The Google Plus Hangout on Air: A Reason for Enthusiasm

Technology blows me away. It really does. I never wait in lines to buy the hottest, newest gadgets. I had to replace my beloved (old) cell phone over the weekend (I dropped it in a beverage, long story) - and it was not a smartphone. I am one of the last holdouts, I think. My new phone is not a smartphone either. When I bought a laptop a few months ago for my new business venture, I did buy a good one with a webcam - I knew having one is a necessity in this day of Skype and Google+ Hangouts. I finally got the chance to test my webcam in May with a regular Google+ Hangout, and again on June 6th, 2013 during my first Google Plus Hangout on Air.

My friend and mentor, Doina Oncel, invited me to be her guest as part of her online interview series. I contribute monthly blog posts for her site, Doina’s Infinite Solutions, and I looked forward to chatting with her about social media. She organized everything and spread the word through the major social media platforms and invited our little piece of the world to “The Enthusiasm of Social Media.” Fun! Although I do not (will not) understand technology - as I mentioned above - the Google Plus Hangout on Air concept intrigued me enough to want to learn a little more about it before just jumping in. When the day came I felt mostly prepared for my “close up.”

I learned a few things about the newer Hangout option, none of which was too technical. I discovered there is a significant difference between a regular Google+ Hangout, which allows friends or small groups to participate in a private online chat, and a Google Plus Hangout on Air. The latter, it turns out, kicks the Google+ Hangout up a few notches. Doina and I, along with whoever joined us, could still chat live, but now the entire Internet would also be able to watch us on YouTube simultaneously. Afterwards, YouTube immediately publishes the Google Plus Hangout on Air, making your recorded chat immediately searchable. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous at first since I knew I would be live with no do-overs. Once I began chatting with Doina and the other two people who joined our conversation, I felt comfortable and forgot the world might be watching. Phew.

I can see how a Google Plus Hangout on Air could benefit organizations and individuals. For example, a B2C might be able use the platform for real-time demonstrations and/or Q&A sessions for their products. Consumers could attend the live Hangout to view the demo, ask questions and receive quick answers. Imagine how much time and frustration this would eliminate. Another possible scenario may be where a B2B uses an interactive Google Plus Hangout on Air to better engage its audience while educating them about its solutions. On a more personal level, we might someday be able to tune into the hottest new talk show - which will actually be a Google Plus Hangout on Air, rather than a television show. What, no commercials? Even better.

I really liked doing my first Google Plus Hangout on Air and I’m already looking forward to my next. Do you want to see how this one turned out? I may or may not be “ready for prime time,” but I enjoyed the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for social media and to learn a lot in the process.

Have you participated in a Google Plus Hangout on Air? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Image courtesy of Ohmega1982 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net