RANDY ELROD

Sensual | Curious | Communal | Free

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5 Reasons Google+ Kicks Facebook’s Butt—And I’m Giving Away 100 G+ Invites Today!

1. Privacy — So I’m tooling around Facebook and I notice a picture of a friend of mine in an advertisement in the sidebar. I immediately give him a call kidding him about the ad. He asks me what I’m talking about. I say, hey, you’re in an ad for a product on Facebook whether you know it or not.

Yep, Facebook uses you, invades you and exploits you. And you gave them permission. Ignorance is not bliss in the Facebook world.

Google + has extensive privacy settings. You only share what you want with who you want.

2. Hangouts — An easy download of the Google Voice and Video plug-in to your computer and smartphone and you are hanging out with your favorite tribe. Or anyone on Google + who wants to jump in. They don’t have to be in your circles. Don’t like someone, they are abusive, or ruin the conversation—kick ’em out. It’s YOUR hangout. Hangouts are video conferencing on steroids.

Finally, video phone calling like George Jetson made us lust for in the 70’s.

3. Photos — Can you say private? Can you say goodbye Flicker? Can you say snap a photo with your phone and bam! it’s in your Google + photo library — shared only with those you choose? Can you Googles Goggles? Nope, I’m not being redundant—I said Goggles, not Google. Goggles is one of the freakiest, scariest, coolest things I’ve ever seen. Try it. I dare you. Can you say goodbye Facebook?

4. Toggling Between Streams, I mean, Circles — So, we should know by now that customizing circles to share with is reason enough to see why Google+ will kick some serious Facebook butt. Speaking of—BUT, the ability to toggle between streams is glorious! If I want to see what our re:create tribe is saying and doing—simple—just select that recreate stream in the left column. Could the ability to import Twitter lists be next? Ah, we can only hope.

5. Sparks — It gives you the ability to search for stuff on Google + in which you are interested—in a way that we’ve come to expect from Google. Sleek, sexy, simple and fast!

Try Sparks and prepare to be addicted.

Now, if you have not received a Google+ invite (it is still in Beta testing), simply leave a comment and tell me you want a free invite and I’ll send you one pronto. You can thank me later!

Questions: What have I missed? Other features you love? Do you think Google+ will kick Facebook’s butt?

Also, if this article was helpful, please G+ it, Twitter it, and yep, you can even “like” it if you must by clicking the buttons below.

92 responses to “5 Reasons Google+ Kicks Facebook’s Butt—And I’m Giving Away 100 G+ Invites Today!”

  1. mark in tx Avatar
    mark in tx

    Looks like there were technical difficulties with the invites. The link you sent me opened an email dialogue to Mike Ritter’s personal email address. I notice he was the first to respond to comment on your post.

  2. Mike Ritter Avatar

    I was signed up WAY BACK in another social networking product they tried. Don’t remember what it was called and I guess they scrapped the version I was in. Do you know what that was?

    Anyhow, would appreciate an invite.

  3. Dean Avatar

    I would like an invite

    1. Randy Avatar

      @Dean, You got it, Dean!

  4. mark in tx Avatar
    mark in tx

    Should I have received it by now?

    1. Randy Avatar
  5. Deana Avatar

    Randy — you’ve intrigued the former techno geek in me. My college son is talking about G+ thought I don’t believe he’s tried it yet. — I’d love to check it out, would you send me one please?

    Thanks!

    1. Randy Avatar

      @Deana, You got it, Deana!!

  6. Jeff Avatar

    Thanks for the google plus invite.

    1. Randy Avatar

      @Jeff, you got it, Jeff!!

  7. Mauricio Sanchez Avatar

    Great post Randy! Would love an invite! Thanks!

    1. Randy Avatar
  8. BruceA Avatar

    I’d like an invite. Thanks!

    1. Randy Avatar

      @BruceA, You got it, Bruce!!

  9. Benji Zimmerman Avatar

    I would love an invite! Thanks Randy!

  10. Jenni Avatar
    Jenni

    I’d love an invite. thanks!

    1. Randy Avatar

      @Jenni, You got it, Jenni!!

  11. Roger Avatar

    Randy, very interested in giving Google+ a try, lately I have not been impressed with Facebook and privacy. How many times do we have someone tag us, or post to our wall and then say… man I wish I would have hit ignore on the friend request. Yeah I could shut down the wall, but I do want my “friends” to be able to post!

    Plus there has been so much buzz about this Google+ I am just waiting to waste more time on social media:)

    Really like the idea of Google voice option…

    Thanks for the opportunity to give it a whirl!

    1. Randy Avatar

      @Roger, you got it, Roger!

  12. Phyllis Thompson Avatar
    Phyllis Thompson

    Any invites left, Randy? I’ll try it!

  13. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Would love an invite too Randy! Thanks!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar
  14. Ron Avatar
    Ron

    Would like an invite. Thanks Randy!

  15. Carma Avatar

    I haven’t explored Google + yet, but sure would love to. Thanks for the post..and for the invite, if you still have some available.

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar
  16. Ashley Avatar

    Would love an invite too!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar
  17. Jeff Goins Avatar
    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Jeff Goins, Yes, it rocks!! Thanks, Jeff.

  18. Dennis Muse Avatar

    would love an invite. Thanks Randy!

  19. Dan Avatar
    Dan

    Still not quite ready to take the plunge with Google+…I guess, depending on where you come to it from, you could see it as a Twitter+ or Facebook- (and yeah, much of the – at this point is garbage, but…), and I think the view of Google+ vs Twitter/Facebook is as much about biases toward Twitter/Facebook as what G+ really is.

    I’m always about organizing things so I’m all about G+ circles…thing is I already organize using Lists in Facebook. With lists I can control who can see/comment on what, and can do #4 on your list. It’s just that Lists in Facebook isn’t “mandatory” like in G+ and as such not exactly as intuitive (haven’t played much with G+ yet, assuming it is intuitive). I’m glad that, based on your inference, that privacy controls start throttled and you have to open them up as opposed to the automatic “opt-in/fully public” that Facebook does.

    To me, Twitter and Facebook are two social networks. They each serve a particular purpose to me, and so neither area going to be “replaced” any time soon. So, for me, G+ is just another social network, and I am not particularly sure I see what “hole” it fills for me. It’s not going to replace Twitter/FB for me and so it becomes yet another thing to “check”/cross-post to/etc, and at this time seems redundant to a large degree. I’m certainly intrigued how it’ll continue to grow within and interact with the Googleverse, but not enough to bother yet.

    Like I said, am on there, so no invite needed thanks. Just haven’t had time or inclination to explore.

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Dan, I understand. It is not for everybody. I don’t think it will replace Facebook anytime soon, I just think it kicks its butt. :) Thanks, Dan.

  20. Michael Fleener Avatar

    I have heard great things about G+, but have not gotten to see it yet. Would love an invite.

    Thanks,
    Michael

  21. Stevie Stevens Avatar
    Stevie Stevens

    Please, please, please, pick me. I’d like an invite.

  22. Chris Avatar

    I really like the much cleaner interface of G+. So far, I also haven’t experienced the sort of SPAM that you get from FB, when people want to suggest that you “like” some organization, or talk you into playing some peripheral game, or send a piece of flair. G+ is straightforward, and doesn’t bug you with stuff that you don’t want.

  23. mark in tx Avatar

    Sorry for the multiple requests. Your mobile site was saying it wouldn’t submit because my post was too short?

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @mark in tx, No problem, Mark. Thanks for being persistent!

  24. mark in tx Avatar

    I’ve heard good stuff about it and would like a Google+ invite, if you please. A big Texas thank you from the home of our next President, Rick Perry!

  25. mark in tx Avatar

    I would like a Google+ invite, if you please. A big Texas thank you from the home of our next President, Rick Perry!

  26. mark in tx Avatar

    I would like a Google+ invite, if you please. Thank you!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @mark in tx, Ha!! You got it!! Thanks, Mark!

  27. Dewayne Avatar

    Randy,

    I am one of the few who refuse to sign up for facebook for many of the reasons you state in your blog. However, I am considering looking into Google+ and would like to check it out. As for my social network, it’s twitter only at the moment but I know I need to expand.

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Dewayne, Would you like an invite, Dewayne?

      1. Dewayne Avatar

        @Randy Elrod, Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.

  28. Jill Avatar
    Jill

    Am itching to try Google Plus out. I’ve avoided Facebook because I hate the way it messes about with privacy settings and opts people in to them by default. Would love an invite if you have any left

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Jill, You got it!! Thanks, Jill!

  29. One busy Mom Avatar

    Hi Randy. Send me an invite if you please. :). Thanks for the article.

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @One busy Mom, You got it!! Thanks, Brandi for the comment and the RT!

  30. Joshua Phillips Avatar

    I have social network fatigue but I suppose need to get with the latest thing. Would love a google+ invite.

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Joshua Phillips, You got it!! Thanks, Joshua!

  31. Rob Higginbotham Avatar

    Thanks for the post, Randy! I remember the mass exodus from myspace to facebook. It coincided with myspace expanding their advertising past the obnoxious line. That seems to be a very thin, very dangerous line, and I agree, I think facebook is starting to cross it. Advertising (in a non-intrusive, non-obnoxious way) has always been Google’s greatest strength, imho. Pass me on an invite if you’ve got any left!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar
  32. Bill Knox Avatar
    Bill Knox

    Thanks for the review. I am a long time read of your blog. Thank so much for the invite!!!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Bill Knox, You got it!! Thanks, Bill!

  33. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I would love an invite… Thank you for the review.

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Amy, You got it!! Thanks, Amy!

  34. Nathan Avatar
    Nathan

    Great comments, Randy. Please send me a Google+ invite. I have mixed feelings about its Adoption Rate. Facebook has highly saturated the Market, like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Starbucks, etc. The Google+ video conferencing could be a great feature for families.

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Nathan, You got it!! Thanks, Nathan!

  35. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Good day Randy, love your site and also reading your tweets…I would love an invite to google+ Thanks and have a blessed day.

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Rob, You got it! Thanks, Rob!

  36. L. C. Campbell Avatar
    L. C. Campbell

    Good explanations! Could I be one of those 100 invitees? Pleasee!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar
  37. Christy Avatar

    One of my favorite things is that you can choose the circles you want to see your status. So if you have a circle of close friends and only want to update them on something you can…and not everyone else you have in circles. I hope G+ grows because I am really enjoying it…especially the privacy!

  38. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    I’d love an invite Randy!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Pam, You got it! Thanks, Randy!

  39. Matt C Avatar
    Matt C

    I would love an invite!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Matt C, You got it! Thanks, Matt!

  40. Jen C Avatar

    Now, I’m just curious. :) I’ve been ignoring Google+ up ’til now, but you got me curious. I’d love to try it out!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Jen C, You got it! Thanks, Jen!

  41. Axel Avatar
    Axel

    Well how about another one? :)

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Axel, You got it! Thanks, Axel!

  42. Charlie Hall Avatar

    Please send me an invite. Thanks!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Charlie Hall, You got it! Thanks, Charlie!

  43. Allen Avatar
    Allen

    would love an invite. Thanks Randy!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Allen, You got it! Thanks, Allen!

  44. Pedro Valentin Avatar
    Pedro Valentin

    Thanks for the invite friend! :)

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Pedro Valentin, You got it! Thanks, Pedro!

  45. Jamie Avatar
    Jamie

    I’d like an invite to try this out!

    1. Randy Elrod Avatar

      @Jamie, You got it! Thanks, Jamie!

      1. Jamie Wooten Avatar
        Jamie Wooten

        @Randy Elrod, How do we get the invite?

        1. Randy Elrod Avatar
    2. Paul Avatar

      @Jamie, interesting stuff Randy – as always… and, the symphony piece – nice departure… very cool.

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