Google+ Hoopla?
Posted by Todd Rhoades in Technology on Jul 11th, 2011 | 5 commentsThings are moving fast in the tech world, at least this past week. Facebook added skype video to their platform, and Google released Google+, their answer to the social networking world.
But what does all of this, (especially the release of Google+) mean to those of us in ministry? Should we embrace it, or wait and see?
Well, I’m an early adopter. I know that. And I realize that not everyone is wired like me… but I think Google+ has some great potentials for ministry that we should all consider together.
1. Internal Staff/Leadership Communication Tool. With the ‘circles’ feature of Google+ you can have part or all of your staff inside different circles. If you’re a larger church, each department could be in it’s own circle. A smaller church could have all staff, or elders, or board members in a circle. This allows you to communicate freely with JUST THEM at any time. If everyone is online, the communication is instantaneous. You can also use the ‘hangout’ feature to do online video chats.
2. Communicating with your people. I could see Google+ (if it is widely accepted and implemented) being a great way to keep in touch with your volunteers. Each volunteer team or ministry could have it’s own circle that could communicate with each other. You could provide announcements, build community, and interact throughout the week very easily.
3. Learning more about your specific interests. One thing that I would love to see Google+ add is ‘public circles’. That way, you could join circles that talk only about your interests… like worship, or student ministries, or church planting. I’m sure that this will be an option in the near future.
These are just my top three ways that I think Google+ could benefit your church. I would encourage you to jump in and test the water. If you need an invite, just email me your address and I’ll be sure to send you one.
And for those of you already on Google+, you can add me to one of your circles by viewing my profile here.
Let me know your thoughts on the new technology.
Todd
5 Responses to “ “Google+ Hoopla?”
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Interesting thoughts. I just jumped on Google+ and have started playing around. I think the idea of circles has some potential, but over all I doubt Google+ will last long and here’s why: http://seaofgeek.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/google-on-the-outside-looking-in/
Have you looked at tableproject.org for inner church community building? For the church community I think the table has alot more potential for building a social presence while fostering real world community.
In the end Google will introduce new features that other more established communities (facebook) can learn from and do better.
Todd,
Thanks for the article about Google +. I see a ton of potential in it for interacting with the people in my life both personally and professionally. I tried to click on your link to go to your profile and it was a dead link.
Danny II
i tried google+ sign in after reading but asked me to create a google account which i don’t need. in the furure, if my members are in this network and wants me to be join them… i will. but for sure this social network has potential to grow and a for the ministry.
I find Facebook to be less and less useful and helpful every month… I have high hopes for this, but haven’t signed up yet…
Is that really all there is to it because that’d be flabbegrasting.