I first covered this new thing called Google+ in this blog post last June. After a skyrocketing launch, adoption rates plateaued, then dropped off. Many new users signed up for an account but have not been as active with it as with their other SoMe channels (Twitter, Facebook, etc.). As G+ pages were only for individuals, businesses were left wondering how G+ would affect them.

G+ has made two important changes recently that is shaking things up again. In November, Google launched “pages” for businesses or brands. Similar to Facebook, users can create company pages and use G+ as that company. Many early movers jumped in but the results were not immediate.

But just today, Google launched another initiative that will certainly take G+ to the next level. “Search plus Your World” is now merging the worlds of Google Search and G+ together. Check out this quick video overview.

Here are the three main features as described on Google’s blog:

• Personal Results: enable you to find information just for you, such as Google+ photos and posts—both your own and those shared specifically with you, that only you will be able to see on your results page.
• Profiles in Search: both in autocomplete and results, which enable you to immediately find people you’re close to or might be interested in following.
• People and Pages: which help you find people profiles and Google+ pages related to a specific topic or area of interest, and enable you to follow them with just a few clicks. Because behind most every query is a community. 

With G+ pages showing up prominently in Google searches, it’s a whole new ballgame. Community managers need to start exploring the many potential advantages of G+ for their companies and brands. It’s easy to get started; first, set up a G+ for yourself, then set up a page by walking through a wizard here. Give it a go and tell me what you think.

Remember Google Buzz? It wasn’t very long ago that Google launched the “next big thing” in Social Media; and who would have doubted its viability, we’re talking about Google here! But the tool buzzed out before too long due mainly to privacy concerns, lack of useful capabilities, slow adoption, and heavy competition from Facebook and Twitter.

Well, Google is trying to break into SoMe again, this time with Google+, a new project aimed squarely at Facebook. Despite being delayed a number of times, Google started field testing Google+ this week. Sign up here to be included in the next wave of tester invitations.

Did Google learn their lesson from the last time? At first glance, the answer appears to be a qualified “yes.”

Google+ will be easy to access, soon available on the highly visible Google toolbar. The tool has a number of features designed to mimic the real-life social interactions of people with and within groups. “Circles” lets users select and organize contacts into groups for optimal sharing (after all you share different things with different groups), “Sparks” enables users to explore specific interests with friends, and “Hangouts” brings user location into the mix. Google+ also throws in photo and video sharing, and a “Stream” not unlike Facebook’s newsfeed, making it an “all you can eat” SoMe platform. Mashable offers a good initial write up of Google+ here.

Round One of this SoMe heavyweight title fight is about to begin. Who are you betting on?

Google has finally gotten the present it’s been hoping Uncle Sam would finally pony up. Today the Federal Trade Commission voted to let the online giant go ahead and buy up the ad company DoubleClick. Read more »