I have a problem with Google+. The problem is I have over 10,600+ followers. Don't get me wrong, I think that is brilliant, and I am humbled that so many people think I am worth following.
But here's the problem: Who do I follow/circle back? Google limits the number of people you can circle to 5000 – so that means I can't circle over half of the people who circle me. Sorry. And to be honest, I am not sure I would want to circle everyone, I can only spend a finite amount of time reading posts and looking at photos so I have to be selective.
So I'm going to set some criteria:
1. I want to circle anyone who I have met in real life. You are likely to be a friend, or business contact. You are important to me, so I want to read what you are posting.
2. I want to circle any photographers within travelling distance of Stockport. As a studio owner and photography event organiser, you are my potential customers. I want to keep in touch with my customers.
3. I want to circle people who read my posts and who post interesting posts themselves – If you are reading this, you are half way there!
So here's the circles I have:
– Friends (Reserved for people I have met in real life)
– Photographers (3 circles: Local, UK, and Worldwide)
– Science Fiction Fans – people who post about SF or who want to discuss it
– Models – I work with a lot of models and wish to keep in touch with them through G+
– Theatre – Actually this covers anyone involved in theatre, acting or performing in anyway
Finally I have another circle:
– Christian and interested – Yes, I am a Christian and active in a local church. Sometimes I want to talk about my faith. My faith should be part of every bit of my life but I don't want to "Bible Bash" and so some discussions about faith I want to keep to those who actually want to hear what I have to say. If you want to be part of or just listen to those discussion, please tell me and I will put you in that circle.
So if you have got this far into the post – well done. If you want me to follow/circle you please reply and tell me which circles I should put you in.
PS: If this post ever gets shared, here's the link back to the original: https://plus.google.com/106287665062204946341/posts/KeKCbw8BUUC
#blog #googleplus #circles #photography #christian #scifi #theatre #IMBWeb
I think Google should have the follow limit based on the number of people you are following and not a general rule.. This is how it works in Twitter..
I think Google should have the follow limit based on the number of people you are following and not a general rule.. This is how it works in Twitter..
I am a christian and i pretty much like SF so you can add me.
Worldwide photographers match for me ;)
Worldwide photographers match for me ;)
+Ian M Butterfield I follow back those who comment and interact, that's my new way of working. Hope it helps
+Ian M Butterfield I follow back those who comment and interact, that's my new way of working. Hope it helps
UK photographer here and I tend to do the same as +Gary Austin and now follow back those who interact since that shows they're interested in the social aspect of this networking malarkey.
UK photographer here and I tend to do the same as +Gary Austin and now follow back those who interact since that shows they're interested in the social aspect of this networking malarkey.
Photo enthusiast from Russia. Not a professional photographer.
Photo enthusiast from Russia. Not a professional photographer.
Thanks, +Ian M Butterfield for circling me!
Thanks, +Ian M Butterfield for circling me!
Well, I'd like to help by saying I shotgun a spot in the "Worldwide photographers" circle :).
Well, I'd like to help by saying I shotgun a spot in the "Worldwide photographers" circle :).
Hi Ian, you could put me in your UK Photographers circle if you like my pictures…
I'm based in London and like to travel the UK (and europe), when I get a chance!
Hi Ian, you could put me in your UK Photographers circle if you like my pictures…
I'm based in London and like to travel the UK (and europe), when I get a chance!
You could put me in your Worldwide Photographers and Science Fiction Fans circles.
You could put me in your Worldwide Photographers and Science Fiction Fans circles.
Christian and Photo enthusiast! Thanks.
Christian and Photo enthusiast! Thanks.
think the problem is more with your desire to mutually follow than with G+, I only follow those who have something of interest to share, and my stream is busy enough and noisey enough with only a couple of hundred that I have circled. If I want to up the noise level, I'll have a scan thru my 'incoming' stream and see if there's anything/anyone of interest there. I just don't see how it is possible to make any worthwhile use of a stream that is likely to be filled with lolcats & the meme of the day. If it is full of amazing photographers I take it back, but you must have then selectively chosen who to circle and who not to.
Anyway, am rambling, but there is a google extension that may help called 'uncircle' or something, which will go through all those you have circled and removed those who haven't posted publicly or to your circle in months. You won't be removing yourself from their stream if, or when they return, but it will free up some space to circle those you find worthy of circling.
edited to add The whole thing is much better explained here – https://plus.google.com/u/0/106393478695568433143/posts/5bb4rCQQS5s
think the problem is more with your desire to mutually follow than with G+, I only follow those who have something of interest to share, and my stream is busy enough and noisey enough with only a couple of hundred that I have circled. If I want to up the noise level, I'll have a scan thru my 'incoming' stream and see if there's anything/anyone of interest there. I just don't see how it is possible to make any worthwhile use of a stream that is likely to be filled with lolcats & the meme of the day. If it is full of amazing photographers I take it back, but you must have then selectively chosen who to circle and who not to.
Anyway, am rambling, but there is a google extension that may help called 'uncircle' or something, which will go through all those you have circled and removed those who haven't posted publicly or to your circle in months. You won't be removing yourself from their stream if, or when they return, but it will free up some space to circle those you find worthy of circling.
edited to add The whole thing is much better explained here – https://plus.google.com/u/0/106393478695568433143/posts/5bb4rCQQS5s
+Rupert Wood Hi Rupert – you just earned yourself a place in my "others" circle! (And that's a good place to be not just a dumping ground). The way I use circles… yes I have a lot of people circled but I also have a lot of circles and I decide which circle I wish to view at any given time. If I want to look a what photographers are posting I view one of my photographer circles, if I want to see what the sci-fi geeks are talking about I view that stream/circle. If I want to view the "noise" then I will view the full stream… and that can be fun too. The others circle is an interesting one… these are people who have something interesting to post, but don't quite fit into any of my categories. Viewing others make for interesting reading.
Thanks for the link – I will no doubt be using the tool to try to keep on top of my growing circles.
+Rupert Wood Hi Rupert – you just earned yourself a place in my "others" circle! (And that's a good place to be not just a dumping ground). The way I use circles… yes I have a lot of people circled but I also have a lot of circles and I decide which circle I wish to view at any given time. If I want to look a what photographers are posting I view one of my photographer circles, if I want to see what the sci-fi geeks are talking about I view that stream/circle. If I want to view the "noise" then I will view the full stream… and that can be fun too. The others circle is an interesting one… these are people who have something interesting to post, but don't quite fit into any of my categories. Viewing others make for interesting reading.
Thanks for the link – I will no doubt be using the tool to try to keep on top of my growing circles.