There are two basic ways you can run your Google+ Hangout. The first way is from within your Google+ account. You simply click on Hangouts and then click on the tab that says Start a Hangout. The second way is from your Google+ Page. Just navigate to your page and then click on the green icon that says Start a Video Call.

There is a difference between the two and that is starting a Hangout from your page only allows you to do a video call. Message type Hangouts can be started from within your Gmail account.

It is important to run a well organized Hangout and to do this you want to plan in advance. Take the following tips into consideration:

• Cover only one topic per Hangout
• Decide if you want to invite guests to participate Live or not
• Help guests test the Hangout environment from their end
• Test your equipment in advance to make sure it is working correctly
• If sharing slides or documents prepare these in advance and test them out

As the organizer of the Hangout you have the ability to mute people if necessary. You simply click on their image and mute and unmute as required.

When running your Hangout the main speaker is always featured in the top half of the screen. Other participants are featured in smaller icons in the lower section of the screen. As the speaker changes the screen flips to showcase the current speaker.

If your Hangout is live remember you do have the ability to edit out any trouble spots afterwards. Plus everyone knows that live events don’t always go as planned. So if a mishap occurs take it in stride and fix it later on.

Always stay focused on your main topic and don’t cover too much information in your Hangout. Instead it is better to run several Hangouts. This way you won’t overwhelm your viewers!

Hangouts can be long but bear in mind that some people may not want to watch a long replay video. This is why some top companies edit their videos and remove any lulls or unnecessary information. Short and sweet is the way to go with Hangouts on Air.

By taking the time to plan out your Hangout you can be assured that it will run smoothly. Edit it if needed and then make your URL public or private as you wish.