Google announced on Thursday that Google+ users with a profile attached to a regular Gmail account and a work-related Google apps account can now blend the two together.
When Google Apps gained Google+ support last October, Google promised a migration tool was on the way. Nine months later, it's finally here.
The new tool, which is a part of the company's Google Takeout data-liberation service, allows users to elect a master Google+ account and transfer circles and other information to one main profile, instead of having two separate accounts. For those that make the transfer, you will only be able to log in with the email address associated with the primary Google+ profile.
After requesting a transfer, there is a seven-day waiting period before the merger begins and once the process begins, it takes about 48 hours to complete. Once a transfer is started, it cannot be cancelled or reversed.
SEE ALSO: 20 Reasons to Switch to Google+ [INFOGRAPHIC] How to Merge Google+ Accounts
First, click Google+ circles transfer tool at Google Takeout. This tool transfers your Google+ circles and connections from a "source" account to a "destination" account.
Request a transfer. This process will slow down Google+ functionality in both accounts, so you won't be able to share content or update circles until the transfer is complete. Again, this could take up to 48 hours.
When the transfer is complete, circles, blocks and ignores are copied from the source account to the destination account, but content from the source account such as profile information, posts or comments won't be transferred to the destination account, the company said.
"If you no longer need your source account Google+ profile, downgrade the profile associated with your source account and select Delete your entire Google+ profile," Google said "Before downgrading, we recommend downloading your Google+ data from your source account at Google Takeout."
Google offers additional information on how the process and transfers works on its help page.
If you decide to keep your source account profile, Google suggests deleting content that was posted by that account to avoid confusion and select the uncheck option that makes the profile visible to others via search.
Proceed With Caution
Google has done a great job of explaining the migration process, but we still suggest users proceed with caution before using the tool. Be sure to back-up all of your Google+ data and make sure you understand the limitations of the tool. Google+ addicts also need to be prepared to give up using the service for up to a week while the transfer takes place.
Profile migrations don't always go as planned. Last year, Mashable's Christina Warren inadvertently committed Facebook suicide when a Facebook Profile to Fan Page migration went terribly, terribly, wrong.
We doubt anything that catastrophic will happen with Google+, but again, be prepared and backup your important data first.
BONUS: 10 Tips and Tricks for Better Google+ Brand Pages
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Once you've set up your brand page, you access it through your personal Google+ profile.
On your home page below your name and avatar pic is a drop down menu.
Open this menu to see your page, click on it to access it.
You can't add a person to a brand page's circles unless he has first added your brand page to his circles.
To see who has added your brand, go to the "Circles" tab and click on "People who've added you."
You can now add these folk into relevant circles.
Google gives you your brand page's URL on set-up, but if you need to find it again, click on "Get started" under your name and avatar on your brand's home page.
This takes you to a useful admin info page which includes a "Tell the world" section, under which you'll find your URL.
There aren't many customization options for Google+ pages, but one thing you can do is remove extraneous tabs.
If videos and photos aren't relevant to your brand's page you can choose not to display them.
Go to your profile page, click "Edit Profile" in the top right corner and then click on either "Photos" or "Videos."
Here you can decide to hide one or both of these from view.
Google offers easy-to-use code and various G+ buttons so that you can link your site to Google+.
In addition to pointing people to your shiny new social space, this also means your linked site is eligible for Google Direct Connect.
To find the code and buttons, go to the "Get Started" option under your brand's name and avatar on your home page.
Google+ offers the ability to lock posts within a certain circle.
Before you share your post, click the drop down arrow underneath the four icons on the right.
Here you can "lock" the post so it can't be shared further.
Don't forget it's still possible for someone to copy and paste or screengrab the content though -- so it's more a way to send a "don't share this" message, rather than an infallible privacy solution.
While you're building your brand's presence on Google+, you might want to hide your low follower count.
On your home page, click the "Change who is visible here" option.
You can now choose to hide how many people have added you to circles.
You can add links to your "About" page on Google+.
The good thing about this feature is that you have complete freedom.
Whether you're pointing people to other social profiles or flagging great sites, you can do it in your own words.
To add links, click on "Edit Profile" when you're on the "About" page and then click "Recommended Links" to open the edit options.
Google+ has given you circles. Don't be square -- use them.
Whether you're grouping people by location, interests or other relevant categories, you can broadcast your brand's message in a tailored fashion to relevant circles.
This will mean people are seeing content from you that is relevant to them, and will be more likely to engage with your brand.
To set up new circles, go to the "Circles" page and create from there.
The ability to display photos at the top of your profile page is great, and offers a quick, visual cue for your brand.
The photos that show up in this space are your first five Google+ "Scrapbook photos".
Have fun with this. Get creative and you'll make people smile as they land on your brand's page. They may even be tempted to add you to one of their circles!
[via GigaOm]
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