowed, you can have your personal profile with Circles like the one above, but you'll also be able to have a profile for your real estate business. Those Circles may look like this:
- Buyer Prospects
- Listing Prospects
- Past Buyer Clients
- Past Seller Clients
- Real Estate Support (appraisers, surveyors, title, etc.)
- Media Representatives
Now you can continue to communicate with your personal Circles about personal stuff. But, now you can also post on your business profile like you would a blog. Your posts and delivery might look like this:
- Public delivery of a post about your recent success at getting mortgages for buyers with credit challenges.
- Delivery to Buyer Prospects of current bargains and foreclosure listings.
- Communications to past buyer or seller clients to just keep in touch.
- A press release type of item only to media representatives.
- A discussion of local closing issues with your Real Estate Support Circle.
It's going to be a whole new ballgame, and the power of this method of communication will be clearly evident from the beginning. Once outside developers are allowed to participate, features will be added to enhance posting and communications.
Your ability to focus content on targeted audiences will allow that content to be more valuable to the audience receiving it. You can market your business from a single platform, but to multiple target groups through Circles. Entire discussions can develop around your posts, with only those with a vested interest being involved.
So, be patient, and learn about Google Plus by using it through your personal profile. Be ready to pounce when business profiles are released, and you'll be at the front of a major new social and business networking trend...a true game-changer.
