As a follow up to my first post thought it might be an idea to add some quick and easy tips for Google Buzz. There are many great guides online but here are my pick of the bunch: -

Buzz Search Tips

is:buzz – Type this while searching from your Inbox to find Buzz posts that were emails.

has: [link/video/image] – finds all posts with either a link, video, or image.

author: – finds all posts in your stream authored by the person whose name you enter.

commenter: – finds all the posts in your reading stream that that person commented on.

source: – source: [buzz/twitter/reader/mobile/picasa]

You can also use OR and AND. For example:
author: nitrodigital OR author:”Danny Denhard”

FORMATTING

* … * : for bold
… _ : for italic
* _ … _ * : for bold and italic
- … – : for strikethrough

TURN OFF BUZZ

See link at the button of your page “turn off buzz”

SEND UPDATES VIA EMAIL

Just email to buzz@gmail.com
You can also attach a picture or photo and will publish also

(This must be sent from your Google Profile/Buzz email address)

REMOVE BUZZ NOTIFICATION FROM EMAIL

Just add an email filter for label:buzz and archive it

LINK TO THIS POST

Choose “Link to this Post” from the Buzz Menu (top right).

Tab+Enter is quick post comment

If you find any better tips or cheat sheets, please comment or drop me an email

Danny Denhard

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Hello and welcome to the first official Nitro Digital social media/social networking blog post.

I went through what’s hot online over the last few weeks and felt it only right to tackle a giant in the making….

One of the biggest news and trending topic is and has been the mass roll out of Google Buzz to gmail and googlemail users.

Q. What is Google Buzz?

Well, the easiest way to explain it is…. Google buzz is basically a social network embedded in Google’s webmail, so for gmail and googlemail users. It sits under your inbox and allows you to connect to the huge world of google mail users.

Q. Why is and why has Google Buzz become a huge topic of discussion?

Good question, in short google mail has a huge user base and existing users are automatically included in the “social network”.

Unlike Twitter, Facebook and linkedin you have to sign up to their social network and service unlike Buzz.

Google Buzz allows you to publicly share links, status updates and links into your personal online world (or your portfolio if you’re an SEO or social media junkie), it also allows you to link to your Twitter account (it does not work seamlessly unfortunately) and personal websites. So basically it is a one stop shop for social interaction.

Q. Downsides and worries of Google Buzz?

Buzz was pushed out on Tuesday 9th of February and was not tested fully by Google. However do not fear, the upside is Google had thousands of people with varied skilled people testing their new product and the feedback led to instant changes. There was some valid concerns across the web, namely privacy and Buzz being so open. Google addressed many issues quickly, especially the privacy which worried mostly our American friends (if you are worried or would like the official word, please check out the official Google gmail blog) .

Q. Why release Google Buzz now?

The reason why Google pushed out Buzz is basically their previous attempts at social networking failed. Pencilled as their main rivals Facebook have been creeping up to Google sites over the last year, Facebook have started a new project pencilled Project Titan, in short it is to take on gmail with their own webmail and have teamed with Bing to provide the best search results across the web. Facebook’s incredible rise worries Google, and that they have admitted as much in their determination to run a community website or tool.

Q. What’s the reaction so far?

Buzz has had good press overall, many big companies have already backed Google Buzz, Mashable the largest online social media guide has already backed and implemented a great way of interaction, it has been noted many times its as close to impossible to manage or hold discussion with @ replies via my beloved Twitter. Buzz does have that wrapped up, however annoying it has become.

Personally speaking (of course)….I think it’s a good start for Google and a nice alternative to Twitter. One thing it is not is a Facebook contender or killer and likewise with LinkedIn, it will still have the market share for professional networking via a social network.

What Buzz will do is pull in all different types of audiences/demographics and probably won’t intimidate those people who do not like living their life online. I would also expect most other Google products like Orkut will in fact slowly fade away (commiserations to the Brazilian and Indian users)

Ultimately what the “buzzers” want……

An independent log in away from gmail
Rebuzz like retweet in Twitter
Separate email alerts
Ability to categorise buzzes (this might be like Twitter lists)
Vote buttons (not just the like button, from the feedback I have read and had myself an unlike button would probably be the number one request)
Integration directly with Twitter and Facebook

Oh and for my geek friend’s and their requests-

Integration to Google Wave (although arguably has replaced it already)
Add a star to filter or make important like the gmail facility.

If I was to some up Google Buzz in a Twitter style update it would be -

Google buzz is extremely social and allows you to interact with millions of users across Google. It’s basically a hybrid. If a forum and Twitter mated this would be their baby. It’s a work in progress

We at Nitro Digital have already created a profile and don’t be shy come say hi and follow us, we promise we will follow you back our profile is https://www.google.com/profiles/nitrodigitalltd

Here is Google’s official video for Google Buzz -

Where to find Nitro Digital

Twitter – @nitrodigital
Facebook – Nitro Digital
Linkedin – Nitro Digital
Google Buzz – Nitro Digital

Danny Denhard

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