How To: Get Started with Google Buzz

Feb 11, 2010 Posted on Feb 11, 2010 in google buzz, how-tos

How To: Get Started with Google Buzz

Now that Google Buzz is finally available inside my Gmail account as well, I went through the process of setting up the (public!) Buzz-Profile for GGT. So here is a step by step guide that’ll help you get started yourself:

1. First, take a quick look at this privacy checklist and make sure that you understand how Google Buzz works, what the common privacy concerns surrounding it are and that there won’t be any bad surprises for you.

2. Click on the Google Buzz icon which should now show up in the navigation menu of your Gmail account on the right side.

3. Click on “Find people to follow” link. You can either add your own contacts to your friends list or search for random people to follow (can’t wait for a site to be out that’ll help with this btw…). Just to get you started though, here is an interesting profile to follow:

- http://www.google.com/profiles/mashable

You’ll start seeing buzzes from the people you follow immediately, right below the welcome screen. If you don’t see them yet click on “refresh”. That’ll also show you how buzzes actually work; they are simple message bubbles with content. You exchange comments on those bubbles, “like” or email them to someone.

4. When you close the “follow” window, you’ll still see the “Welcome to Buzz” screen. While there, click on “post your first buzz“. IMPORTANT! Now you’ll be presented with a window that’ll allow you to adjust some important privacy settings:

Click on “edit” (as shown on the screen) and edit all the settings according to your preferences (upload a profile picture, show/mask the list of people you follow and those that follow you etc.). Once you are done, save your profile.

5. On the next screen you’ll be presented with your Buzz box! There is a link saying “Google profile” right under that box. Click on it.

Here you might need to add some more information in order for your profile to become public (in case you want that). Click on “edit profile” further below.

6. Here you need to check the privacy settings once more, especially the option to show the list of people you’re following/that follow you. Then you can fill out your bio, add links (like a link to your website/blog/facebook profile). Eventually you get to customize your profile’s URL. GGT’s profile URL is (be sure to hit the follow button ):

http://www.google.com/profiles/girlgoestech

7. When you are done, save your profile and go back to your Gmail Buzz page. Once there, try buzzing something! You’ll see that when you share an article for example, Buzz will automatically create an extract…

8. Last thing we’ll do before closing the welcome screen is clicking on “view connected sites“.

Here you can see and edit which services are integrated into your Google Buzz right now. Google Reader is integrated by default for example and your shared articles will be drawn into your Buzz. You can change that here by clicking on edit. Furthermore you can add Twitter, so status messages will be posted there too.

Here you’ll simply have to enter your Twitter nickname and you’re done! You can close the welcome screen on your main buzz page now by clicking on “okay”.

For further useful tips & tools you might want to check out this post (even though you might not call yourself an “advanced user” yet ):