Google’s Insights for search compare search volume patterns across specific regions, categories, time frames and properties.
Google’s insights for search shows you
While we were at the google wave usergroup Pamela gave us a simple ‘Working with Wave Cheatsheet’. There are other guides out there but they seem a bit complicated for some of the simple things I’m trying out – such as a practical way for co-ordinating documents, recording meetings, adding links for everyone.
Pamela is working for Google as a Wave API Developer Advocate, she has a blog and fun stuff. Here’s the handout:
Things to do when you’re editing a blip
Things to do when you are not editing a blip ( you’re in read mode)
Other neat stuff to think about
Google are wanting to partner with content providers and this lunch organised by Publisher’s Australia was booked out.
Have to say it was GREAT to see that Google are well, human:
A Google moderators page was set up so that questions could be posted in advance to the Google panel.
Google would like to partner and get into business more, but there is a disconnect with the two worlds and it will take some time to bridge it I suspect – Google as a business is very different from the crowd it was presenting to – so more events like this needed.
Some of the things I noted from Ann Marie’s Presentation
Not only did the Google guys present, they hung around afterwards for ages to talk with whoever wanted to ask them questions. Very impressive.
What did I learn? Google don’t have a social media policy – their employees can be on any social media sites they choose and use them in whatever manner they see fit. How about that? Think of all the secrets worth billions that could get out but don’t. A great example of trusting your employees.
Tweets from some of the guys at the lunch
@acatinatree Cathy McGinn
Even more frustrating that I couldn’t respond!
Yesterday I attended a Google Wave user group workshop at Google in Sydney, except I nearly missed it because I wanted to hang out on the rubber tyre they had in reception.
Have to say it’s a very inviting fun place to visit – bean bags, comfy chairs – a general Google playground for employees.
The workshop had some good examples of uses of wave in business, it’s clearly still a beta tool, lots of things to change and tweek but what was also clear was that the Google wave team were listening and working hard to respond to users wishes (even Stephanie and Lars popped in to listen to how the wave was being used.
Nancy Georges did a great job taking pictures which you can see here, this one of Pamela Fox teaching us how to use wave and you can follow the stream of what was talked about on twitter under #gwsug. You can also look at the workshop wave http://bit.ly/gwsugwave although to be honest by the time we’d finished with it the wave was a bit of a mess.
One thing they Pamela did mention was Novell Pulse which as Arin Basu says
Looks like Buzz with linkage to Google Wave
or maybe it’s the other way it’s like Wave with a bit of Buzz depending on which camp you’re in
You’re not sure, but you want to have a look just in case you’re missing out. Here is a video on how I am starting to use Google buzz and I’ve written down some basic steps and tips if you want to try it.
Log into your gmail, and click on google buzz icon.
If it’s you’re first time you’ll be greeted with a welcome video. You can post links much in the same way as twitter, but aren’t restricted by space, so it becomes more of a conversation.
Comments is where Google Buzz wins for me. I have received a lot of help from people commenting on questions. Because everyone is starting out we’re all in the same boat and it’s a great way to get advice and make new contacts. Anne Marie Cunningham captured our conversation very well in her posterous post which was created almost by accident as she experimented posting from buzz to twitter via posterous (worth having a look).
The really nice part is that you can edit your comment at any time so it’s not fixed in stone (a bit like Google wave for those of you who have been brave enough to try it).
1. If it’s your first time click on get ‘started with buzz’ as you are logging into your gmail
2. Click on connected sites and connect sites you would like to add to Buzz
Think about whether you are going to connect twitter or keep them separate (or decide later).
3. Click on your name
If you have set up a Google profile this will come up telling people a little about you.
Even if you decide not to carry on with Buzz please set up your Google profile, it’s like your twitter bio – when people click on you they want to see who you are. You don’t want this:
However, if you don’t have a public profile this message is not very helpful because no link is provided (I’ll cover how to do set up a Google profile in the next post).
4. Start following a few people and experiment. You can make posts public or private and follow as few or as many people as you want to.
Tip: if you do @ and start typing someone’s name buzz will try and auto-complete by finding them from the people you are following in your contacts list. You can see their email address, but this won’t be visible in the public timeline. The buzz will go out and they will also get an email so they don’t miss your message (similar to how a DM works in twitter except your message can be public or private).
See what you think – some people really like it, for others the jury is still out.
Here is my practical video demonstration on how to use feedly and why. feedly is a RSS reader and from a research point of view it’s essential. It is a tool that is useful for
all in one place. Here’s how to do it:
Feedly is based on Google Reader, which means you will need a Google account (ie have a gmail address) to log in. If you are researching and wanting to keep up to date easily, an RSS reader like feedly is essential. Download it here.
UPDATE:
Feedly have just featured this video on their blog building feedly along with some changes they may make as a result.
What they also have are some very helpful tips about how to use feedly for Google chrome which I am about to implement myself. Thanks guys!
