What’s on my iPod: Safe by Britt Nicole
The last person I followed: @jennybrooks
What I’m Reading: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Google has recently introduces Google+, which according to Google, aims to “bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to software.” An article from GalleyCat this week highlighted how authors and publishers can use this new series of social tools.

Google+ is divided into a few different sections that authors and publisher can all use in different ways:

+Circles: Allows you to group your friends, parents, bosses, etc., into different groups.

This feature is useful because it means you aren’t sharing everything with everyone your connected to each time you post an update. Instead, you can chose which circles you want to include in your news. According to the GalleyCat article, this can be useful for those of us in the publishing world because it allows you to group and target specific audiences.

+Sparks: A new sharing engine that, according to Google, “delivers a feed of highly contagious content from across the Internet.” On any topic you want.

This feature is probably the one I am most excited about. It will inspire conversations and allow authors and publishers to discuss books without the awkward, forced feeling that social media can often bring. All you have to do is add your interests and +Sparks will provide a stream of constant information on that subject for you to share and discuss. (This will make finding Twitter content extremely easy and accessible.)

+Hangouts: Create screen time and face-to-face gatherings.

Book clubs anyone? +Hangouts allows you to schedule time and events to meet with people face-to-face online. According to Google, “By combining the casual meetup with live multi-person video, Hangouts lets you stop by when you’re free, and spend time with your Circles.”

+Mobile: Makes it easier for your to upload, share your location and coordinate with friends via your cell phone.

This will make it much easier to share events. Similar to Foursquare, +Mobile will allow you to strike up conversations by sharing where you are and what you’re currently doing with the people you specify.

Here is a quick video about Google+ for more information: