Help to Understand Google Circles

[TravG]

This may be kind of a vague question, but exactly are the circles in Google+? I have never really understood them. I see where people have added me to circles but do not really know what that means.

When someone follows my Google+ page, when I go to follow them back one option is "Create New Circle". Should I be creating new circles for each of my pages? And if so what exactly does that circle mean or do??

I am just really lost when it comes to the whole circles thing so if anyone can help me out to explain it that would be great!

Thanks!

[louie.wilson]

Hey,
Circles actually work as your Facebook lists. Here is how it works.

You can create several circles
- Family
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Partners

Then when you post, you'll be able to select who you want your post to be visible by
- Public (everybody)
- Page 1
- Page 1 + Page 2
- Etc...

Basically, as soon as you put someone in a circle, you make it possible for him to see the updates posted to this specific circle.
Let's say you only want to share your family pictures with your family, you can then just post and say you want to share this with your Family Circle.

Hope that helps!

[TravG]

OK - Thanks. That makes sense and thanks for explaining it. I think I will like the option of being able to determine who sees what!

[LotusAffiliates]

Well explained. BTW there is an aspects that you need to be aware of, in terms of privacy, before starting to use the social network. When you share a post or update, G+ automatically defaults the last Circle it was shared with, therefore, you need to check this before publishing a new update to your Circles. If not, you may end up sending an update to a Circle you didn't intend to.