How to stay updated on the latest Google Plus features and updates

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Even though Google Plus (Google+) was discontinued in April 2019, the practice of staying updated on new features and updates across various digital platforms is still very relevant. Businesses today often use other Google tools and social media platforms, such as Google My Business, Google Ads, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, to drive growth. Here’s a guide on how to stay updated on the latest features and updates for any platform (or if Google were to reintroduce Google+ or a similar product).

1. Subscribe to Official Google Blogs and Channels

Google maintains a number of official blogs, newsletters, and YouTube channels that announce updates for its suite of products, including past updates for Google Plus and current platforms like Google My Business, Google Ads, and Google Analytics.

  • Google’s Official Blog: Google’s central blog posts updates across all of its products. Keeping an eye on the blog ensures that you’ll hear about significant changes as they happen.
  • Google Ads Blog: This blog focuses on advertising updates, new features, and tips that can help businesses optimize their ads. If you’re focused on paid social media or advertising, this is an important source.
  • Google Workspace Updates: This blog covers updates and new features across the entire Google ecosystem, including Google Calendar, Drive, Docs, and more.
  • YouTube Channels: Google has YouTube channels dedicated to various products. You can subscribe to the official Google Workspace or Google Developers channels to receive regular video updates, webinars, and tutorials.

Following these sources ensures you’re in the loop when Google introduces new features or retires old products, like it did with Google Plus.

2. Join Google Product Forums

Google has a vibrant community of users and developers who actively participate in product forums. These forums are often a place where users first discuss changes, ask questions, and share how they’re using new features.

  • Google Support Community: These forums are product-specific, where Google product experts and users discuss features, troubleshoot issues, and share announcements about new updates.
  • Google Developers Forum: If you’re more interested in technical aspects, the developer forums are a great resource for tracking updates that may affect your apps, integrations, or use of the Google ecosystem.

Participating in these forums can give you access to both official announcements and community-driven insights into the real-world implications of updates.

3. Follow Industry Experts and Influencers

Many experts and influencers in digital marketing, SEO, and social media stay on top of Google updates and post about them extensively. Following these experts can give you quick access to summaries of new features, how-tos, and in-depth analysis of what those changes mean for businesses.

  • Search Engine Journal (SEJ): SEJ regularly posts articles about Google updates, SEO changes, and new features across the digital landscape.
  • Neil Patel Blog: Neil Patel, an industry leader in digital marketing, often covers Google updates and offers advice on how businesses should respond to them.
  • Social Media Examiner: This resource covers updates for social platforms and Google products, offering analysis and insights for digital marketers.

Experts often explain updates in simple terms, making them a valuable resource for understanding technical or complex changes.

4. Use Google Alerts

Google Alerts is a simple yet effective tool to stay updated on specific topics. By setting up an alert for “Google updates,” “Google My Business features,” or similar terms, you’ll receive email notifications whenever new content related to those topics is published online.

Here’s how to set up Google Alerts:

  • Go to Google Alerts.
  • Enter the topics you’re interested in (for example, “Google My Business updates” or “Google Ads features”).
  • Choose how often you want to receive alerts (e.g., as they happen, once a day, or once a week).

This ensures that you are immediately informed when there’s a new feature, update, or even a rumor about upcoming changes.

5. Attend Industry Webinars and Conferences

Attending webinars, online workshops, and industry conferences can help you stay updated on the latest features and updates, not only from Google but from other leading social platforms as well. Many times, these events feature presentations from Google representatives or experts who provide detailed breakdowns of new tools and features.

Popular events to consider:

  • Google Marketing Live: Google often hosts events like Google Marketing Live, where it announces new features for Google Ads, Analytics, and other products.
  • Social Media Marketing World: This is a premier conference for social media marketers that covers updates across platforms, including Google’s products.
  • HubSpot’s INBOUND Conference: While not Google-specific, this conference often features sessions on SEO, content marketing, and social media updates.

Many of these events also offer recorded sessions, so even if you can’t attend live, you can access the content afterward.

6. Follow Google on Social Media

Google uses its own social media accounts to share updates, features, and tips for using its products. Following Google on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook ensures you get quick updates and links to resources like blog posts, tutorials, and videos.

Here are a few accounts to follow:

  • Google on Twitter: @Google and @GoogleWorkspace
  • Google Business Profile on LinkedIn
  • Google My Business Facebook Page

Following these accounts is particularly useful for getting quick tips on new features and immediate announcements.

7. Use Google’s Beta Testing Programs

Google often allows users to beta-test new features before they’re rolled out to the public. Joining these programs can give you early access to new updates and tools, allowing you to experiment with them before they go live.

  • Google Play Beta Testing: For those interested in app updates, Google often releases beta versions of apps, including updates for Google’s ecosystem.
  • Google Ad Beta Features: Google Ads users can request access to beta features directly within their accounts, giving them the opportunity to try new tools before they are publicly available.

Being part of beta programs can give you a competitive edge, as you’ll be among the first to understand and implement new tools and features.

8. Leverage Google Analytics for Feature Integration

As many updates to platforms are related to performance measurement, staying up-to-date with Google Analytics is a must. Whenever there is a major update or change, Google Analytics usually provides new ways to track and measure the performance of these updates.

For example, when Google Plus was integrated with Google Analytics, marketers could track engagement from Google Plus pages directly into their analytics dashboard, helping measure ROI. Today, Google Business Profiles and Ads also offer integration with Google Analytics to track visitor behavior, campaign performance, and engagement.

  • Keep an eye on the Google Analytics blog for any announcements on new integrations or metrics tied to social media and Google’s tools.

9. Read SEO and Social Media Update Newsletters

SEO and social media newsletters often summarize the latest updates from Google and other platforms. These newsletters are curated by experts and deliver updates directly to your inbox, saving you time while keeping you informed.

Popular newsletters include:

  • The Moz Top 10: This bi-weekly newsletter summarizes the 10 most important SEO and marketing updates.
  • SEMrush Newsletter: SEMrush offers updates on Google features and SEO best practices.
  • Buffer Newsletter: Buffer’s newsletter covers social media updates, including changes to Google’s tools.

10. Check Product Documentation and Help Centers

Google’s Help Center and official documentation are regularly updated with the latest information on features, product functionality, and troubleshooting guides. If you ever notice a new feature, visiting the Help Center is a good way to understand how to use it effectively.

  • Google Business Profile Help Center: Provides in-depth guides on how to manage and optimize your business listing on Google.
  • Google Ads Help Center: Offers explanations for new features and ad formats.

By referencing the product documentation, you can stay well-versed in using new features to their full potential.

Conclusion

Although Google Plus is no longer around, the strategies for staying updated on new features and updates remain valuable across Google’s current suite of products and any other social platform. By subscribing to blogs, joining forums, following industry influencers, and leveraging tools like Google Alerts, you can ensure you’re always in the loop with the latest updates. Staying informed enables you to adapt quickly to new tools and features, keeping your marketing efforts competitive and effective.

Categories: Digital Marketing