Network Computing is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Guy Kawasaki: Google+ Is The Mac Of Social Networks: Page 4 of 4

Carr: Do you use Google+ from your phone?

Kawasaki: What I do is when I take a picture, I let it instant upload. Then, when I get back to my computer, I compose something that goes with that photo.

Also, I have a very unusual practice where I number my posts every day. At midnight Pacific, I reset the number [and start over from number one]. With my phone, I just snap a picture and if it's really compelling, I'll just post it without figuring out what post it is for that day.

Carr: I know you mention this in the book, but what's the purpose of numbering your posts?

Kawasaki: There are two purposes. One is for myself--to help me remember how many times I post, so I don't post too much.

The other is I have this fantasy that people will follow me, and some of those people will see post 9, and that will make them wonder about posts 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, so they will go look for the things they missed from me. The only way someone will know they missed something from me is if they see number 9 and they know there was a number 8.

That's my theory. Nobody else believes in that theory.

Carr: Are here any connections between this book and your others, such as Enchantment?

Kawasaki: At the end of the [Google+] book, there's a whole section on how to be enchanting online. I discuss how to write enchanting comments, responses, and posts.

Carr: What do you think this book has accomplished, or what do you hope it will accomplish?

Kawasaki: Lots of people have said to me what you said, which is, if I hadn't read this book, I never would have looked at Google+ again. So that accomplished something--maybe it was better for Google than for me.

You know, I'm at this strange midpoint in my life. I'm not filthy rich so nothing matters, but I'm not desperately poor so everything matters. I'm kind of in the middle. This is a kind of an in-the-middle book. I'm not writing the book because I'm desperate to make money. On the other hand, if I was filthy rich I wouldn't write anything at all; I'd be a recluse.

I'm in the middle!

Carr: So you can afford to do something just because it appeals to you. Was it fun to write this book?

Kawasaki: Yes. It's hard to disguise my love for Google+.

Follow David F. Carr on Twitter @davidfcarr. The BrainYard is @thebyard and facebook.com/thebyard

Social media make the customer more powerful than ever. Here's how to listen and react. Also in the new, all-digital The Customer Really Comes First issue of The BrainYard: The right tools can help smooth over the rough edges in your social business architecture. (Free registration required.)