• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

The Social Media Hat

Always On Top Of Social

  • Coaching & Consulting
  • Community
  • Speaking
  • Articles
    • Digital Marketing
      • Influencer Marketing
    • Social Media Articles
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIn
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Social Media Tools
    • Virtual Events
  • Newsletter
  • Search
  • Coaching & Consulting
  • Community
  • Speaking
  • Articles
    • Digital Marketing
      • Influencer Marketing
    • Social Media Articles
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • LinkedIn
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      • YouTube
    • Social Media Tools
    • Virtual Events
  • Newsletter
  • Search

Google+ adds a load of new features to mobile app

You are here: Home / Social Media Articles / Google+ adds a load of new features to mobile app

March 25, 2013 //  by Mike Allton

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Google has released version 4.3.0 of their mobile app for Google+ today and it comes chock full of updates and features that are sure to brighten your Monday.

According to the update, the new release includes:

  • New photo editing features: add filters, rotate, and crop
  • New profile design
  • New notifications tray
  • New set-up flow for new users
  • Control the volume of posts that you see in your stream from individual circles / communities
  • Filter search results by best or most recent
  • Tell your friends about a community (by sharing it or sending an invitation)
  • Re-share posts to communities
  • Display counts for unread messages in your communities
  • Additional community moderation features

There’s a ton there, so let’s unpack some of the more meaningful aspects of the update.

Photo Editing

Part of the huge success of Instagram was that it gave casual phone camera users easy tools to crop an image and add some interesting filters. Since Facebook bought Instagram and likely has no intention of ever adding Google+ sharing support, Google has been working to make it the platform of choice for your photo sharing. The desktop version already included advanced photo-editing, and Google+ has allowed users to automatically upload camera images for later editing and posting, so it makes sense for the app to begin to expand and improve its photo features.

Profile Design

New Google+ Mobile Profile PageThe old mobile profile was, frankly, boring. It was so dumbed down that not even your About text would display properly. Now, the new profile includes your profile image AND your cover photo, and a very nicely styled profile page that displays your profile text perfectly, including links. The new layout mirrors the new card look of the full version. It also includes all sections within your About, where before some of the sections were omitted from the mobile experience. This should be a welcome addition for many users who use their mobile phones for the bulk of their social media activity. To get to the new profile, expand the left menu and tap on your profile pic.

Notification Tray

The Notification Tray has moved and is now accessed by tapping the notification alert icon in the uper right corner. This now opens your notifications from the right, and reveals a very attractive list of recent notifications, complete with profile pics from those members. Tapping a notification will open the relevant post within a lightbox. You can close the lightbox and then tap on your home feed to the left to return to your home feed exactly where you were before. Accessing your notifications will no longer reset what you were doing previously.

Post Volume

Controlling the volume of posts to your home feed from your circles and communities is one of the more subtle yet amazing features of Google+. You can go to any of your circles or communities and adjust how many member posts make it to your home feed, allowing you to take control for yourself of what you do and don’t see, unlike Facebook. If you want to see every post from someone, you can put them in a circle with other people whom you always want to see. Being able to adjust this from your mobile phone is a huge improvement.

Sharing to Communities

Previously, you were able to create new posts in communities or, if you’re on another site, you could use that site’s share button and choose a community. However, if you shared something yourself earlier and wanted to share it to a specific community, that wasn’t possible from the mobile app. You could only share your old posts with specific individuals or circles. Why does this matter? Because Google+ is making a concerted effort to control community spam, and community moderators are stepping up to the challenge. If Google (or a moderator) notices that you’re sharing the same post over and over to every community you’re in, ALL posts will be flagged and hidden. That’s not to say though that you’re not supposed to ever share posts to communities. The currently accepted practice is to share your post to Public first, and then later on share that post to select specific communities that you know would be interested and benefit from the post. This update now allows you to do that from your smartphone.

Check out these new features and the other updates mentioned and let me know what you think!

Related

Category: Social Media ArticlesTag: Google+

About Mike Allton

Mike is an international keynote speaker, an award-winning blogger & author at The Social Media Hat, and Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse where he strengthens relationships with social media educators, influencers and partner brands. He has spent over a decade in digital marketing and brings an unparalleled level of experience and excitement to the fore, whether he's delivering a presentation or leading a workshop.

Join The Community!

35,000 savvy marketers have signed up to get the latest social media insights and ideas. Will you?


Previous Post: « The Best Blog Traffic Tools for Content Marketing
Next Post: Facebook implements discussion improvements for Facebook Pages »

Primary Sidebar

Work With Mike

Work with Mike Allton in a consulting capacity, or to speak at your next event.

Meet Mike

Mike Allton is an international keynote speaker & consultant, and an award-winning blogger and author at The Social Media Hat, where he has been educating businesses and organizations on the best use of content marketing for reaching and converting target audiences. Mike is proud to serve as the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Agorapulse, where he builds relationships with influencers and brands around the world.

Since 2012, Mike has worked with over a hundred brands and executives to help them identify and implement successful strategies. As a certified NLP Coach & Practitioner, he helps YOU achieve excellence. Work With Mike

Partnership Unpacked

Featured Posts

B2B Influencer Marketing Revenue Information

How Much Revenue Can A B2B Influencer Earn?

January 25, 2023 //  by Mike Allton

7 Ways B2B Influencers Can Make Money

B2C vs B2B Influencer Marketing

B2B Influencer vs B2C Influencer Marketing

January 23, 2023 //  by Mike Allton

What’s the difference between B2C & B2B Influencer Marketing?

Fintech CEOs Demonstrate Leadership Through Personal Brand

January 22, 2023 //  by Marc Angelos

Hint: it’s all about creating content in one way or another.

More Like This

  • Setting Goals for Partnerships & Omnichannel Marketing
  • How To Build Strong Client Relationships
  • How To Develop Successful Influencer Marketing Campaigns

Footer

Recent Posts

  • How Much Revenue Can A B2B Influencer Earn?
  • B2B Influencer vs B2C Influencer Marketing
  • Fintech CEOs Demonstrate Leadership Through Personal Brand
  • Setting Goals for Partnerships & Omnichannel Marketing
  • How To Build Strong Client Relationships
  • How To Develop Successful Influencer Marketing Campaigns
  • How To Launch An Affiliate Program In 30 Days
  • How To Approach Strategic Partnerships and New Opportunities

Marketing Resources

  • Marketing Hyperdrive Podcast
  • The Virtual Event Strategist Podcast
  • Partnership Unpacked Podcast (Coming soon!)
  • How To Craft Your Marketing Plan
  • The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect LinkedIn Profile
  • Social Media Spring Cleaning
  • Social Media Planner
  • Get The Newsletter
  • Home
  • Virtual Event Strategy
  • Mike Allton, Your Next Keynote Speaker
  • Mike Allton’s Newsletter
  • Work With Mike
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

Site Footer

Partnership Unpacked Podcast

  • Listen on Amazon
  • Listen on Apple
  • Listen on Google
  • Listen on Spotify
  • Listen on Stitcher
  • Social Media Articles
  • Digital Marketing Articles
  • Social Media Tools & Resources
  • Virtual Events Articles
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2011–2023 The Social Media Hat ยท All Rights Reserved