Is Google + little more than an Echo?

I was browsing Google + earlier today and came across an interesting comment by Michael Brito – "I have no idea of what to share here on Google+" he wrote. It struck me as a very good observation on the platform and on Social Networks in general. Of course quite a few people weighed in with their thoughts on what makes Google + such a great environment and what should be shared there. As Michael pointed out he was already sharing the suggested content elsewhere – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. so what is left for Google +?

Google + as the Echo chamber

So what is left for Google + from our sharing? After all we only lead one life at a time. If we are posting work related items to LinkedIn, pictures and funny items from the web to Facebook and Twitter and sharing blog posts to all three, is there any original content left for Google + or is it just an echo of our other activity?

Certainly I have played around with different formats for Google +, from the short "Twitter-esque" to the long, almost "blog" post style. I've posted pictures from vacation, reshared interesting items that I have found on the web and even on Google + itself. The engagement is there. My posts are "plussed" or reshared but I have to say that it depends greatly on how I share items. Which leads me to think of Google + as being an echo chamber for certain people.

Google + and original content

What I find is that when I share with the "Public" stream I get far more response than if I share posts with "My Circles" and "Extended Circles" – of course that is a function of who I have put into those circles. Which makes me rethink the whole process of circling people. By circling people I already know on other platforms I'm sending content to people who are used to my style and have certain expectations of my content. When I share to the Public stream I am sharing with those people too but also with people who don't know me and therefore have no such expectations.

So perhaps the answer to Michael's question is share here content that you are not known for and with people who you don't know. Leave Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn for the people you already know and think of Google + as moving to a new town where you don't know anyone and have the opportunity to reinvent yourself.

Google + – Where The Streets Have No Names

Yes, just like the U2 song. This is how I see Google +, there are no street names, no map, no expectations to be met. By circling the same people you have on other sites you are simply exposing yourself to the same information that you can get anywhere else. I'm not suggesting you don't circle those people – after all they might be sharing different information, but perhaps you put them in a circle that you visit less often. Add people you haven't met yet – either virtually or in real life and see what they are sharing. With the new search capability finding new people based on topics or location is very easy.

So what do you share on Google + that you aren't sharing elsewhere?