A quick how to guide for getting started on Google+ Communities. Great tips for moderators, too!

1. Using Google+
Communities
Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/savvysmilinginlove/5424075943/
…and engage with a global community.
Sarah Evans, Chief Evangelist, Tracky, sarah@tracky.com, 224.789.8314
www.tracky.com

2. plus.google.com
Google+ Communities
are groups for shared
interests via the
Google+ social
network.
There are various
privacy settings
depending on whether
you’d like your
Community public or
not.
Click here for more: http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/communities/

3. Getting started.

4. Google+
Communities
engage more
when they’re
created around
a shared interest
or topic, like:
Star Wars, Las
Vegas or Cult of
Mac.

5. When creating your
group, decide if you’d
like it to be public (i.e.
anyone can find, join
and post) or private
(i.e. only invited
members can join and
see what is shared).
NOTE: You can set up
a requirement to
request permission to
join a public group.

6. You can edit your
Community name along Add a photo that will
with the short help to easily
community bio at identify your
anytime. Community.
Categories are a unique
feature for Communities.
Segment the types of
conversations you think
people may have. You
can always update these
later.
Click the “x” to
delete a category or
“Add category” to
add a new one.

7. Use your description to
accomplish a few things:
• Describe your Community
in 1-2 sentences.
• Requirements for joining.
• Moderator rules.
• Reasons members may
have content removed.
• Anything you think
members should know.

8. If you’re the moderator for a
Community, a few tips to consider:
• Adding in additional moderators, especially if
you have a large Community. It’s tough for one
person to moderate for hundreds (or more).
• Know your Community rules and guidelines and
stick to them -- for everyone.
• Be open to change and feedback. It’s a
community.
• Set up your notifications settings to a frequency
that works for you.
• Block off time on your calendar daily to check in
with your Community.

9. Categories.

10. The “original”
category provided
by Google can also
be changed. Think
about making it a
“welcome” or “Hello
my name is”
category to get
people participating
right away.

11. Plan events for your Community.

12. You can plan in person, online or
specific Google+ Hangout events
for your Community. Maybe it’s
an engagement party,
professional meetup or online
education.
Include your event name, time,
date, location and any additional
details.
You can also include a custom
header theme.
When you have all details filled
out, select who from your Google
+ connections you’d like to invite.

13. Find interesting or useful ways to
integrate Google+ Hangouts.

14. The Public Relations Community set up Google+ Expert
Hangouts on scheduled days and times.
Featured experts are given 30 minutes to provide 4 teaching moments and
then attendees have 30 minutes to ask questions.

15. To create a Google+
Hangout in your event,
select “Event Options”
and then “Advanced.”
You have two types of
Hangouts you can
create:
1. “Google+ Hangout:”
A Hangout only for
your Community. No
one else will be allowed
to view; or
2. “On air:” Anyone has
the ability to view the
event.

16. To include things like
a link to your website
or blog, a ticket seller
or your YouTube
channel, you must
select “Show
additional fields”
under “Advanced”
options.

17. A few tips…

18. Download the
Google+ app
to participate
in your
Community
from a mobile
device.

19. Use the “+” or
“@” symbols in
front of a
username or
business name to
mention them in a
post.

20. Use moderator options to control
what content is shared.

21. If you moderate a “private”
Community you are not able to tag
or mention someone (e.g. + or @)
not in your Community.

22. If you find a public Community you like
and join it, you can invite your friends.

23. All moderators of
a Community
have the ability to
“approve” or
“ignore” requests
to join a public
community with
“request
permission to
join.”

24. The lower right
hand column of your
Community lets you
invite new members,
view all members
and moderators, see
upcoming events
and start a Hangout
at anytime.

25. Promote your Community.

26. If you want to find more people to
join your Community, try these tips:
• Share the Community on your public Google+
profile;
• Share your Community’s URL on other social
networks, like: Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin;
• If you have a niche Community like “Higher
Education in Nevada,” search for more broad
Communities with potential members;
• Include a call-to-action and link in your email
signature
• Add a call-to-action and link on your blog or
website
• Send a personal email to people you think might
be interested.

27. Questions? Send me a tweet
@PRsarahevans or email
sarah@tracky.com.