New Google+ Updates Include Multiple Page Managers, Volume Control For Streams & Page Notifications

Today Google announced several Google+ features that will affect profiles, pages and notifications.  These features will be rolling out over the next few days,  just in time for the holidays!  Here’s a look at the main enhancements included in this update:

Volume Control In Stream

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRakr5BgkB0[/youtube]

One of the main gripes that users complained about on Google+ is the ability to control the messages that make it into their streams.  This new feature allows users to throttle the number of posts on a per circle format.  Google calls this feature “volume control” and touts the new ability for users to “graphic-equalize” their streams.  This functionality should help make Google+ less noisy while ensuring users don’t miss posts from important sources.

Enhanced Notifications

A few weeks back, Google announced a new Google bar that would streamline content and highlight Google+ content.   Google+ notifications are now being updated as part of this process.

Notifications will now allow users to get sneak previews of all updates without having to go to Google+ to see the full content.  Added to the notifications are +1’s and shares of your posts.

Page Improvements

Google launched pages for Google+  in a rather hurried fashion a few months back.  Now, some well needed changes are being rolled out including:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20UXgGxssAo[/youtube]

• Up to 50 Managers Per Page
  
  Now instead of 1 manager per Google+ page, up to 50 users can be added.  This feature is long overdue and should make it much easier for large brands to operate on Google+.
• Notifications For Pages
  
  Pages will now act more like traditional Google+ profiles as they will see notifications on interactions.  These interactions include comments on posts, mentions, post +1’s and reshares.
• Better +1’s For Pages
  
  One of the most confusing elements of Google+ pages has been keeping track of the +1ing of posts,  adding of circles and +1 to web content.  With this update Google aims to fix these numbers.  The new aggregated user count will include users who have added the page to a circle or +1’ed a page.

Better Photos

Lastly, The photo galleries on Google+ will be getting a makeover.    Photos will appear larger on the screen with a hida-able comments section on the right side of the screen.   The tagging and editing of photos has also been improved.  The new features allow for highlighting of tagged users and seasonal tools in the creative kit.  See the video for the updates in action:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhWdNOgfa90[/youtube]

Look for these updates coming to Google+ over the next few days.

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About The Author

Greg Finn

Greg Finn is the Director of Marketing for Cypress North, a company that provides world-class social media and search marketing services and web & application development. He has been in the Internet marketing industry for 10+ years and specializes in Digital Marketing. You can also find Greg on Twitter (@gregfinn) or LinkedIn.