Google+ at 2 years old: Where are we?

Two years ago last Friday Google introduced its social network, Google+. Mashable’s Christina Warren (@film_girl) provides a good assessment of Google+ at two years in saying it’s gone from “Facebook killer to ghost town to something else”

Make no mistake, however, two years in, Google+ is most definitely a social network. There are more than 500 million Google+ users and reportedly more than 300 million of those users are active.

No question the masses have been guilty of rushing to judgment on Google+ – on multiple occasions. On its launch, Google+ was hailed as the next Facebook or Twitter. People saw it as a zero sum game – if Google+ succeeded then Twitter and Facebook would suffer. Didn’t happen, all social networks continue to grow.

Last year we had all the stories of Google+ being a ghost town. People and organizations who see social networks to broadcast into saw little value in Google+ as it was not as active or robust as Twitter, Facebook, or the blogosphere. “Why should I worry about Google+ when no one is there – or least no one I am trying to reach.”

Warren is spot on that neither position represents Google+ today.

While I can’t say that I see the same amount of interaction on Google+ as I do on other social networks for all of my content, I can say that I tend to see a very specific level of engagement on certain types of content, particularly stuff that is related to Google, Google+ or Android.

Google+ is not a ghost town. By the same token, the service doesn’t have the immediacy of a Twitter nor the ubiquity of Facebook. Still, for certain types of content and certain groups of users, it’s the best sharing platform on the web.

I’m not getting the interaction Warren is getting nor I am getting engagement on items related to Google and the like. However, I have seen a significant uptake in engagement on Google+ over the last couple months.

I share other’s people content as well as some of my blog posts. One of my blog posts drew 17 comments over last weekend. I also browse Google+ giving a +1 or commenting on other’s posts. No question Google+ has the most eloquent interface of any social network on my iPad.

We’re also getting more questions from LexBlog Network members about Google+. Lawyers want to know what’s all the buzz about regarding Google+. They want to know how to set up a good Google+ account and how to use Google+ for networking. Historically, when lawyers start asking our account managers about a social media or social network, it’s a sign we’re ready to see a significant uptake in its use by lawyers.

For blogging lawyers having a Google+ account is a no brainer. That way you can use the Google Authorship feature which allows you to link connect you publish to your Google+ profile. Doing so a lawyer can increase their influence on Google.

You may find membership heavy on tech, innovators, and entrepreneurs. But that’s not all together bad for lawyers doing any kind of work, especially if you enjoy such company.

When I asked Colin O’Keefe (@colinokeefe) and Molly O’Keefe (@mollyokeefe), now at Microsoft and who interned here last year, how I ought to be using Google+ they said loud and clear, Google+ Hangouts.

Warren also sees Google+ Hangouts as the unsung hero.

The best part of Google+ is undoubtedly Google+ Hangouts. I know so many people who don’t bother using Google+ to update their status or share information, but absolutely use the Hangouts feature as a way to hold video chats with teams. Moreover, while the brand results with Google+ may be mixed, Hangouts are a consistently popular way to host discussions, interview and conversations.

At Mashable, we’ve been experimenting with Hangouts every Friday on the Tech team, opining about various news that has happened throughout the week. The tight integration with YouTube makes Hangouts On Air a great way to archive great moments and discussions too.

Part of the reason I like Hangouts so much is that it’s truly unlike anything available on other networks. Rather than trying to bring similar functionality that Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or any myriad of other services has, Google created something unique and something that really shows off the best of what Google can do.

Bottom line, Google+ is here to stay and is only going to grow in importance. Not only as a social network in the way we know them, but also on its impact on search. The more you interact on Google+, the greater your social circle is going to grow, and in time, the more what you say and write will be seen on search.

You don’t need to be using Google+ anymore than you need to be using Facebook or Twitter. But used effectively Google+ will prove worth your while. No question you ought to check out Google+ (iPad is best experience) to see how you like it and to set up your Google+ account.