For real estate agents into social media, or business productivity, there is no doubt you’ve been checking out Google+. The initial response has been positive, but like any new application it’s light on the unique and customized feature sets. Today I wanted to share a few of the early Chrome Browser extensions built to make Google + more tailored to your specific needs. So here are nine extensions I recommend checking out:
- Extended Share for Google +
After previewing Google + you may decide that your content is in a silo, with more of your deep connections inside Facebook or Twitter. It may not be that way for long, but regardless cross posting or re-sharing content is a given. This browser extension simplifies that process by adding share controls to the posts inside Google +.
- Notification Count for Google Plus™
Google has made it extremely easy to see new notifications when you’re logged into your Google email (and soon Google Apps), but what about when you’re not logged into Gmail? This extension adds a notification count to the right-side of the address bar.
- Surplus
Continuing with the idea of easy access, this extension is designed to bring Google+ to your browser toolbar in Chrome. Sure, you could save the sites as a bookmark, but this extension brings recent activity to your browser tool bar, almost like when you’re logged into your Google webmail.
- Google+
So we just got the hang of Facebook’s like button. Now the Google+ button promises to fill a similar gap. But what’s the easiest way to vote for your favorite pages? Google has made it easy from search results, but what if you’ve landed on the page from other resources? This extension adds the Google+ voting button to your browser toolbar for quick and easy access whenever you need it.
- Tweet+1
Following the last extension, Tweet+1 works in reverse. This extension adds the Google+1 button to Twitter. Now when you see a tweet worth sharing, simply click the button to send to Google+.
- Replies and more for Google+
It seems Google missed this feature in the creation of Google+. Sure we can add the + symbol before someone’s name and respond directly to them, but why not make that step easier with a button. That’s exactly what this extension does by adding “Reply” to the right-side of all comments and posts.
- +Photo Zoom
If you’ve started to use Google+, you’ll notice that pictures are a big part of the content being shared regularly. But do you really want to click into a picture to see it bigger? If not, add this extension to enable a mouse over effect that lets you hover your mouse directly over the image to quickly see an enlarged version. Move your mouse off the picture and it returns to the original size. The feature can be turned on and off easily by simply selecting the white square added to the Chrome extensions area of your browser.
In closing, I have one more tip for agents using Google Chrome Extensions on multiple computers. Google was smart to add the sync feature to keep your browser the same across multiple computers…even if they are running different operating systems. Enabling this feature is easy, simply launch Google Chrome and follow these steps.
- Click the wrench in the upper right corner
- Choose Options (or Preferences of Macs)
- Choose the Personal Stuff tab
- Now look for Sync and choose Set up Sync
- You’ll be asked to sign into your Google Account, choose what you want to sync
a. Choose to sync everything
b. Select just the items you want to sync: Apps, Autofill data, Bookmarks, Extensions, password, preferences and themes. - That’s it! Have fun and happy +1’s!
