Google is well known for their practical apps, the most famous one obviously being Gmail. A few months ago Google updated their look, with the whole Google platform receiving a makeover. The change took users by surprise, bringing about mixed reviews. Google gave the users who didn’t like the change some respite, allowing them to stick with the old look.

Google recently announced some bad news for those who decided to opt-out of the new look: starting March 27, 2012 users will be migrated to the new look, whether they like it or not. For those who are about to move over, or are confused by Gmail’s new look, you are not alone - here’s some information on Gmail’s new look.

The Layout When you log into your Gmail account for the first time after the changes have been implemented, you will notice the layout has changed slightly. Across the top of the window is a black bar with a number of different Google apps, and your account name on the top right. Gone is the sign out button. Well, that’s a lie, if you click on your account name, a drop-down window will open, with sign out button at the bottom.

When you log into Gmail, on the left you will notice your mail folders, e.g., Inbox, and Google chat below your mail folders. If you press and hold the grey bar between the two you can shrink or expand the two areas, depending on your preference. Your emails will be in the centre of the screen with new emails in white, and opened emails in gray. Google has actually stopped calling emails, “emails”, and now calls them conversations. The people who are involved in each conversation are listed above the subject line. You’ll often see a (#) beside the participants, this means that there are multiple emails in the conversation.

When you click on a conversation, it’ll open with a preview of the first message, and the latest message at the bottom. If there are more than five emails in the conversation, you’ll see a number of lines between the oldest and newest. These are the other emails that have come between the first and newest conversation, and if you click on the lines, the other emails will open.

The Toolbar Above your emails you will notice a number of icons:

• A blank square: This is the Select Options button. If you click on the similar looking box beside an email you will notice the email has been selected. You can press this button to get a drop-down menu, with options regarding the conversation you have selected, and tell Gmail what you want to do with the selected conversations.
• A file with an arrow: This is the Archive button. If you have conversations that are junk or unimportant you can select them by clicking on the blank square beside each one, and then clicking this button. It will archive the emails, cleaning up your inbox, but not deleting the conversations, more file them away to be forgotten about, much like a real filing cabinet.
• A stop sign with an !: This is the Report Spam button. If you think a conversation is spam, select it and press this button. You will be presented with a number of options including getting Gmail to try to unsubscribe you from the sender’s email list.
• A trash can: This isn’t Oscar’s home on Sesame Street, it’s the Delete button. Select conversations you’d like to get rid of, and press the button.
• A black folder: This button is Move To. Select conversations you’d like to move out of your inbox, and like a good friend, Google will help you move them.
• A Tag: This is the Tag button. You can select conversations, press tag and mark them for followup, or other options. This is useful for organizing your conversation to-do-list.
• The Cog: The button that has a cog in it is Settings. If you press it, a drop-down menu will open with options to change the layout. Play around with it and pick the one that suits you best. You can also access your account settings from here.

A New Search Box At first glance, the search box, located above the icons, is your standard Google search bar, much the same as google.com. But if you click the arrow beside it, you’ll get a drop-down menu filled with advanced search options that will help you wade through the tons of emails we all get. If that’s not enough, there’s an option to create a filter based on the search results.

The new changes can take a while to get used to, but once you do, you’ll find that the new Gmail is quite useful and maybe even better looking. If you have any questions regarding Gmail or other Google apps please let us know, we are here to help.

An ever increasing number of businesses are starting to adopt the cloud and all its related programs as the main way to do business. One of the leading cloud integration companies is Google. With many Google Apps, users can collaborate on projects in real time allowing for a more dynamic approach to document creation. Google’s social networking program, G+, is now widely used by businesses as well. One feature, Hangout, can be a great way for multiple users to participate on projects. A recent update to Hangout has made it even easier to work together. Read on to learn how.

Google has been great at developing apps that promote teamwork. Until recently, many of the apps focused on one type of collaboration - e.g., Google Docs allows users to work together via chat and instant updates. It allows multiple users to edit the same document at the same time, however, unless you are sitting beside the involved team members, it is a bit hard to effectively communicate. A recent update to the Hangout feature of Google Plus, Google’s social networking medium, now allows users in the same Hangout to work together on a Google Doc.

Think of this as one of the closest things to face-to-face meetings. We can now see each other as we work on the same document, meaning we’ll be able to read people’s faces to gauge what their comment means - a notoriously hard task when we can’t see a person’s face.

How to Team Up with Hangouts When you need to work together on a project, simply start a Hangout on Google Plus, wait for everyone to show up and press the “Docs” button, on the top left of the window. You will be able to choose to start a new project, or open an existing document. A modified Google Docs window will open, with all the Hangout members at the bottom of the window. All the functionality of Google Docs will be available. Be sure that when the Hangout is finished to click the “Share” button on the Doc, to ensure it is shared with all the necessary members.

With this update, it’s even easier to work as a team on projects without the need for your colleagues to be in the same room. If you would like to learn more about Google Docs, Google Plus or other Google Apps, give us a call, we are more than happy to help.

Many companies have turned to the Internet as a way to build their brand, reach out to, and connect with customers. This means having a presence where customers are looking. When a customer wants to find out about a business, it is highly likely that the first place they go is Google. One of the most powerful apps businesses can use to get their name out there is Google Places. Are you using Google Places with your business?

Places, introduced in 2009, is actually two different services. The first service, is essentially a mini website, within Google, for local businesses with contact information, reviews, pictures, nearest transit stop, street view, and so on. Google realized that when people want to find a business or service they will typically type in the service and their location - e.g., if a person is in New York, and wants to find a computer repair center, they will typically enter something like: Computer Repair New York. Using Places, businesses in a particular area will be ranked to appear higher in search results if the user is in the same general area. While the results show up on search results, Places is actually a part of Google Maps. If a business has signed up, and provided their info, it will also show up as a pinpoint when a relevant search query is entered in Google Maps. The best part of Places is that it is free for businesses.

The second service is the Places App. This app is for everybody and is similar to popular local search services like Foursquare. You enter a search in Places and, based on your location and search, results will show up with the closest result first. People can call, email, review, and even suggest businesses. Places is available in Google search results, Google Maps and as a standalone App for smartphones.

How Do I Get My Business On Places?

If you are interested in getting your business on to Places you will need to get a few things ready before you apply:

1. A Google account: You will need a Google account that is related to your business. If you do not have one, it is free to sign up.
2. Any content you would like to show up on your Places page, including pictures, basic brochures or product information, and if you have them, videos. The more precise your information is, the better your organic result will be.

After you have your information ready, head over to the Places website and click Get Started. From there it’s as simple as following the on-screen prompts, and then waiting for Google to put your Places page online. Once it’s online you will be able to update information in real time, and be on the way to generating more customers.

Watch Out! Common Mistakes Made by Businesses Here are four common mistakes business often make when establishing their Places profile:

• Unclear Keywords: Places lets you select keywords and categories for your business. Many businesses make the mistake of selecting categories that don’t fit their business model, and this will potentially confuse viewers, resulting in many needless calls and emails about your services. Google Places allows a maximum of five categories. We suggest picking one or two pre-built options, (if there are similar ones to your business model), and three custom ones. Try to develop keywords that specify exactly what you do.
• Get the Basics Right: The mobile version of Places allows and encourages users to call businesses. Therefore, it is important you have not only the right phone number, but the right format - e.g., many phone numbers in Canada require you to input the area code regardless of the location. If you don’t have it, no one will be able to contact you. Also, ensure you are using the correct name for your company. Put the name of your business as it is registered with your phone and Internet company.
• Proper Citations: Citations are references to your business that, when used correctly, help place your business higher in local search results. It is important that when building citations your company name, phone number and other information are exactly the same as what you have listed on Places. If you have used N.W. in Places, and on another site  like Yelp, you have cited your business address with North West, the results will be diminished and your business will show up lower in search results.
• Too Many Chiefs, Not Enough Indians: It is important that you limit the number of people who have access to the account you use for your Places page. The more people who have access, the higher the chance your information can be changed, often with negative results.

Places, if leveraged right, is a great way to help boost your online presence and marketing potential. If you would like to learn more about Google Places or any other Google App, please get in touch.