Nine cool things you can do with Google+ Hangouts
Google+ Hangouts is one of the most interesting and interactive features of Google+. All you need is a webcam and a microphone and you can just “hangout” with up to 10 friends, and after that, there is no limit to what you can do. Obviously, it would be very boring to “hangout” when there is nothing to do, so here are nine ways you can mitigate the problem:
- Teach others
Host a hangout and teach others something you are good at. There really is no limitation to whatever it is you want to teach. Because of the visual nature of the medium, you can teach anything from a musical instrument to a foreign language to a creative art. Help your “students” with their questions and be right there to solve their problems for them.
- Do yoga if you like
This is exactly what Google+ Community Manager Natalie Villalobos is doing, by conducting group meditation and yoga classes within her own circles.
- Hold a concert
….Exactly like singer Darla Musk, who held her first Google+ concert on 16 July 2011. She even went so far as to create a map for her audience so that they could tag themselves. Features like this are great for aspiring artists who wish to promote themselves but may not possess the resources to do so.
- Learn a new language
Naomi Black, Accessibility Engineer at Google uses Google+ to help members using sign language in order to enhance features for Google+, but Hangouts can be extended to other spoken languages as well.
- Conduct a press conference
The London-based International Tibet Network did just that only last month. Selected journalists were invited to connect and join in and talk about the issues they felt concerned ordinary Tibetans.
- Conduct job interviews
Reduce the costs and hassles of interviewing job candidates in other countries by interviewing them on Hangouts. You can invite other colleagues in and make it a truly enriching atmosphere, just like a real interview
- Conduct meetings
This is specially useful for people who are posted in different countries, or who telecommute, helping to reduce costs by keeping everyone concerned in the loop, as well as saving time and money.
- Offer customer service
Think Michael Dell, CEO and Chairman of Dell, who has successfully connected Dell customers to Dell sales team through Google+ Hangouts in order to deal with their queries and complaints.
- Monitor your home via a surveillance system
Monitor your home from a remote location by setting up a new Google account and adding this new account to your circles. Anytime you need to check in on your home, simply start a hangout with the newly created account
