Learning about Google+ Hangouts, Drive, and Docs at #acenetc 2013

Today was the first full day of ACE-NETC in Indianapolis, IN… at least for me. The ACE-NETC conference is a place were Extension communication and technology specialists get together and help each other get to the next level. It is always great to get together to visit with people with whom I have been virtually working over the past year.

I started my day with a presentation by John Dorner from North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. Dorner gave two presentations this morning, and I attended both of them. They were both on Google products. The first was on Google Drive and Google Applications. He then presented on Google+ hangouts.

Google Drive and Apps

Dorner explained NCSU uses Google Apps and Gmail. Along with his ncsu.edu account, he also has an extension.org account, which is also supported by Google Docs. He primarily uses his edu account for day-to-day work and uses his extension.org account for his national work with extension. He can get to all his stuff on Google from any computer with Internet access. He exclaimed it is easy to share documents with others. No more email attachments. Everyone is always looking at most current document. Since he began using Google docs, he rarely uses Microsoft products.

He started his presentation by focusing on drive.google.com. He commented that any file type can be uploaded. These files can be subsequently downloaded in their native form or they can be converted to a Google file type and worked on directly.

One of the nice features that I was not necessarily aware of was that you can search Google Drive files for any file that has been shared for a particular group, for example, extension. I was not aware of this feature. This is a great find. I also learned a bit more about Google Templates.

Google documents

Dorner demonstrated that you can upload a word document and convert it to a Google Document or upload a Word document and leave it in that file type. Google can convert a PDF document with OCR technology. He pointed out that the word processor does not have all the features of word but has 90% of most common features. He added he would not write a newsletter in Google but would write the articles. He also demonstrated the power of collaborating on a document. One idea is to use it for meeting minutes.

While demonstrating the spreadsheet application, he showed us a function called unique. I had never used it but I can immediately see the potential. He uses it to keeps track of classes, attendance, and ratings.

With the presentation application, you can export the file into a number of different file types. He also showed that you can have the speaker notes on a different screen. Finally, the presentation could be included in a Web page using the embed codes.

Dorner mentioned that he uses Googles Forms for many reasons. One of the benefits of using a form is that you can embed it in another Web page. Forms can be easily summarized. You can also require people to log in to access a form thus capturing additional demographical information.

Google+ Hangouts

Later in the morning, Dorner showed us how to initiate meetings with Google+ Hangouts. He began by demonstrating simple one-on-one sessions and the various ways of creating a hangout. He then moved on to creating a hangout with multiple people. Unfortunately, the session was hampered by bandwidth issues. I learned that you can also call a phone number with Google+ hangouts.

He showed us how to create a hangout with a Google event. With the advance event options, you can tie the hangout to a YouTube broadcast. Here shared a checklist to help guide through the process of creating a Google Hangout: http://go.ncsu.edu/hangoutchecklist

When holding a larger event, he recommended having a moderator to help answer and field questions.

Dorner also demonstrated many of the Google+ Hangout features:

• Screensharing
• Window capture
• Remote desktop
• Document sharing using google drive.
• Slideshare
• Google effects
• Symphonic whiteboard
• Youtube

As usual, I walked away knowing more than when I entered the session. John Dorner had a great session.

March 2013 issue of Geeks and Speaks is out

Geeks and Speaks

Here is the March 2013 issue of Geeks and Speaks, the monthly newsletter which highlights the great finds of the previous month. This issue has a couple of articles on Evernote, Google applications, Twitter, reading, and writing. A couple of the tips talk about how to use Evernote to write a book. These tips are personal favorites. In addition, I added some links on video resources, ways to use smartphones in the classroom, moving your RSS feeds from Google Reader to other programs, ways to project your iPad or iPhone, great wiki programs for books, quotes, and media, and other productivity suggestions.  I also included a link to the Webinars listed at learn.extension.org; there are always great classes going on at eXtension. In this issue, I am introducing two new blogs that I recommend from some the University of Wyoming Extension educators: one is on nutrition and food safety, and the other is on range and livestock management. Finally, there is also a link to four of my most recent book reviews. Enjoy!

You can find your copy of Geeks and Speaks at http://www.wyomingextension.org/geeksandspeaks/shownewsletter.asp?letterid=3598

If you are looking for past issues, you can find them at http://www.uwyo.edu/cessupport/Learning_Support/Geeks_and_Speaks.html

And if you would like to subscribe for a future issue, go to http://www.uwyo.edu/cessupport/support/emailsignup2.asp

If you are looking for articles under a specific topic, you can always search here http://www.wyomingextension.org/geeksandspeaks/topics.asp

Keep on learning!

Book Review: Google Plus marketing made easy: The complete guide to getting more traffic, more customers and building your brand with Google+

Google marketing made easy

In an effort to learn more about Google+, I had picked up Ryan Bush’s book, Google Plus marketing made easy: The complete guide to getting more traffic, more customers and building your brand with Google+. It is available as a kindle book. The book is a very quick read; each section is only a couple of pages. The information Bush provided is useful but not really unique.

Bush provided instructions for creating an account and setting up a profile. He did stress to consider your business as you are fleshing out your profile. He recommended connecting your profile to your other accounts such as Twitter, Faceook, and LinkedIn. Also include your blogs your profile so that you can get tied into Google’s authorship markup.

The author also addressed circles and how to use them in a business context. Bush provided a list of circles to create to support your business endeavors. He followed this up with strategies to find Google+ contacts. Included in this strategy is a list of useful links to Google+ directories. These links were a useful treasure. He also provided useful instructions for importing Facebook contacts. It is obvious that Google and Facebook are not close friends based on his instructions. I tried them and they do work great.

The book also included Google Chrome extension resources that enhance how Google+ works. These extensions allow you to share content from Google+ to other social media sites, respond to comments without entering Google+, and personalize your Google+ experience.

When Bush wrote this book, Google+ pages were just introduced. He provided some insight into their benefits and pointed out concerns at the time; however, I would have liked to see more written about pages and how to exploit them.

Finally, Bush talked about the importance of Google+1. He mentioned how to integrated the +1 on your different sites, and how to solicit for +1 feedback. Google has tightly integrated +1′s throughout its operations. +1′s will actually get you more traffic. Here is more information on this topic: +1 on non-Google sites

All in all, I did walk away with a few new tools in my toolbox. You can’t beat the price.

It is time to do a a social media spring cleaning

Spring Cleaning

With spring right around the corner, it is a good time to do a little social media spring cleaning. Here is are some suggestions for knocking the cob webs from your social media sites.

Facebook

Facebook continuously adds and removes features. Here are some ideas for both your personal profile and fan pages.

• Review your profile settings. Click on your name in the upper right corner and then on Update Info button under your cover photo.
  • This is a great time to ensure your settings are how you want them.
  • Is it time for a new profile picture?
  • Are you featuring the people you want to feature? with the right relationship?
  • Have you included your education and work information? While certainly optional, this is a nice way to find old friends.
  • You should also update your philosophy, arts and entertainment, sports, and activities and interests.
  • Finally, you should review and update your contact information. Are all your social media sites interconnected?
• Review your profile privacy settings.  Click on the “gear”  in the upper right corner and then click on Privacy Settings.
  • Review each of the settings, and adjust them to where you feel comfortable.
  • Once you have updated your privacy settings, select Apps from the left hand menu and clean out all of the applications you no longer use.
• Review your “friends” and lists. Click on your name in the upper right corner and then click on Friends.
  • This a great time to purge your lists of those names unfamiliar to you or individuals that you wish to drop.
  • Lists are a great way to manage your Facebook views. From the Friends link, you can create new lists by clicking on the Create a List link.
• Review all of your Fan pages. Go to your fan page and select Edit Page from the admin panel.
  • Starting with the Update Info. Is your Basic Information Current? This is a great time to make any updates.
  • determine how you want to post to the page, and when you want to be notified of activity on your site.
  • Review and update the Manage Permissions settings.
  • Is it time for a new Profile Picture?
  • You can also identify with pages and page owners your would like to be Featured.
  • Have you considered adding additional admins to help manage the load, you can do this through Admin Roles.

If you take time to go through this list for your Facebook pages, your site will be considered spring cleaned.

Twitter

When cleaning up your Twitter accounts, yes, I have multiple accounts, I recommend attending to three basic chores: removing inactive users, create lists to manage the individuals you are following, create Twitter newsletters to keep you informed, and update your profile.

• Removing inactive accounts. Sometimes it is time to cull the herd. There is a very useful program to identify users who are just not active with Twitter, it is called Untweeps. I personally set it for 90 days to give users the benefit of the doubt. Select the accounts you want to remove and submit the results.
• Create a list to manage users. Lists are a great way to manage conversations on Twitter. You can create a list to follow users around a specific them. Check out this post to learn more about creating lists.
• Create Twitter newsletters to keep you informed. I have found Twitter newsletters using paper.li to be a great way to stay informed. Here is more information about Twitter newsletters.
• Update your profile. You should take this opportunity to update your profile.  Log into Twitter, and select Profile then Edit your profile.  At this point, you can update your account information, password, mobile phone settings, notification settings, profile information, design and connections to applications. It is always a good idea to review which applications are accessing your accounts. Naturally, revoke access to accounts you no longer use.

With four simple things to do, you can have a squeaky clean Twitter account.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an important networking tool, but like most tools it needs to be cleaned and oiled. Here are some things you can do to keep LinkedIn servicing you needs.

• Update your profile. When is the last time you reviewed your profile? Have you changed jobs or responsibilities? Have you updated your profile picture? Have you updated the new skills feature? Have you been published? What about your education? This is also a great time to update your Web sites, Twitter accounts, and interests.
• Examine the groups you are following. Are they serving you well? Are there some you should drop because they are inactive? This may be a good time to join some new groups.
• This is also a good time to reach out to those you worked with and ask for a recommendation.  Speaking of recommendations, you should also review your contacts and take a moment to hand out some much deserved recommendations.
• Update your settings. To locate the Settings link, move your cursor over your name in the top right of your home page. Here you can update your email preferences, group preferences, applications that you use, and your basic account information.
• Update the applications you use. Under the More tab, you have an opportunity to add or delete applications you way want to use. Some applications are extremely beneficial, I personally use seven of them.
• Finally, it is time to review your contacts. You should purge your contact list of names which you are unfamiliar or who simply do not use LinkedIn. Focus on the contacts who will help you succeed and who you help to succeed.

Diigo

Diigo is a great tool for managing favorite links… at least, in my opinion. I only have a couple of suggestions for spring cleaning Diigo: update your profile, update your tags, update your network, and update your groups.

• Update your profile. This is a great opportunity to update you profile. Click on your name that the top of the screen and then select Profile. Review and update your information under the Basic, Interests, Privacy, Me elsewhere, and Picture tabs.
• Update your tags.  I personally have 817 different tags. In some cases, I have a basic name and a plural of that name; it would be useful to consolidate. In other cases, I have only one or two bookmarks under a tag; again, it may be good to consolidate. To edit your tags, go to My Library and then click on Edit next to My Tags.
• Update your network. Click on My Network and see if your network is serving your needs.  This is a good time to search through your contacts and add new ones, or look the individuals you are following and drop them if they are no longer beneficial.
• Finally, update your groups. Look at your groups, again, are they beneficial to you. If not, enter the group and Quit group. Perhaps you have new interests, this is a great time to search out and follow new groups.

Google+

Google+ is another great tool for keeping abreast and discussion issues. I only have a couple of suggestions for spring cleaning Google+: update your profile, update your tags, update your network, and update your groups.

• Update your profile. Take a moment to review an update your profile. Click on your name that the top of the screen and then select View Profile. Then click on the “gear” and choose settings. Review and update your information such as who can interact with you, how you will receive notifications, manage apps and circles, and profile information. Update your image as necessary.
• Review your Circles.  Check your circles to see if you are benefiting from the individuals you are following. To do this, click on Find People button on the left hand menu, and then the Your circles tab at the top. Click on a circle to review its membership.
• Update how much news you wish to see from each circle. Click on Home and then click on a circle name from the tabs provided at the top of the news list.  Adjust the slider to control how much news you want to have appear from that particular circle.
• Finally, update your communities. Look at your communities, again, are they beneficial to you. If not, enter the community, Click on the Actions dropdown menu, and Leave Community. Perhaps you have new interests, this is a great time to search out and follow new communities.

If you have completed these tasks, you have gone a long way to cleaning up your social media presence. If you think I missed something important, please leave a comment.

February 2013 issue of Geeks and Speaks is out

Geeks and Speaks

Here is the February 2013 issue of Geeks and Speaks, the monthly newsletter which highlights the great finds of the previous month. This issue is a little light because I was on vacation for the last part of the month. This issue highlights a number of different programs and products such as Evernote, Google+, Penultimate, and LinkedIn. These tips talk about how to get more out of each program.  In addition, I added some links discussing how to improve your presentations… a 2,500 slide PowerPoint deck is quite interesting. This list also has a recommended educational ebook list.  I also included a link to the Webinars listed at learn.extension.org; there are always great classes going on at eXtension. Finally, there is also a link to my book review on What the Plus! Google+ for the rest of us. Enjoy!

You can find your copy of Geeks and Speaks at http://www.wyomingextension.org/geeksandspeaks/shownewsletter.asp?letterid=3597

If you are looking for past issues, you can find them at http://www.uwyo.edu/cessupport/Learning_Support/Geeks_and_Speaks.html

And if you would like to subscribe for a future issue, go to http://www.uwyo.edu/cessupport/support/emailsignup2.asp

If you are looking for articles under a specific topic, you can always search here http://www.wyomingextension.org/geeksandspeaks/topics.asp

Keep on learning!