When Google launched in the late 1990s, the company differentiated its search engine from then-competitors like Excite and AltaVista with a streamlined, virtually empty webpage. No ads, no graphics . . . just a simple logo and a search box.

Even as Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Docs joined the fold, the Internet giant relegated the additional feature links to a narrow band at the top of the screen to maintain its trademark no-frills approach.

But as it searches for new approaches to social networking with Google+, the company is ditching its unobtrusive ways by putting to use the most sophisticated hands-on networkers available — humans.

"We opened our office in March at Caroline Collective, which has been perfect for setting up workshops," local Google marketing rep Nimi Cheetham-West tells CultureMap. "We're trying to reach out to a wide range of organizations in Houston, especially those with strong ties to the city's non-profits."

In the past two months, he noted that his team of three outreach specialists has organized workshops for the regional branch of Habitat for Humanity, the Houston Texans, Houston Arts Alliance and even Revival Market, a local grocer known for its extensive ties to local food suppliers. This past Wednesday, the group made it to the CultureMap headquarters.

After successful Google+ session at Caroline Collective in early May, Cheetham-West said he hopes to draw a large crowd for its next event at the coworking hub on June 21.

"Right now, we have 24 teams in place across the county, including offices in Dallas and Austin," he says, noting the outreach program will continue to expand to more cities throughout the year.

As Cheetham-West sees it, Google+ can be a power tool for organizations and businesses interested in fine tuning their communication with members and clients. The Circles feature allows posts to reach specific clusters of one's own network of followers, complete with timelines that show how and when one's posts are distributed.

A video conferencing feature, better known as a Google+ Hangout, allows up to 10 participants and now allows users to save the full conversation on YouTube.

"When President Obama did a Hangout back in January after his State of the Union address, the entire dialogue was then posted online," Cheetham-West says. "Now anyone can use the feature, if they like, with just the click of button.

"It's incredibly easy."