The hype over Google+ is not surprising. The recent launch of Google+ is an exciting development. Google is a massive brand and innovator in the internet world.
But its establishment also brings many uncertainties – both in terms of how Google+ will fare as well as it how it will affect its competitors. This has led to many questions – How will Google+ shape up in the future? Will interest in it dwindle? Or will it develop a strong set of followers? Is it really a threat to Facebook?
As yet it is impossible to answer these with any certainty. But its success is not inevitable – Google has already had two massive flops…Remember Google Wave and Google Buzz?
It is useful to observe how Google+ has fared so far and also to speculate how the site might progress in the near and distant future.
It has been suggested that by leveraging social networking, Google is attempting to rival Facebook. Perhaps. But will this be the end of Facebook? Very doubtful. Firstly, Facebook is very well established and it would be difficult for any newbie to erode its power. Whilst Google+ is backed by the big and popular brand of Google and has seen rapid growth, this does not guarantee success, especially success beyond that of the largest social media network, Facebook.
Thirdly, it seems Google+ has not yet received mass adoption. It is still the preserve of techies, innovators, and early adopters. Will it extend to the mass market? We will have to wait and see. But it does have a lot of features that may even confuse advanced users, let alone beginners.
On the positive side, Google+ does seem popular with its existing users and has generated a positive reaction from them. Google+ is seeing rapid growth.
In terms of search engine optimisation, Google+ has a distinct advantage. Of course, Google favours its own creation. What does this mean for you? An article/blog written on Google+ will come on the first page of results. The site is great for driving traffic to your site – great results with less effort.
Now for the most important question of all….Should you join Google+? In a word, ‘yes’. Why am I so convinced? Lets look at the pros and cons of joining…
- Another social media platform to keep on top of.
- Can be confusing (for beginners and even advanced users).
- There are lots of new language and features to learn (though many of the features are similar to features on other sites but with a different name)
Pros ….
- Offers many useful features unique to Google+.
- Excellent for SEO.
- Is growing rapidly.
- You don’t want to be left behind for not keeping up with your competitors who will be joining.
Overall, I think it’s worthwhile joining. The disadvantages are only short-term and can be overcome with learning.
Are you already using Google +? If so what do you think of it? And if not, are you tempted to join in?
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Lilach
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44 Responses to What Everybody Ought to Know About Google +
I love the hangout
Ok, I have to put my make up on first but I still love having live group chats. In time the Google Hangout will become a powerful training tool.
Sarah recently posted..Warning: Using pop ups will grow your email list fast
Twitter: saraharrow
Thanks Sarah, I also love the Google Hangout and think it will become more and more popular as people are aware of the features that Google + has.
Twitter: lilachbullock
I’ve setup an account, but not started using it yet. I’m waiting for Google+ Business Profiles to be made available (I’ve heard a rumour that Google have started the rollout already, but only to to Google Apps for Business users).
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I’d recommend you start using it and don’t wait for the business profiles. The only people that I’m connected with on there are businesses:). Have a play and see what you think. The Google hangouts are particularly useful.
Twitter: lilachbullock
Having only just signed up to Google+ as they’ve finally got it working with Google Apps I’m currently underwhelmed by it. Perhaps because I’ve not used it much but it does at first glance look like a Googleified Facebook.
The circles idea seems interesting but I’m not sure what’s the difference between my own grouping for friends in Facebook.
Am yet to try a hangout but looks like a natural step to add on to the basic chat feature on Facebook
Thanks Dan. I was lucky enough to have an invite before it went open to the public and also before Facebook made their recent changes. One of the main changes Facebook “copied” from Google + was their interface and larger images which are now very popular on Facebook. I definitely recommend trying out a hangout as they’re awesome and one of the better features of Google +.
I’m interested to see how it grows (or declines!) particularly with Google Buzz disappearing soon…
Twitter: lilachbullock
I can see the positive side og G+, but there are presently far too may negatives. The problems stem from: the number of clearly false accounts; the affect that these within your G+ friends have on your own search results. I thought the idea was that Google Profiles were verified, but the most recent connections seem to be spammers, internet marketers or false brands just interested in promoting their own thing.
Google need to get a grip on customer service now, before the whole thing goes down the drain – and they end up buying Facebook. Already the number of registered G+ users has fallen for the last two months, a non-posative sign
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Thanks Ian. There are a lot spammers yes, but I actually find more on Facebook than Google +. That said, I don’t spend huge amounts of time on Google + and am still focusing on Facebook and Twitter.
Let’s hope Google do get a grip on their customer service as they do have some nice features and it would be a shame for it to disappear like Buzz.
Twitter: lilachbullock
I joined google + 2 days after its launch at the end of June. Its initial growth was nothing short of amazing, although I must admit I haven’t seen recent statistics and I strongly suspect it has levelled off somewhat. At the start I would spend time on there every day, but haven’t done so recently. Most of my colleagues seem to have abandoned it too! However, I still make sure I post all my blog articles and share other interesting stuff there. It will be very interesting to see what happens when business pages are rolled out generally (supposedly later this month)
thanks for an insightful article!
Naomi Johnson recently posted..Mobile Marketing – 7 Things You Should Do Right Now
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Thanks Naomi, I work similarly and use Google + as another sharing tool to get my blogs out! I do browse it from time to time and love their handout feature. I find their interface easier to navigate than Facebook which has become so busy lately. The problem is that everyone is still on Facebook so you have to spend the majority of your time there.
I’m also interested to see how it grows and whether it will become competition to Facebook…
Twitter: lilachbullock
Hello Lilach,
Jonathan Budd, the well known network marketer, wrote a post a few weeks ago, predicting the failure of Google+. He explains his reasons. I myself am suspended at Google+, they said it’s a social network, not for business. I am so active on Facebook that I have not cared about the suspension so far. Am I making a big mistake? I have no idea, like you say in your post, it’s difficult to say if Google+ will be successful or not.
Philippe
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I can’t believe you were suspended Philippe? I don’t know anyone who is using Google + who isn’t a business!!
I will check out Jonathan’s post – thanks for highlighting it.
Twitter: lilachbullock
Thanks for such a Wonderful article. It is very helpful!
My pleasure Suraj, delighted you found it helpful. Interestingly they’ve just opened Google Business profiles so now there is no excuse:)
Twitter: lilachbullock
Thanks for clearing out some of these issues that I have been having with Google+. I hadn’t jumped on because I did not quite understand the benefits, so now i am curious. Still unsure how to benefit but I have decided to at least sign up and see what it is really about. Thanks for educating me
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My pleasure Lisa. I’m actually in the middle of writing a step by step of how to set up a Google + Business page which went live literally the next day after posting this! So watch this space!
Twitter: lilachbullock
I just wish I could open an account, when youtube was bought by google and you had to associate your youtube accounts to a google account my then 15 yr old daughter associated her youtube to my google, she is now 16, I’ve since opened a seperate google account for her and changed the association of her yt account, but the age of my google account is still showing as 16, it’s great that they’ve made me 34 years younger, but soooo frustrating, as I can’t now change the age and hence am unable to open a + account.
I’d love to know if anyone has a way round this, I’ve sent messages to google via the feedback facility but have had no reply at all…gggrrrrhhh…
Debbie Carter recently posted..What is the world coming to?
Debbie I hear your pain. I have a YouTube account I set up a couple of years ago with an old email address which I can no longer access and can’t remember the password so can’t re-set it! It’s so frustrating and unfortunately with large organisations like Google, Facebook, Twitter etc. there is little you can do.
I would really recommend creating a new account, as annoying and painful as it is, the long term benefits will be worth it. In the meantime continue to badger them and perhaps try seeing if you can reach them by Twitter and hashtags.
Best of luck:)
Twitter: lilachbullock
I am a big fan of Google+. I find that I have deeper and more meaningful conversations there. The hangouts have been great.
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Thanks Jack, I’m actually in the middle of writing a Google + book so will be interested to get your feedback too:)
Twitter: lilachbullock
I see you have a large circle of friends in Google+ Lilach. Do approach Google+ the same way as Facebook when building a group of friends ? Thanks for the insight.
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Thanks Preston. Yes I do, although admittedly I’m still spending the majority of my time on Facebook and Twitter. I’m seeing a huge growth in Google + though, particularly now that they have made the Business Pages.
Twitter: lilachbullock
OK Lilach…you have not yet convinced me to get on the Google+ band wagon. I don’t have extra time for one more social network…or do I? Do I really need more friends and networks of people that I don’t have a relationship with? Hmm….what else do you have in that noodle of yours that you can share?
Perhaps another post on the direct payoffs that you have seen…
Thanks
Terry
Terry Petrovick recently posted..How to Create a Social Media Marketing Schedule that Works
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Thanks Terry. Well funnily enough I’ve just written a blog post on how to set up Google + business profiles so maybe that will tempt you more:)
I understand it’s hard to allocate time for the current social media platforms, let alone new ones but I do think Google +’s SEO functionality is worth it alone.
Twitter: lilachbullock
Lilach, I think it sounds interesting, but only with everything else in place and humming along. I’m not quite there yet. Also, all these years I have known so many people getting gmail accounts. I refused because I think there may be some sort of government connection with Google – I know – conspiracy theory! I too would be interested in seeing actual payoffs associated with Google+. I’m not in any hurry at this time. Thanks for the info though!
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Thanks Val. Interesting conspiracy theory you have going on there!
The main benefit I’m currently seeing with Google + is the SEO and also the new introduction of the business profile pages, I’m going to be posting a blog about that shortly so hopefully that will help you and may convince you to get involved and shock horror… get a Google email address!!
Twitter: lilachbullock
I haven’t tried doing Google+ yet but you’ve got my curiosity up.
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Thanks Joe, Yes Google + is definitely one to watch…
Twitter: lilachbullock
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Having had a request off a friend to join google + and from seeing the icon on google search results I had only a minor interest. Seeing one of your other tweets enabled me to set my new page up and if it helps with SEO, then I’m all for it
Thanks Debbie. I read last night that now 40 million people had a Google + account. It’s definitely growing – whether it will catch up with Facebook remains to be seen though:)
Twitter: lilachbullock
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I don’t get how this is ‘good for SEO’.. My main work is in SEO and I think this is the worst thing to come out of Google yet.. Google + ‘s main feature is that now it shows ME a totally different results page on key phrases as it would YOU and everyone else.. To me.. a site I have been trying to push up the search engines is now on page one.. to others it’s on page 2, or page 14???… Google have personalised the results far too much and I and many others feel this is the beginning of the end for Google OR.. the beginning of the end for a decent search engine for us users…
Thanks Ramsey, appreciate your comment, particularly as your main work is in SEO.
I’m interested to see how this progresses and how it affects SEO in the future:)
Twitter: lilachbullock
Thanks once again Lilach this article. Sometime back I had written on whether we need Google+. You can find it here : http://techvital.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/do-we-need-google/
Twitter: Guru30
Lilach: Thanks for the post.
Google+ is certainly something that will gain traction in the years to come. However, will it amass more subscribers than Facebook is yet to be seen. Feature wise, its similar to Facebook. I like Hangouts (for upto 10 people) and Circles. Google+ has a simple interface and is a joy to behold.
I have written this article, on whether we need Google+ http://techvital.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/do-we-need-google/ Let me have your comments. Thanks.
Twitter: Guru30
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I have been using Google+ since ‘the beginning of time’ and I believe it’s a great social media platform. Google+ Pages could be worked out better, with more options in my opinion, but for the viewers/customers it’s a simple and well known interface.
I like to stick close to Google, especially after their ZOO releases (Penguin and Panda). If you can’t beat them, join them.
Jan Bierens recently posted..The Mystery Man – He Is For Real
Twitter: JanBierens
It’s been a while since this blog was written and there have been some real developments with Google+ since then, especially for business owners.
Whereas Facebook is becoming increasingly difficult for business owners to reach their clients without paying to promote posts, All those businesses that have a listing on Maps (Google Places) have had the Google+ For Business Local Listing page created by the search engine, they can invite all their existing clients who’s email they’ve captured and enhance their page by showing off their business premises interior with a virtual tour linked to Street View, they’re calling it Google Business Photos.
It’s strongly believed that businesses will bring the masses from Facebook to Google+
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Twitter: GoogleBizTog