July 29, 2011 94 Comments

It’s Not Who You Circle; It’s Who Circles You

Circle of Journalists In Google+, one of the main activities we perform is finding people of interest to follow. In this graphic to the left, I started following journalists and news professionals based on a great list that I found at Muck Rack (hat tip +Steve Garfield). This will prove to be great, because I’ll get to learn what they’re doing with Google+, figure out what has their attention, and also, it never hurts to know some reporters and journalists.

But It’s Not Who You Circle

The fact that I’m circling up all these journalists in Google+ doesn’t matter. They may or may not get a notification of the connection (I don’t – I shut off all notifications). They may or may not look and think, Huh. No idea why he’s following me and I don’t know him, so no need to circle him back. Or they might know me, but decide that it’s not who they’ve chosen to circle (maybe they’re only following Silicon Valley tech CEOs, for instance.

I know this, though, even though I point content towards that circle, by sending out posts to ONLY that circle, they’ll go unseen until they circle me back. That’s how Google+ works. It’s not reciprocal. It’s not two way. People won’t see your stuff just because you mention them in it. (There’s no real @mentions like in Twitter that are robust enough just yet. I only see 3 or 4 mentions at any given time in the “notifications” tab on Google+.)

So, what has to happen next is that I have to ‘get on their radar,’ if I hope to be circled by them.

How to Encourage Being Circled

Now, let’s be clear: different people want different things, so there’s no blanket way to convince someone that they should add you to their circles. For instance, just because you and I are both interested in marketing, I’m not as likely to add you to a circle, because I’m already reading hundreds and hundreds of sources of marketing information. I do, however, love comics, and would circle many people involved in the creation of comic books and other related information. Why? Because it’s a personal interest. So, let’s agree that this advice is only a starting point, and that it’s still up to the person whether they choose to circle you or not.

Some Ways to Get Circled By People You Follow

  • Comment with meaningful and useful information or ideas. Someone shared a link to a related video to one that I had posted, and I found it useful, so I circled them back.
  • Share and add commentary to posts of that person, explaining why you find it interesting. Everyone loves a little boost of promotion.
  • Comment with relevant links to your own work, if it makes sense.
  • Have a well filled-out profile. The better your profile, the more likely someone is to want to connect with you.
  • Post interesting things worth seeing, should this person decide to look at what you’ve shared publicly.

Beyond that, that’s all you can do to hope to get some connectivity with those who you’ve chosen to circle.

Reciprocity Isn’t a Requirement. In Fact, it Can Be Bad

In Twitter, the biggest problem many people created for themselves was they did reciprocal following. I wrote about this here. But that’s tricky, because no one ever wants to feel like they’re not worthy of your time, and by not circling someone back, that’s what it (can) feel like you’re saying.

The problem with this is that to follow everyone back in Google+ recreates the same mess: the Stream (of information being read) is suddenly useless because it’s built on courtesy and not elements of interest, and because Google+ has a kind of “one circle or ALL circles” gate right now, it’s not easy enough to say, “Just put people in a circle.” Furthermore, that would just lead to the “follow you but don’t really read you” problem that exists already in places like Twitter and/or Facebook, for that matter.

So, Engagement Is The Thing

Near as I can tell, the secret of having reciprocal circles comes from those five points above. But I may be wrong. What do you think?

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Newer Comments →
  • Alx Klive

    ads

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      I can say that *I* make decisions based on what’s in someone’s profile or not, and/or what I presume I’ll learn from them by circling them. Make sense? 

      • http://twitter.com/gnemechek Gretchen Nemechek

        Thanks for this post. I agree and I spent some time thinking about this a few days ago. It makes sense to circle people who’s content is interesting to you and perhaps who you would like to be engaged with. That way, you have an opportunity to respond to the content they share.  When people circle me, I take a look at their profile, and their latest posts to see who they are, what they are interested and what they are saying on G+.  If it lines up with my interests, I will circle them back. What I am sort of confused by though is this concept of “Incoming”.  How is it that these people are “sharing their thoughts” with me, but I am not following them?

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      I can say that *I* make decisions based on what’s in someone’s profile or not, and/or what I presume I’ll learn from them by circling them. Make sense? 

  • http://toddrjordan.com/thebroadbrush tojosan

    Of course my counter argument is that it’s all about who you circle.

    Like you, I’m trying to follow folks based on what they share, and less about any hope or interest of being Circled back.  I don’t mind it for sure, but not my goal.

    I’ve created sharing circles based on topics I might share w/like minded folks about. Likewise, I’m using a #Listening Circle to put folks in that I find the most useful/interesting. Some friends don’t make it here, some folks I don’t know in person are here though.

    Taking a fresh approach though here vs Twitter.  

    All said, good post.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Agreed with the fresh approach, and I’m spending a LOT of time choosing who I circle. So we agree. I’m just saying that if you’re trying to reach and connect with said people, then no, it’s about them getting you. :) 

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Agreed with the fresh approach, and I’m spending a LOT of time choosing who I circle. So we agree. I’m just saying that if you’re trying to reach and connect with said people, then no, it’s about them getting you. :) 

    • Anonymous

      I have had my own little thought “paradigm shift” and I don’t care at all who circles me. That may be an overstatement, but I spent too long caring about building my following and getting the attention of the Rock Stars thinking I needed their attention to build my following.

      Now I’m all about being engaged when and with whom I am inspired by. I’m focused on what I can get out of them – Are THEY worth following?  Most importantly, I’m on the look out for what my clients need to know because they are the ones I need to be popular with.

      Naturally, my following will grow if I am engaged in intelligent conversations with people who are interesting.  No more making that a focus.

  • http://www.facebook.com/stevegarfield Steve Garfield

    I shared that with you. ;-)

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Oh Thanks! I’ll edit appropriately! 

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Oh Thanks! I’ll edit appropriately! 

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Edited!

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Edited!

  • http://ernohannink.com ernohannink

    Not sure Chris. I feel it is really important whom I circle. Like Twitter and Facebook it is source of information by connections for me. Per circle I can check out the latest updates on a specific topic or languange.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Yes, it’s important that you choose who you circle, but my point was just that they won’t see you unless they circle you, too. 

      • http://ernohannink.com ernohannink

        Yes I do understand that point Chris. Must admit that I send out Dutch messages to my Dutch circle I expected that all these people would see the message.

        Maverickny has a good point too. :)

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Yes, it’s important that you choose who you circle, but my point was just that they won’t see you unless they circle you, too. 

  • http://pharmastrategyblog.com maverickny

    The beauty of G+ for me, is that like Twitter, it’s asymmetric; I don’t follow everyone who follows me, preferring to use search to find specific things I’m interested in, when I need them.   People obsessed by reciprocal follows or who’s put them in a circle are either being insecure or a tad narcissistic. I don’t have time for egos!

    I would argue that you are defined by who you follow, not the other way round.

    • http://rickmanelius.com Rick Manelius

      I agree. Your circles are opt-in. Who follows you is (somewhat) beyond your control.

      But perhaps it’s a bit of both? I’m defined by who I follow, but also by what people perceive me to be. Both are true, but from different perspectives (internal versus external). Either way, I like your insights… and that’s not to feed your ego :)

    • http://rickmanelius.com Rick Manelius

      I agree. Your circles are opt-in. Who follows you is (somewhat) beyond your control.

      But perhaps it’s a bit of both? I’m defined by who I follow, but also by what people perceive me to be. Both are true, but from different perspectives (internal versus external). Either way, I like your insights… and that’s not to feed your ego :)

  • http://bowmanmarketing.com Scott Bowman

    Like any tool, it depends on how you use it. If your main purpose is to keep up with people and different topics, it wouldn’t matter if they circle back or not. But if your intent is to network or be seen, the “old saw” continues to apply: It’s not what you know, or who you think you know, it’s who knows you. Meaningful engagement is key.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      Agreed. it’s a mix of use cases. 

  • http://gregg.mine.nu/ Димитър Цонев (Dimitar Tsonev)

    However people are described not by those who follows them, but by who they follow.

  • Ron Watson

    Nice Chris!
    It is an interesting ecosystem, isn’t it?
    I’m really pretty high on it for the privacy controls that circles give me and also the Hangout. Both are perfect for online Distance Learning – that’s my thing – looking forward to learning more. Keep the meta coming!
    Peace~

  • Stacey Cornelius

    There’s a Chrome extension called Favorite Google+ Stream that allows you to set your own default stream. (I haven’t tried it yet, but someone I know says it’s great).

    So you should be able to be reciprocal (if that’s important to you) and decide what you see at any given time by organizing circles accordingly.

    • http://chrisbrogan.com Chris Brogan

      But that’s still just one circle, so maybe I could make supersets or something. I guess that’d get me around the issue. 

  • http://twitter.com/DabneyPorte Dabney Porte

    I think my circle anxiety continues….great post Chris!

  • http://www.margieclayman.com Marjorie Clayman

    Well, I am still pretty confused about the circling, following, and sharing. Are people who are sharing with me encircling me with their Google love? Why am I not getting notified when a lot of people add me to their circles, but I do get notified when others add me? Why am I seeing a ton of results when I’m not following anyone? Does it matter who you follow?

    These are things I ponder in my quiet hours.

    However, I will say this. Google Plus offers a great opportunity to meet new people in conversational contexts. Following David McGraw’s example, I ran a chat on G Plus last night based on the Twitter chat I co-founded called Tweetdiner. Although it was lumpy in a lot of places, being able to talk with people in more than 120 characters was really nice (for verbose people like me especially). And you don’t need to be in someone’s circle to be able to chat with them that way. You have the added option of talking to people out in the open PLUS filtering down. Yep, I just wrote branding copy for Google. You’re welcome, fellas.

    Anyway, from my little corner of the world, the circles are more of a non-issue distracting shiny toy type thing. They don’t make sense and they don’t get in my way. I am focusing on talking with people I happen upon (lord knows how). And it seems to work for engagement, at least so far.

    I’ve seen a lot of great uses for circles that make sense, but in terms of engagement, for me, it just makes sense to forego the people-sorting and just talk.

    It’s entirely possible I’m missing the whole darned boat, btw. But I’m having fun on my life raft :)

  • http://twitter.com/ptnxgstockton Gary Stockton

    This was an extremely well written explanation and made me rethink a few things. Cheers.

  • Anonymous

    I really hope that this articles is shared everywhere to be noticed. I see the same behave on G+ as on Twitter:
    Today a famous musician has circled me, I don’t know if it’s a real profile or not but the intention of circling me is just to get back-circled.
    It will be interesting to see the first service offering “Circle-Friends”, circle me – I circle you.
    It is working for some guys, I just have seen a couple of comments “Please circle me and I’ll circle back” and indeed this profile had quite a lot of “followers”.

    If someone circles me, I’ll get a quick look at his/her profile and watch my incoming stream regular to decide if it could be interesting for me or not.

    I would like to see some guys trying to clean their circles again after a couple of weeks just adding everyone for fun ;-)
    The message how to circle is currently not that much available to everyone I really hope this article will help to change this situation.
    In overall, on G+ it’s the same as in every other “community”. Want to get circled? Try to get involved with the other side you are trying to reach.

  • Darrell

    I’m new to this social media stuff. Leaning a lot in classes at San Diego State University!

  • Darrell

    I’m new to this social media stuff. Leaning a lot in classes at San Diego State University!

  • http://www.danieldecker.net Daniel Decker

    And this is a great example of why I love your posts. Well said and makes perfect, practical sense.

    I wrote a post today about True Influence, Followers vs Fans. I didn’t talk about G+ specifically but just the difference in how we measure or perceive influence. My point flips back into your post exactly because it’s not about who we follow or even who auto-follows us back… it’s about who listens to us and engages.

  • http://www.danieldecker.net Daniel Decker

    And this is a great example of why I love your posts. Well said and makes perfect, practical sense.

    I wrote a post today about True Influence, Followers vs Fans. I didn’t talk about G+ specifically but just the difference in how we measure or perceive influence. My point flips back into your post exactly because it’s not about who we follow or even who auto-follows us back… it’s about who listens to us and engages.

  • http://scobleizer.com Scobleizer

    Who you follow defines you, NOT who follows you.

    So, you should build circles to separate people into different streams. I put photographers in a different stream than, say, Linux sys admins and they are in a different circle from tech journalists or social media gurus (wonder who is in THAT circle?) 

    This makes your inbound better quality and more manageable.

    What circles people put me in doesn’t really matter at all. I can’t control it, although if you want to put me in a circle called “noisy buttheads” that won’t bother me, even though I’d rather be in the tech journalist or geek circles.

  • Herman Tellis

    Chris your point is well taken. However there is another approach: Casting broad circles are strategic in that it enables one to get a feel for precisely how to appeal to the G+ community from the resulting flow or stream of content. Apparently, there is lots to be learned from broad circling, one can slowly and methodically appeal to potentials and build quality followings. Another interesting thing about circling is when one circles another then blocks them as well (circles and blocks). It would be idea if one was advised of being blocked similar to circle advisory.

  • Herman Tellis

    Chris your point is well taken. However there is another approach: Casting broad circles are strategic in that it enables one to get a feel for precisely how to appeal to the G+ community from the resulting flow or stream of content. Apparently, there is lots to be learned from broad circling, one can slowly and methodically appeal to potentials and build quality followings. Another interesting thing about circling is when one circles another then blocks them as well (circles and blocks). It would be idea if one was advised of being blocked similar to circle advisory.

  • http://rickmanelius.com Rick Manelius

    I’ve definitely been focusing on the meaningful/useful because otherwise I feel it’s not really helping and merely adding noise.

    Not that there is anything wrong with a ‘good job’ here and there, but after 200 other people said the same thing, does it even matter?

    I’d rather be known for saying one thing that makes people think for days, rather than 100 things that nobody cares enough to think about!

  • Anonymous

    Very helpful – thanks.  I have a circle called “Parking Lot” for people I don’t recognize who circle me. Silly me, I was thinking it was a good way to show circle love without commitment ;)

  • Myriss

    Adorei suas dicas, porque ainda estou buscando a melhor forma para organizar os meus círculos.
    Como eu tenho interesse em diversos assuntos, criei 15 círculos e tentei dividir as  pessoas por áreas de interesse. Por exemplo:  Fotografia, Cinema, Linux, jornalistas, Ciberativistas, uber geeks, etc.  Criei um circulo maior que chamei de: “Os melhores do G+”, onde adicionei as pessoas que considero mais interessantes dos demais círculos. Diariamante acompanho apenas o fluxo do Circulo “Os melhores do G+” e, ocasionalmente, dependendo do meu interesse e tempo disponível, dou uma olhada nos demais círculos.
    Está funcionando bem, para companhar as notícias, mas se eu decidir divulgar algo não sei se vai dar certo :(

  • http://www.Kens411.com Ken Brand

    Nice share.  The “Pros” flame and complain, guys like me, regular people trying to figure stuff out, we love your sharing, what you do and how you do.  It’s helpful Chris, thanks.

  • http://twitter.com/susangiurleo susangiurleo

    I’ve essentially stopped circling people. I can see what they post in my ‘incoming” stream and check that 1x a day to see if anything interesting is being shared. When I see something worthwhile, I might circle someone I don’t know. However, most often what I see in that stream is drivel and doesn’t encourage circling.

    Call me “old school” (back in May, 2011 – where’s Marty McFly?) but I mostly use my Twitter lists to keep track of people I want to stay in touch with. I know I can do more with Google+, but right now it’s repetitious  and I don’t have the bandwidth to do that work. And I doubt I’m alone.
    The take away here – when you circle someone looking for circle-backs, be interesting and useful. And be aware that there are people out there who haven’t fully shifted to Google+, so don’t give up your social media connections elsewhere.

  • http://twitter.com/stanreeser Stan Reeser

    I think you are spot on about the frustration of a “stream of mud” from people you are circling for no reason and I have far far smaller circles than you I am certain.

    I am still not certain that I fully understand the difference between people that have me in their circles and people that have added me.  The numbers don’t add up.  When someone circles you there is a notification to allow them as “Incoming” (think artillery – yikes) which means you haven’t circled them but you can see their stuff in the incoming stream.  This, however, doesn’t explain why I am currently in more peoples circles than have added me right now.

    Early on in G+ infancy I had noticed Chris, you were in my “People Who have Added Me”  *and there was much rejoicing* but then I noticed I wasn’t in your circles *uncontrollable sobbing*.  I too use the circles, as Scobleizer mentioned below, to categorize my stream by how or why I know people.  So because of that, I put you in my unGeeked circle from the event in Chicago, but not having the chance to meet (couldn’t get there in time for your Roast), logically I knew there was no reason to have me in your circles.   

    The reason I relate this story, (ok maybe in addition to acting on your blog advice above) I think an interim solution that I have submitted in feedback to Google+, is make “Incoming” another circle but with people that you don’t want in your default stream. That alleviates hurt feelings of being added but knowing you are relegated to “Incoming” by lack of being circled or conversely, being stuck with off-topic posts in your stream just because you felt obligated to put someone in a circle.  Just a thought.

  • http://homeremediesmd.com Home Remedies MD

    I think the way to be circled is to offer value that people both want and need

  • http://cashwithatrueconscience.com/rbblog Ryan Biddulph

    Hi Chris,

    The easiest way to become attractive is to provide value. Offer value, become valuable, people seek you out.

    Sow. Reap. Simple. Keep sowing, and you continue reaping. Keep giving, and you will be circled. It’s easy to become attractive when giving, because everybody likes a giver.

    One note: don’t try to become attractive by forcing your impress on others. Force negates. Instead of attracting, you repel others by trying too hard.

    Make a positive impression where you are, and people will want to know you, and connect with you.

    Thanks for sharing your insight Chris.

    RB

  • http://ajleon.me ajleon

    Greetings from England! Great tips, bud. Helping contextualize some of the finer points of G+. :)

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  • http://ClimbingEveryMountain.com Mary E. Ulrich

    The good news about Google+ is we get a fresh start. The bad news is, we might repeat the same mistakes from our past experiences on Twitter/Facebook…

    Thanks for helping us think this through Chris. Certainly I don’t want to offend a potential friend. Would it be useful to make a generic circle like “Google+ contacts”? It’s tempting to just add circles and people, but you’re right–we don’t want the same mess

  • http://rickmanelius.com Rick Manelius

    You do mention how it is important who you circle in that it hurts your ability to have a useful stream.

    Also, I’ve read and seen that +1′ing affects the google results for anyone who adds you to their circles. So in that sense, who you follow can be very important to what you find outside of google+ as well as within!

  • http://www.anastaciabrice.com Anastacia Brice

    It took the noise in my huge Facebook stream and the resultant culling to make me realize the absolute value of intentional connecting via Social Media. Over time, I’ve also decided that, for me, SM is about choosing those I want to know more about and hear/learn from, and not really worrying about who connects back. If they happen upon me, get me and want to, fabulous–that’s probably exactly how I chose them. It’s attraction in action, but if it doesn’t happen, I’m not going to worry about  it.

    If reaching out to someone matters enough to me, and that person isn’t connected via SM, I’ll just approach another way. How lucky are we to have antiquated technologies like email and phone, huh? ;)

    What I like most about circles here is the ability to click into a stream and focus on a specific group for awhile, to see what they are talking about and what matters to them, and then engage them where they are–in the ways you suggested, Chris. But I don’t do it because I want something (for instance, to be circled), but because there’s something I want to share.

    Thanks for this post, Chris… :) A question back to you–do you think this non-circling=non-seeing thing will hurt or help Google+?

    A

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  • Denise

    I took your Google + class and liked it – but feel like I almost learned more from this post- great job with the explanations!

  • http://twitter.com/JudyHelfand JudyHelfand

    Chris,
    **Disclaimer** I am not using Google+ yet. I did receive an invitation, but I have been consumed with projects in the last few months and have had to step back a bit.

    Here is my question:  On June 6, 2011, you wrote a post titled “Diets Start on Monday” in which you stated: “I don’t watch the news or read newspapers. I don’t read news blogs. Instead, I let ambient sources filter the news to my brain a little bit at a time. Someone will say “blah blah Afghanistan” and I’ll sniff around for some sources, if I want more. I’m writing this from the airport and CNN is advertising some murder trial. It sounds horrific. I don’t understand why we all want to feast on this kind of news. I’d rather watch TED in my downtime, and I would rather find inspiration instead of seek out suffering.”

    However, in this current post you state: “I started following journalists and news professionals based on a great list that I found at Muck Rack (hat tip +Steve Garfield). This will prove to be great, because I’ll get to learn what they’re doing with Google+, figure out what has their attention, and also, it never hurts to know some reporters and journalists.”

    I don’t know…maybe I am confused, it is Saturday and I am getting old and I am sure you will have a reasonable explanation of what I think is contradictory…or maybe you have had an epiphany as to why you should follow the news a bit closer.

    One more thing. In your ways to get cirled you advise “Comment with relevant links to your own work, if it makes sense.”  This is great advice. I have met many people over the past couple years because bloggers(like you) encouraged people to comment and include relavant links. Comment Luv is quite a nice bit of software (many have stopped using it)…but of late I have found that many bloggers moderate any comment that includes a link and it could be hours or days or never before they notice your comment and publish it. By then the conversation has moved on… I have also noticed some bloggers take offense to a commenter including links to their own work.  

    Talk to you later…
    Judy

  • Robin

    Great tips on this Chris.  Really interested to see how this platform plays out as it progresses.  I love what FaceBook has been able to allow me to create, it was the start of filling my practice in the early days, today I am 100% referral so Social Media now is more for having the casual business social connections.  LI was too stuffy so hopefully G+ will play out somewhere in between as it develops.  Thankx again for all the great articles!

  • Robin

    Great tips on this Chris.  Really interested to see how this platform plays out as it progresses.  I love what FaceBook has been able to allow me to create, it was the start of filling my practice in the early days, today I am 100% referral so Social Media now is more for having the casual business social connections.  LI was too stuffy so hopefully G+ will play out somewhere in between as it develops.  Thankx again for all the great articles!

  • http://twitter.com/browntogreen Bill Brown

    Glad all of you are working out the bugs while the rest of us patiently await an invitation to the party with our noses smashed up against the glass. 

  • Anonymous

    I’m not on Google+ yet – my mojo is not great enough for an invite.  (No worries though, they’ll be lowering the standard soon!)  But, it seems to me, like any other form of connecting the golden rule is to provide relevant content that people actually care about.  Link backs, circling, friending, and following will largely take care of itself if you can do that big thing first.

    • George “Urban Jibaro” Torres

      Hey Brad, send me your email… I will get you in.

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  • http://twitter.com/IanDSmith IanDSmith

    Chris I think you make many fine points but at this stage I thing the Google + is simpler than this.

    Its an opportunity to share relevant content with what you think is a relevant audience and of course the content and the audience will be fine tuned over time. I see the circles mimicking life over time, Project Circles. Hobby Circles, Business Contacts in streams, VCs, CEOs,Family Circles. LinkedIn groups kind of does some of this. I also a need already for better integration with Twitter & Google +.

  • http://twitter.com/phillyrealty Christopher Somers

    Great tips and info !  It is time for me to get on Google + .  Just have to find the time.  Have received a couple of emails. 

  • Anonymous

    I’d be happy to circle people who are not talking about Google+ and how to use it. Never seen so many PHDs crop up in such a short time. Google is too self–referential. 

  • http://www.online-business-virtual-assistant.com/ Virtual Business Assistant

    I have yet start on Google + . These post of yours on Google + make me thing that I should start using it soon…

  • http://staynalive.com Jesse Stay

    I’m not convinced on reciprocity either on Google+. Right now the “Incoming” feed allows you to follow what others are saying. Anyone can still contact you if you allow them through your Google profile (another way to build very personal connections), and without a way to default to a particular Circle as your main feed, your feed will get very cluttered if you do follow back everyone (not to mention the 5,000 people per circle limit Google has imposed). Your 5 points I think are what matter most – engagement is key.

  • http://www.i95dev.com Henry Louis

    Chris, you have shared your views thus therez nothing to mention being wrong. I would really appreciate your efforts of sharing your experiences & thoughts.

  • Dave Shockley

    Thanks Chis.  This is were a lot of us made our first mistake with Facebook and Twitter.  Now we are sitting out here wondering what to do with all these “friends” that we know nothing about.  I guess I learned a little slow, but now before I follow or friend anyone I read their profile and see if we share any of the same interest.  If not so long.  I hate it when I click on someones profile and there is nothing there but they live in the US.  Thanks again and I plan to pass this along to my agents.

  • JHarveymckinnon

    As we figure out Google +, Brogan will be especially helpful. Thanks Chris.

  • http://tiffanymonhollon.com/blog Tiffany Monhollon

    I definitely think that engagement is the key to network growth on the site. When I look at my own following behaviors on Google+, I’m very interested in how the communication is creating true social discovery. For example, I may get involved in a conversation on a thread someone has published and even talk directly to other commentators – who I may or may not have known previously. 

    It’s a bit more of a true cocktail party metaphor to me, because you can find yourself moving from conversation to conversation, meeting people based on common interests, which can help you find interesting new people to share with.

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