The Applehop

The Applehop

Getting over a miserable summer cold I was drinking beer on Sunday and got dry. The Heineken was drying me out along with the cold medicine. (Yes I read and ignore labels too.)

I decided to get a glass of Safeway apple juice to sip with it good for the cold and thirst. The mix in my mouth was delicious.

I poured some beer in a glass and added apple juice to taste. I think the bitter and the sweet go well but make it your way. When done right you have a sweet bubbly apple/hops drink that's sure to please and keep you hydrated.

Add to that a salty snack with some veggies and you're set for a Sunday afternoon of snacking and posting on social networks in front of the TV while watching Superjail or Or Game Of Thrones like I am. I just love that new Popcornopolis Caramel Corn you should definitely try it.

So I made up a drink and I'm calling it The Applehop. Don't serve it on ice drink it cold it's meant to be slammed. Add some rum/vodka and call it the Applehop Hammer.

I cook too if you're interested!

© Keep On Bloggin'!

How Do You Type A Copyright Symbol With A New Chromebook?

I spent a good part of the morning trying to answer this, going through horrible articles written by people thinking they were helping but they weren't because they didn't have the answer.

It's not Windows, not HTML, not ASCII, no, it's Unicode. What?

Ask the person who has used Windows all of their lives and they are sure they have the answer! It's 0169 using a Windows keyboard. What Windows keyboard-I have a new Chromebook?!

Of course, everyone wanted to talk about doing it in Google Docs but I wanted to use the symbol anytime and was sure there had to be a keyboard shortcut...but this was an Acer Chromebook 15 with a different keyboard so how do I do it?

I was beginning to miss Windows...but then I saw my answer via a stranger in the Chromebook Forum. It was "a9!" I felt like I had the answer to the Ultimate Question Of Life, The Universe, And Everything. But it wasn't enough...

I found some Chrome extensions with the Unicode characters on them that copied the code/image automatically. Neither one I tried had the copyright symbol. WTF?

Then I looked at my new Chromebook keyboard instructions and found that I could hold Shift/Ctrl and by pressing "u" use a code to get the same types of symbols as a Windows keyboard. 

Then I realized the "u" was for Unicode and found the forum where I found the Unicode for the © symbol. It is a9.

This Is How You Do It

Press shift/ctrl together, hold them down, then press u, then press a, then press 9. When you're finished it says "ua9" but don't stop there! When you press the space bar afterward you'll see © (the copyright symbol.)

To get any other symbols look up the Unicode chart and do the same using the corresponding code. You can look that up yourself. "Okay, Google!"

So I'm sharing my find with you because I know I'm not the only writer with a Chromebook trying to figure this out. I love my new Acer Chromebook 15 and it's great not to have to deal with Windows. Enjoy!

© Keep On Bloggin'!

The Language Of Plussing

 

Holy cow I have some old posts on here. It's still an interesting read because G+ just closed down a few years ago. We not only plussed but had Circles of friends that we'd trade to get more numbers. Technology grows in leaps and 

bounds!

The Language Of Plussing

We go on social networks to be social but how do you find other people in the big bad stream? And why should one bother to plus?

Google is a big network when looking to connect with someone. That’s why Google came up with the +1 social shorthand to track each other.

When using any language it’s important to learn the basics. The technical term pinging is what Google calls plussing and whether you know it or not you do it every day.

What if you want to talk to a person?

I have hundreds of friends in the stream so how do I find just one?

To send a post to a person type a + and the person's username immediately afterward. After typing 2 or 3 letters a menu will pop up to choose from. You can send one or more usernames on the same post it’s up to you. Unless it’s a very common username the menu should pop up quickly. Common usernames can be harder to find because the list is long.

You can send these posts public, private, or both but check before you post privately to make sure you aren’t overlooking the public setting. You can send a private post out to someone that way by accident so watch it!

People in your circles come up first when pinging someone so if you have a hard time finding the username on the menu go and add the person to a circle and they will be there next time. Always give a person time to see their notifications and answer.

How can a person tell if I plussed them?

If I can’t find their plusses how can I expect them to find mine?

You are beginning to use notifications and they will do the same looking through their notifications and will see that you did. Always give them time to see your messages because we all use notifications differently. If someone just won’t answer and it really bothers you take them out of your circles it wasn’t meant to be.

In your settings, you determine how you want to be notified and what you want to be notified about. Your settings are important and if you haven’t looked at them yet I would suggest you do so now and see how your notifications are set up. They are the most useful tool on G+ use them right and they will serve you.

I want them to see my post or comment right away!

Just because a friend is online doesn’t mean they are watching for you like a hawk so what can you do?

Don’t wait if you want someone, in particular, to see your post or comment ping them on it. I make a practice of plussing (pinging) every time I do anything on G+ because my friends will see it faster in notifications.

Why give people plusses at all?

Other people don’t plus so why should I?

It’s true that people are lousy at pinging each other I see it every day but why let that ruin your online experience? Communication skills are everything on a social network just like offline and the better you are at it the more people will want to include you!

Try going without talking all day offline and see where that gets you. You can be sure your friends will miss out on a lot but you don’t have to.

Here are a few examples of what the language of plussing can tell you.

• +1 on a post-I like it! 
• +1 on a comment-I saw your comment and am letting you know. 
• +1 on a comment-I liked what you said but don’t want to comment. 
• +1 on a comment-I agree with you! 
• +1 and Reply (ping) about the same comment-I want to add or answer this and here’s my comment to see. 
• +1 on anything-Going to tell Google your preferences, likes, dislikes, and other things about you. 

If you watch people that do plus you will see successful people who move effortlessly around G+ communicating freely and using it to their full advantage. Follow their lead.

Everyone on G+ waits to get plusses don’t fool yourself. As a newbie remember how you felt when you got your first plusses? How did it feel when you got no plusses?

If you hate a post or dislike a person you certainly wouldn’t want to plus them but maybe they shouldn’t be in your circles anyway.

By using this social shorthand to navigate G+ you will have an easier time finding your friends and understanding what’s going on. Your friends will know you appreciate their posts and I have found as a side effect of plussing often you get circled often.

It’s a plus-plus situation. (Wink, wink.)

Sources: My knowledge of G+, G+ and search.

Setting Up Your Google Plus Profile For Success

This was Showoffs, a popular community of mine on G+ in 2014. This is another article from Google past.

Setting Up Your Google Plus Profile For Success

So I just got my account on G+ and now I’m going to post!

Stop right there!

Your profile is one of the most important things you can spend time on and it will make a difference in how fast you gain followers and who you meet. Take the time to fill it out it’s your introduction to anyone and everyone. You will hear about Google being top-notch at helping you sell your product and if you think of yourself as” your product” no one can stop you!

I don’t want to tell people about myself if I don’t know them!

Of course, you don’t and who says you have to tell but a few well-placed facts about yourself and the things you would like to share online are a must. When you hit the G+ stream and start to add people to your first circle others will be adding you and before they do they will look at your profile.

What does yours say about you? If you have a blank profile they will pass you up and if you want to make friends or network this is a big negative.

You don’t have to put your address or enable location but people will want to know where you’re from and talk to you about it. They like to know what you are interested in and that can’t hurt. You don’t have to put where you work but you can put your vocation. Use common sense and be clever.

It’s up to you how much you want to divulge or express but the more information the better when it comes to people deciding whether to follow you or not. Remember, it’s not how many people in your circles it’s how many people follow you.

Why should I use a picture on my profile?

Profiles without pictures are called "Blueheads" and it puts a person off right away when they see no picture. People like to “see” who they are following and a headshot will help you reach more people.

My profile is filled out why include a photo? People will read about how cool I am it shouldn't matter?

If you have an excellent profile but no image people may not look you up meaning you have already lost. People online may seem like they have all the time in the world but they are busy and when looking up people to follow they would rather see a picture. I would probably not be looking you up without one.

Some things to think about including on your profile.

Okay so you don't have a lot to add yet but here’s what you should include and remember if you have interests you’d like to share with others online this is where you list them.

• Name/Username 
• At least last place you worked or not 
• Any education if you think it important to your online goal 
• A photo of you or something to represent you 
• If you have websites, YouTube, Facebook, etc. add the links so people can find and follow you there 
• What you want from your online experience 
• What others can expect from you 
• A good (keep it short) tagline and change it often 
• An image for your profile cover photo that represents your interests or tastes

You will want to set up your profile so you can update it easily without changing it too often so your friends will recognize you when they “see” you online.

An awesome feature of G+ that no other network has is that you can use animated Gifs for your profile photo/cover photo if you wish. How great is that?

Of course, filling out a profile is not rocket science but if you want to meet people this is the way to ensure that when you interact with someone and they like how it went they will look you up and circle you. Repeat many times over and soon you will be accumulating followers and be on your way. You are now a product people will want to “buy into” so relax and enjoy it.

Filling out profiles is not for everyone but blank profiles and no profile pictures are used every day by hackers and trolls on G+ that people have to block. This fact alone is a good reason to have a filled out profile. If you don’t want to do it know that your online experience will be an upward battle.

Social Networking Etiquette

We've come a long way baby and how we interact with other people online has become extremely important whether it be on social networks, video calls, or hangouts. One thing is certain if you spend any amount of time online you will be judged by how you act online. 

There is no doubt about it the social networking giants are all the buzz. A research report I read today on the internet says that 51% of online Americans have joined a social network. Another 73% are consuming some form of social content on a regular basis on networks like Sony’s PlayStation. People are connecting with, listening to, following, and collaborating with each other online at an amazing rate.

We are sharing just about everything with each other these days. Photos, recipes, plans, and even locations just to name a few of these things. Business people are using social networks to build their careers, promote themselves, their websites, and their reputations. Networking is the social norm.

Some of the most popular social networking sites are Google Plus, Facebook, and Twitter with LinkedIn catching up fast. Each one of those sites is uniquely positioned and serves a particular population or purpose. There are other online networking sites, numbering in the thousands, so at this point, they shall remain nameless.

After researching social etiquette I specially wrote these tips with Google Plus in mind. It’s no wonder people get confused we receive this technology quickly and it changes so much that we forget how to play nice with others while keeping up.

Social Network Etiquette-Community=Google Plus

1. Give more than you receive. If you want attention from others online you have to be willing to give it first. Become a good commenter and stay positive. If you’re in a bad mood stay offline!

2. Don’t be a keyboard gangsta. The worst thing about the Internet is the keyboard trolls. They’re the people who have to talk trash to everyone they meet. They say things online you would never say to a real person’s face. If you are this person I bet you’ve been blocked already. Get a clue.

3. Add value to the community at large. This means not posting things nobody cares about and not constantly promoting your own brand. Before you post anything to a social media site ask yourself; “Does this really add value to the community?” If not, reconsider posting it.

4. Don’t start arguments and sabotage others efforts. Drop all of your e-beefs and hatred. Don’t try to bury others just for the sake of getting ahead. Making enemies on social online media sites will get you nowhere and you reap what you sow.

5. Remember that cheaters never win. Sure, you might be able to get somewhere by cheating but eventually you’ll get caught. Once everyone sees you for the cheater you are, you can’t take it back ever. This applies to people who use more than one profile or websites that look good but are made to stay anonymous and cause trouble or spam.

6. Build quality relationships and get to know your friends online. People are more willing to help those who they really know. Remember relationships require the participation of both parties and you’ll always have someone in your corner and a network of useful people. To get help you should give always give it back.

7. Stop pushing the Envelope. One of the fastest ways to alienate people online is to constantly flood them with requests for helping you out. Whether you’re constantly asking people to comment on your blog or shouting your content, eventually, everyone will lose patience with you. People will learn to tune you out.

8. Respect the community. This is one of the most important rules of social media etiquette. Show respect to the people in the community. Just make sure you don’t step out of line and always treat others the way you want to be treated.

9. Listen to others. It’s easier to tell someone they are wrong than to take the time to listen to what they’re really saying. Understand where the people who comment on your post are coming from. You don’t know everything and you can learn from others if you’re a good listener.

10. Be accountable for your actions. Because of the anonymity the Internet allows, there is hardly any accountability online. Instead, try to be honorable by taking responsibility for your actions. People will respect you whether they agree with you or not. People want to be trusting, give them the opportunity.

11. Don’t step on other people’s posts. Repost responsibly and people will admire you for it. If you have a link to share do it on your own post and if you don’t like what you see instead of leaving a negative comment pass that posts up. You catch more flies with honey than you do vinegar.

12. Use a photo for your profile picture and put some information on your profile. If you’re joining a social network why not be social? When a person sees a blank profile and no picture at all they don’t make any connections about you and don’t want to deal with you. At least use some other image if you don’t want to show your mug online.

13. Be polite to one another. If you can’t be nice be civil and remember the common courtesy's you give people in your offline life and apply it online. One of these days you might be talking to someone who will give you your next job online and you don’t want to blow that! Can’t we just all get along?
This is my equation and I believe it works! Credibility+trust=Followers on Google Plus

Social media and online etiquette give you a rough guideline on how you can communicate to online audiences without irritating anyone. When you operate above these minimum ethical requirements, you will gain credibility and trust among people.

Sources: Google Plus, Facebook, Windows Live, AOL, Tagged, Linked In, My Space, (to name a few of the social network’s I’ve belonged to in the past,) Wikipedia, Google Search, and Internet

Running In Circles

This animated Gif is a good example of how our circles interact on Google Plus.

Using circles and following have been misunderstood by newbies. Choose a circle and you're viewing everyone’s content in that circle at that time. Change your circle and you have a different view.

Follow someone and you're following a person's single profile but you'll be putting them in a circle. Circles are used to group your friends and interests so you can find them easier.

You will find yourself asking:

How many circles should I have?
If someone adds me do I have to add them back?
Why have circles at all?
Will someone know when I circle them or when I don't?

These are just a few of the questions that could have you running in circles but armed with a few facts you will be using them to your advantage.

The Secret Of Circles

Circles are groups of people you decide to follow. If you follow someone it’s making them a daily friend because you will see their posts when you use that circle. You don’t have to ask them to be your friend or wait for an answer you can build and use your circles immediately.

You want to make your circles about friends, interests, or what you want to see online because whether you trade them or not it’s your own unique view of Google+. Each circle you make will offer you a different view of G+ than the Public stream. It depends on how many circles you make as to how many “views” you’ll have.

Don’t worry about what other people are doing they are doing the same thing and no one should take this process personally. Google+ was designed to be used this way and anyone who gives you grief about it should be blocked.

Facts About Followers

Followers are people who decide to circle you by personal choice. It’s what the other side is doing while you make your circles. It’s not the number of people you follow it’s the number of people who follow you that counts. When you start to gain followers you are notified as to how many on your profile.

You get followers by posting great content and giving out good conversation. You can’t buy, beg or borrow followers they have a mind of their own and you must learn what they want to get them.

People will try to encourage or ask people to follow and plus them. Not a good idea it can backfire when people decide you are begging for it. When you follow or unfollow you can be as fickle as you please about it.

It’s a fun challenge to post good content and accumulate followers. I like finding and creating rich content and getting as many followers as I can. There is no award for having thousands of followers just the satisfaction of networking with awesome people.

Some Things To Remember

• Circles can be deleted if they aren’t working just start another.
• You can follow G+ without any circles and you will still gain followers.
• If you delete a circle it’s not personal. 
• Some of the people with the most followers don’t circle anyone.
• You can have as many circles as you want.
• Followers are people who have circled you.
• Include yourself in all your circles, everyone does.
• No one has a say about who you follow, circle and who you don’t.
• Having thousands of followers does not ensure popularity. 

Miscellaneous Facts

Learn how to block someone and use it liberally. There are new people to meet and life is too short to deal with strangers who mistreat you. Some people join social networks (like bullies in the real world) who only want to hurt or start arguments with you and if you let them you are playing into their sick schemes. Use caution, block but don’t be afraid of people most of them want to engage agreeably.

Have fun! Keep On Bloggin'!

From Newbie To Maybe

From Newbie To Maybe

When I came here I felt just like every newbie, ignored and vulnerable. Google+ was a place where everyone else had friends but me.

I would put up posts and they would be ignored. If I left a comment it would go answered and ignored. Yet when reading comments all the people around me had people talking to them!

I thought, nobody here likes or understands me. I've been on Google+ a whole week already and nothing is happening and what’s up with the pluses? I want to go back to Facebook.

Bite your tongue!

Everyone feels like this starting Google+ after all it’s new and so are the people. You can't rely on your friends joining you here so instead of throwing in the towel do what I did and go from Newbie to Maybe. People will be circling you in no time.

Creative Commenting Is Key

Start getting used to surfing the public stream and if you see a post you like comment on it. Don't just say; “I like it.” Or “Lol!” That’s not going to do it at first. I found by being funny or creative with what I said in comments I started to get a lot more attention. Keep this up and get good at it. People with the posts and the people who comment on them will notice. With a little work you’ll start to get responses to your comments.

In the meantime people will be starting to circle you. Just because people circle you doesn't mean you have to circle them back. Let that sink in for a second. Circlecount facts will back me on this; some of the people with the most followers on G+ don’t follow anyone!

Start Your Circles Please

You will want to name your first circle and start following people. It's the same as friending someone. Name your first circle and be adding people to it as you go. Add people who like your comments and comment you back. Add people whose posts you want to see everyday. 

If you are commenting like I suggested and posting well you should start to see a little improvement in people paying attention to your posts. It takes time but it does happen and you will be making some neat new friends. 

Your posts won't see a lot of engagement for the first few months so anyone who comments or plusses you should be thanked. Tag them (plus their username) so they get notified of it.

You could have a circle for people you like, one for your kids, one for a communities, the choices are varied and up to you but circles are important because it’s your personal view to Google+ and your entertainment.

Talking To New People

You can’t rely on your friends joining you here on Google Plus and unless you want to crawl back to Facebook or Twitter ashamed of yourself you will buck up and meet new people. It’s easier than you think.

Pick people’s posts or comments that interest you and ask a question about that post. Engage the person you wish to know. If you are honest, friendly and open usually that person will be too. People love funny and clever. If it doesn't work out move on no foul.

You will meet people on posts and in comments. If you join communities you can meet people surrounding a shared interest and have a closer relationship than in public. I suggest you join one and you will get invites. As with following people just because someone invites you to join a community doesn’t mean you have to join.

Don’t Think People Don't See You

This is a social network and people will be watching you. Just because you can't “see” people following you doesn't mean you are invisible. On the contrary, you are constantly being circled, your profile checked and more by cautious plussers who can see everything you write online.

When new you should minimally fill out your profile and always have some sort of profile photo. People hate seeing stock profiles with no photos and you will have a big strike against you right away. People refer to these accounts as "Blue Heads" and avoid them.

Just because you write something to someone else and don't tag anyone the next person can come along and read your whole conversation on a public post. Remember that and use the tag feature instead if it gets personal so you don't say something you regret.

I have had people come up to me and tell me they were observing me react with another person online and it touched them. I was shocked to find out I could be watched that close but remember Google is a search engine first and foremost so people can follow you easily especially if they have you circled.

Important: If you say (write) something stupid and delete it on a public post that person can still read it if they are receiving email notifications so watch what you do and write online it's never invisible.

Posting Popularity

Posting is an important part of Google Plus and gaining followers. Learn from your mistakes (when your posts are poorly received) and post accordingly. I even delete posts that get ignored and it happens! 

People won’t circle you if they don't like your posts it’s what draws them to you. If you argue and pick fights calling it discussions it won't work. Humor is a 2 edged sword depending on what it is and being right is not always might. 

If you really stink and can't pick your own then share the good posts. There are plenty to go around so learn to recognize them and circle the people who share them they can be your best friends and assets. 

Just because one person doesn't have a success with a post doesn't mean you can't. If it's something good repackage it by all means. I've had some of my best trending posts that way.

Thing’s People Like On Posts

• awesome sayings or quotes
• good humor and classic cartoons
• animated Gifs
• good photography, personal pictures or selfies
• animal pictures and cats on #caturday (every Saturday)
• the space program or photos from NASA
• breaking or interesting news
• technical and business news
• anything about Google+
• beefcake for men or women
• movies and TV shows
• informative posts that teach you something
• music or YouTube videos
• recipes or food photos
• car or motorcycle photos
• posts that invite you to engage, like word games
• politeness and kindness

Thing’s People Hate On Posts

• dropping personal links or otherwise in comments
• becoming super friendly too fast
• pushing yourself or selling products constantly on your posts
• having a smart or dirty mouth in comments
• arguing with others on a post especially if it’s not your post
• getting into marathon discussions about something you can never agree on
• going “off topic” on other people’s posts-start your own chat
• constant negative images and words on posts
• pushing your beliefs on others especially religion there’s a time and a place
• racial profiling or bullying
• no profile photo (Blue Heads) or blank profile

There's many more not listed but a big one is killing a conversation on some one's post. Some people put up posts to “chat” with their friends about a subject. They will watch notifications and answer immediately and if they are discussing a recipe (for instance) you don’t talk about how fat you're getting. The conversation is ruined for the person posting because they wanted to talk about eating food and it’s your fault.

If you still have a tough time of it you might want to check into communities. Depending on which one’s you join you have an audience that is looking at one subject instead of many and you can find something you like. If the community is large (over 2000 people) one post can get a lot of attention and pluses. Smaller communities will afford you quicker attention by the members and meeting people so it depends on what you're looking for.

Picking the right people for your circles is important because that is what you will see in your streams on Google+ the most. They are the people you will share with and will entertain you. It’s your own fault if you end up with duds but you can always start over or share circles with others.

I fully believe that you don't need to share circles or be in them to get followers it's a personal choice. Better to get to know people a little first. It’s better to share circles when you're not a newbie anymore and need some stimulation in your stream.

Everyone who starts at Google+ wants instant success and wants a similar experience from whence they came even though they are looking for something different. It's not a "race" to see who can get the most +1's or followers. Slow and steady gets you followers that won't drop you later. Give yourself 2 months practicing these methods and you won't believe how far you will have come.

One thing's for sure instead of fretting about being a Newbie you now have the tools to become a Maybe…and after that anything is possible.

Source: Google+ and my experience as a user with 11.5 K followers. I am the final stage after Maybe; that would be “Got It” and you will too.

Why Plus On Google+

Art by Ron Hicks follow him on G+.

Starting out on Google+ no one seems to like plussing and once learned it's quickly forgotten. I never understood why "Like" and "+1" seem so different since they both convey the same type of information.

But it's not the same if you look closer plussing is a shorthand language and the perfect way to let our friends know what we are up to during the posting day. Google+ uses a notification system to let us know if someone or something is looking for us and it depends on you plussing to have it work.

I've talked about tagging so let's look at it. To tag someone (plus them) is to send them a signal that you have:

• read their comment
• liked their post
• saw what they wrote and agreed
• shared a private post (only between the 2 of you)
• shared content with them
• invite them to a post you want them to see 

Nothing is worse than having a friend waiting for your post and them not getting it. Or you are waiting for something important and it doesn't show up.

People like to blame Google+ for glitching but most of the time one or both sides are not tagging (plussing) correctly. If you forget your post will not be seen unless the person lucks onto it or resorts to looking on your profile for it. If it's more than a few days late good luck finding it.

It's so easy to tag a person when commenting on their post and it makes sure they see your comment right away. Even if they have time to follow their own post they may not see your comment until later. 

Time is a factor when communicating online make sure they see you commented by tagging (plussing) their username before you leave your comment.

To tag someone you type a + followed by their username. After the first few letters, you will see a drop-down menu pop up where you will find their name to select. You have plussed (tagged, pinged, etc.) them successfully.

A name that is tagged correctly looks like this "+Bekkie Sanchez" and I will see it in my notifications right away.

It's always good to show your friends and followers that you enjoy what they post by plussing them. This is where Facebook, Google+ and most social networks are similar. It's all about what works, what's fun and what's going viral all voted on by us.

Using Google+ to your full advantage and learning the shorthand is the smart thing to do. It's a simple system that makes everyone's day easier but it must be put into practice to work. Google+'s notification system and the stream doesn't read minds it depends on our plusses.

(Notifications should be checked constantly during the day the more the better.)

"Google+ is not made up of equal experiences. There are newbies, trolls, regular Joe’s and then there’s the people who know." 

© Bekkie Sanchez