First Impression Of Google+

It's like walking into a toy store. Everything is so new and exciting. I just want to play. Yes, I'm talking about Google+.

Earlier this evening, I received an invite from a friend. (Thank you, Amir!) Unable to contain myself, I clicked through the initial email and started exploring the different pages and features.

At first glance, there wasn't a lot going on. The main reason being that I hadn't connected with anyone, yet. Outside of Amir, it was a lonely place.

Immediately, I offered invitations to friends on Facebook, Twitter, and the Room 3026 Live crew. With each new acceptance, the place quickly became a fun and enjoyable place.

Many of us who have been fortunate enough to get in are just trying to figure out the details. Robert Scoble, Louis Gray, and others are poking around and sharing their findings.

I've noticed some are already sharing keyboard shortcuts and other less obvious features. There are plenty of conversations and group hangouts happening right before my eyes. It's neat.

Unlike many who seem to have it all figured out, an assumption made after reading early blog articles, I'm just trying to get my bearings straight. What can I do? How do I make the most of this experience? Who can I connect with next?

Similar to my Google Wave, Buzz, and Reader experiences, it feels an awful lot like the Wild West. What are the rules? Norms?

Clearly, there are plenty of questions that will get ironed out soon. I just wanted to take a moment and let you know that it's alright in there. Google+ has some really flexible features that allows for public interactions and private ones, too. It allows you to engage with friends and the public at large with just a click of the mouse.

One thing that sticks out in my mind is the ability to follow someone, like Twitter, but engage with them like we do on Facebook.

Another neat feature is the Friendfeed-like stream that sends an active conversation back to the top of the stream. It also does a good job of sending email notifications when conversations are updated. For those no longer interested in the conversation, just mute it.

While I haven't had the time to fully explore the mobile app, my friend Michael Render seems to be pretty impressed by it. That's a good thing.

Based upon my initial observations, Google+ is going to be the flashy new toy that many will be writing and talking about for some time. I anticipate many blogs will be written about Facebook and it's potential response.

Will Google+ be a game changer? It's too early to tell. I think it really just depends on where my friends end up.

Outside of that, I don't have a lot more to share. Although, I'm ready to share some invitations once they open back up. If you're interested in receiving one, please let me know. You can leave me a message on Twitter, Facebook, or in the comment section below.

I look forward to engaging with you soon.

One other thing, how long do you think it will take before Empire Avenue allows me to connect my Google+ account?