The year of Google
It’s unofficially the year of Google, as the company has found many unique ways to be applicable and relevant to the masses. But they are continuing forward by finding realistic and productive approaches to redefining the modern business. Naturally, Google calls this movement “going Google,” and they’ve added another weapon in the small business’s arsenal.
Google+ is a relatively new social community that directly competes with Facebook. While it’s mostly used by those hoping to interact with friends and acquaintances and by companies looking for a new method of social marketing, there is now a new use for Google+, and it starts with bringing it into the workplace. Google+ can be used as an internal workplace tool for employees to connect, work together, and increase productivity. And here’s the basic breakdown:
Content Sharing
One common problem with sharing private information or content with a social group is that they can then share that content with people you never intended to include. And when it comes to business, this can cross the professional and even ethical line very easily. Google is attempting to solve that problem. You can mark any post as restricted, and that will only allow those within your organization – or those you deem eligible – to see the content. If you choose to include partners outside of your company, you can specify that, too. The best feature is that what you classify as restricted can’t be shared outside the established parameters.
Video Meetings
No matter if your employees work remotely or across the office building, you can hold video meetings right from your Gmail account. You and your coworkers or employees can schedule and even access these video meetings straight from your Google calendar. But it’s more than just using the video to have meetings. You can also open a Google doc that everyone included can view and edit.
Controls and Security
Google has given much of the power of security to the business owners. They can determine who can create and distribute content and they can create group lists of departments, making it secure and easy to keep all your employees up-to-date and on the same page.
Google assures its users that these new features are just the beginning of their professional-based shift. For those who already use their services, all these new features are free until the end of 2013. Now is the perfect time to get involved and benefit from a free way to increase collaboration without taking a financial or contractual risk.
