When Google+ was announced and those now ubiquitous videos of the
newest features in the service were unveiled, I was floored, but one
feature more than anything else (well, maybe not more than Circles),
that really got me excited was Hangouts.
A lot of people I’ve talked to don’t understand why I’m so excited by Hangouts. They say “sure it’s cool, but it looks like just another chat function” or “didn’t Skype already do that?”
But, it’s not the functionality that matters (though the execution is near flawless), it’s the platform.
The platform of Google+ combined with the overarching product platform offered by Google+ is ridiculously powerful and combined with Hangouts, there are so many interesting things you’re going to be able to do with this software.
Let me show you exactly what I mean.
So, why does this provide something more powerful than any other chat function I’ve ever seen?
First, it’s the platform. You already have prospects, partners, customers and business opportunities in your Circles and eating up your personal information.
Now, you can take those connections to the next level and start offering people services and functions that they’ve never seen in a social network before.
No one needs to call in or schedule time with you – you’re there and they join you, as if you were having a beer on the patio.
Remember how I said you could target people with notifications or tagging to call them out and tell them about something you posted on your Stream? Now is the time to do that. Give people a day or two to learn about your Hangout and decide whether they want to join you.
Make sure everyone knows what you are going to talk about. If you plan on discussing something like “ab exercises”, give them a heads up so they know what will happen.
Don’t make it too much like a webinar though. If the schedule is too strict, people might feel left out if they show up late or have to leave early. We can save those more specific ideas for later when you start using these as a way to build scarcity for your knowledge.
Have you ever tried to make a sale in email or on the phone only to find that the prospect really wants to meet in person? Can you afford to travel to them or take multiple days off to accommodate the meeting?
Probably not.
But, you can afford to boot up a Hangout and have a conversation with them and their partners through a social network where you already stay in touch.
You can also make pitches to possible partners and prospects through Hangouts – something that we’ll probably be seeing a lot more of from network marketers and JV hunters.
Today, that’s changed. When Google+ when public in September, Google added a boatload of new features to the Hangouts app, including Android 2.3 support for Hangouts on mobile phones, broadcasting with Hangouts on Air, and the ability to use Google Docs and Sketchpad while using Hangouts to collaborate or present information to people in your Hangout.
Last but not least, the Hangouts API has been released to developers for testing. Yes, that’s right – Google is unleashing developers from around the globe on its Hangouts interface to take it apart piece by piece and do what they will with it. The results will be interesting to say the least. I can’t wait to see what creative things we’ll see done.
And the mere fact that the API for any aspect of Google+ is going out already is very enticing. I can only imagine the tools we’ll be putting into place on here in the not too distant future.
What will be more impressive is seeing how people like you put the platform to good use.
A lot of people I’ve talked to don’t understand why I’m so excited by Hangouts. They say “sure it’s cool, but it looks like just another chat function” or “didn’t Skype already do that?”
But, it’s not the functionality that matters (though the execution is near flawless), it’s the platform.
The platform of Google+ combined with the overarching product platform offered by Google+ is ridiculously powerful and combined with Hangouts, there are so many interesting things you’re going to be able to do with this software.
Let me show you exactly what I mean.
So, why does this provide something more powerful than any other chat function I’ve ever seen?
First, it’s the platform. You already have prospects, partners, customers and business opportunities in your Circles and eating up your personal information.
Now, you can take those connections to the next level and start offering people services and functions that they’ve never seen in a social network before.
Creating a New Hangout
To create a new hangout, you should make sure to tell people when it’s happening. Keep it casual because that’s the goal of the service. Remember that the point of Hangouts is for something to be unplanned. People can simply stop in and say hi and then leave.No one needs to call in or schedule time with you – you’re there and they join you, as if you were having a beer on the patio.
Remember how I said you could target people with notifications or tagging to call them out and tell them about something you posted on your Stream? Now is the time to do that. Give people a day or two to learn about your Hangout and decide whether they want to join you.
Make sure everyone knows what you are going to talk about. If you plan on discussing something like “ab exercises”, give them a heads up so they know what will happen.
Planning Your Hangout
A hangout is casual, but if you host it, you need to make sure there is at least a bit of a format to follow. Usually, I like to stick with a single topic that I can send to targeted people in my Circles. If people know what they’re getting into, they will be much more likely to show interest in what I have to offer.Don’t make it too much like a webinar though. If the schedule is too strict, people might feel left out if they show up late or have to leave early. We can save those more specific ideas for later when you start using these as a way to build scarcity for your knowledge.
Offline Businesses Are in on the Action
I know most of the people reading this are online marketers, but there are a few of you who work with clients offline and you need to know that Hangouts represent an opportunity far and away above the other search engines.Have you ever tried to make a sale in email or on the phone only to find that the prospect really wants to meet in person? Can you afford to travel to them or take multiple days off to accommodate the meeting?
Probably not.
But, you can afford to boot up a Hangout and have a conversation with them and their partners through a social network where you already stay in touch.
You can also make pitches to possible partners and prospects through Hangouts – something that we’ll probably be seeing a lot more of from network marketers and JV hunters.
Hangouts Go Big Time
When Hangouts were first launched in the early testing phases of Google+ they were incredibly powerful and people were excited to see what they could do, but it was still a very basic platform.Today, that’s changed. When Google+ when public in September, Google added a boatload of new features to the Hangouts app, including Android 2.3 support for Hangouts on mobile phones, broadcasting with Hangouts on Air, and the ability to use Google Docs and Sketchpad while using Hangouts to collaborate or present information to people in your Hangout.
Last but not least, the Hangouts API has been released to developers for testing. Yes, that’s right – Google is unleashing developers from around the globe on its Hangouts interface to take it apart piece by piece and do what they will with it. The results will be interesting to say the least. I can’t wait to see what creative things we’ll see done.
And the mere fact that the API for any aspect of Google+ is going out already is very enticing. I can only imagine the tools we’ll be putting into place on here in the not too distant future.
The Bottom Line
I don’t want to get carried away with too much hyperbole because at its core, the Hangouts function isn’t anything revolutionary, but Google+ has increased its value many times over by including this tool. The opportunity to develop a standalone communication platform within a social network that can be used for so many things is impressive.What will be more impressive is seeing how people like you put the platform to good use.
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