Quarterly circles: I only run 2 quarterly circles at one time (3Q2106 & 4Q2016, in this example)…the current quarter which I am adding to and the previous quarter which is closed to new additions.
I +1 people in both. If they follow me back, they are transferred to the current Annual circle (M2016 in this example). If they +1 my posts, they are moved to the permanent +1 circle.
When I open a new 1Q2017 circle, I will close the 4Q2106 circle to new additions and delete the 3Q2106 circle. In other words, if someone doesn’t bother to follow us back or +1 any of our posts for 2 quarters worth of time, then they aren’t doing us any good, so we can free that space to add someone who will follow and +1 us.
Annual circles: I do not expect to ever have to eliminate an annual circle (people who have followed me back, but never +1’d any of my posts), based on my current experience…the quarterly circles should be adequate to eliminate the “dead wood”, but just in case, it is nice to have a back up option.
When 2017 rolls around, I will keep the M2016 circle, but close it to new additions and begin adding to a M2017 circle. I will also be making a point to drop those who have left Google + or are inactive (the blank boxes on the circles lists).
The most important circle isthe permanent +1 circle. These people have already shown that when I +1 their posts they will respond in kind, so I +1 that circle often (either 2-3 times a week or whenever I post something new that I want to get some attention).
I also +1 the M list(s) 1-2 times a week as I have time, and the Q lists 1-2 times every 2 weeks, or as I have time. Remember the more you +1, the more +1s you will receive.
Finally, I handle all responses to shares and comments as they come along, as I was doing before.