Google+ Tips for Status Updates
Whether you’re making your own status update on Google+ or your viewing someone else’s, here’s a list of tips that will get you looking like a pro in no time!
Keyboard Shortcuts
Within Google+ there isn’t an easy way to bold, italicize, or otherwise make your text stand out without using keyboard shortcuts. That said, here are some handy-dandy shortcuts that you can use to do just that.
*TheWord* = Bold
_TheWord_ = Italicized
-TheWord- = Strikethrough
J = will scroll one post down.
K = will scroll one post up.
Q = will take you right to chat.
The spacebar will scroll down your stream.
Shift + Space = scrolls up your stream.
Halt a Status Update / Muting
Sometimes there are folks who post and get such a huge response from their followers that the stream never seems to quit. Here’s how to fix that situation so that you’re not seeing every last update yourself:
From within that popular post, click the button on the top right and then choose “Mute Post”. This will halt incoming updates. If you ever want to restart it again, click the same button and choose “Undo Mute”.
Change Your Profile Link
By default your Google+ profile link looks like this: https://plus.google.com/104637220428499950193.
That long string of numbers is your ID on Google+. But if you want ot make it a bit shorter and nicer looking, then you’ll want to visit http://gplus.to/, enter in a unique name for you and then enter in your Profile ID. Now, you can reach me at http://gplus.to/KristineW.
Update From Within Gmail
You don’t have to be logged into Google+ in order to update your status there! You can update it directly from Gmail and here’s how:
Note that you must be logged into the Gmail account that you use with Google+ for this to work.
- Login to Gmail
- In the upper right hand corner you’ll see a gray “share” button.
- Click on “Share” and you’ll be able to update Google+ right from within Gmail.
How to Tag Someone in an Update
You’re probably used to using the @ symbol in both Twitter and Facebook to mention or tag someone but in Google+ you use…(roll drums)…a + symbol.
Simply type + and then start typing a name. Google will attempt to determine whom you are trying to tag and then you can choose them from the drop-down list provided.
Update Status to a Certain List
By default, when you create a status update, Google+ assumes that you want that to be available to all of your circles and this may not always be the case.
Here’s how to choose a certain circle AND how to remove circles you don’t want to share with. (The default update status is all circles).
To remove “Your Circles” which essentially means “everyone” click the “x” next to the “Your Circles” like so:
Next, you’ll see this:
Click on the “Add circles or people to share with…” and you’ll see this:
And then choose the circle(s) you want to share with.
Double Check Who You’re Sharing With
It can sometimes be hard to remember who is in what circle. After you’ve followed the process above and want to double-check who is in that circle, click on the name of the circle and a new window will pop-up.
From here, you can choose “view all” and see who all is in that circle.
