How To Set Up Google+ Hangout Lower Third

Click on image for Video Tutorial

When doing a Google+ Hangout, it’s just good form to introduce yourself to viewers and other participants.

Insert a news anchor type name bar under your image by setting up the Google+ Hangout Lower Third App.

For a regular Hangout where you might have guests who don’t know each other, it’s fine to ask that everyone install their Lower Third App.

For Hangouts On Air which are essentially public broadcasts, it should be mandatory.

How to install Hangout Lower Third.

You can click on the top image to access the video or click here: Lower Third Demo.

1. Start a Hangout

2. Once you’re in, look to the left column and click on Hangout Toolbox. If you haven’t already downloaded the app, just click on “…view more apps” in the app sidebar, followed by a click on Hangout Toolbox! It will be there next time you log in.

3.  Once you open the Toolbox, you’ll see it on your right side column. The little blue guy is the Lower Third App.

4. To set up the look of your “Lower Third Name Bar”, fill in the Name, Tagline, Colour and if you like, add a Logo.

If you don’t have a logo, you can leave it blank or insert your country’s flag by choosing your country in the field below.

Once you’re done, turn “ON” Lower Third.

5.  You can save your bar theme by going to the presets area, typing in a name for the theme and clicking “save”.

Next time you log into a Hangout, you just need to click on the green icon opposite and voila, your theme pops in right under your nose!.

If you want to see how your viewers see you, click the blue “Mirror my own video” button just above the ‘Preset” box.

Note: You don’t need to turn on “Lower Third” at the top. If you do, the default will appear. If you don’t want the default, turn it off and turn on your preset theme.

Hangout Lower Third was developed by Moritz Tolxdorff. 

For more information about Hangouts, I suggest you circle Ronnie Bincer, the Hangout and video go- to guy at Google+.

If you have any questions or want to hangout with me, drop me a line or leave a comment below.

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About Ray Hiltz

Ray Hiltz is a Social Media Strategist with management roots in restaurant, hotel and performing arts. A strong proponent for the power of collaborative communication and "humanized" digital networking, Ray writes about social media, social business and Google Plus. His clients include hotels, restaurants, consulting firms, entrepreneurs, writers and individuals just trying to make sense of "social". Ray is a popular speaker on Social Media, Social Business and Google+.

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