Hi %$firstname$%,

It's already August and the summer has flown by! We're gearing up for school and football practice for my youngest (age 14), and my oldest just moved back home for grad school. Here are my three sons - I'm extremely proud of all of them!

I hope you've taken some down time for R&R! Although Google hasn't taken the summer off - theyhave released a new social network. Of course our team is busy testing and working with Google+, we just can't help but have the latest and greatest. In the article below we're going to share the basics so you can get started with Google+.

Are you on Google+ yet? Share your thoughts and profile links on our fan page.

To Your Virtual Success,
The PMA Team

The new social network Google+ has nearly 18 million users now! It has grown extremely fast since its launch just a few weeks ago. This social media has 6 main features; the Stream (similar to Facebook's newsfeed), Hangout (a video chat feature where you can chat with multiple individuals), Sparks (recommendations based on your input criteria), Circles (how you manage your friends, similar to Facebook's Friends Lists), Huddle (a group chat/text feature), and of course Photos! I found an awesome cheat sheet from Mashable, check it out for some cool tips!

If you already had a Google Profile your new Goolge+ Profile will replace that. Your first visit to Google+ will require you to complete your profile information. Give yourself a tag line, a profile photo, education, occupation. There are several privacy settings available for your profile, be sure to read these through and set to your liking.

Once you have your profile good to go, start connecting! Add friends to existing circles or create new ones. I really recommend you start of organizing these connections or it can be a HUGE job later on down the road.

There is an app for your smart phone as well, look in your marketplace on your phone. One note that I want to be sure to point out to you. When you install the app and log in, don't go blazing past the first check box! What this is letting you know is, any picture you take with your phone camera will be automatically uploaded to your account. Now they will be set to private when their uploaded and you can do with them as you wish, but none the less you may not want ALL your photos automatically uploading. You can change this setting later on if you change your mind either way.

There you have it, a Google+ snapshot. Let us know if you like it, hate it, want more of it.

Until next time!

Peggy Murrah, founder of PMA Web Services, launched herself at the Internet over 20 years ago (ironically after trying for two years to convince her husband "we really don't need a computer").

Starting her Virtual Services organization in 1999, Peggy is the "behind-the-scenes" Web Guru to many top multi-millionaire Internet Marketers, Speakers and Coaches. Armed with an insatiable desire and commitment to help small business owners get their message out to a global audience, she has built a solid and rapidly expanding multi-VA firm.

Peggy co-authored the the Amazon bestseller “42 Rules to 24 Hour Success on LinkedIn” – the successful industry “go to” resource for using and maximizing LinkedIn.  She lives in Texas with her husband, their three sons (and a happy assortment of small pets).