Our Blog: where do you stand?

Jessica says:

Wed, July 06, 2011 at 3:05:pm

It’s also worth noting that Google+ will be more user friendly than facebook on devices with touchscreens. The segmentation feature seems as though it will be easy to use on iPads (I don’t have one so I can’t speak from experience). You could easily rearrange and segment your friends just by dragging and dropping their photos into various categories rather than having to check boxes, click, etc.

Ashlyn says:

Wed, July 06, 2011 at 9:34:pm

That’s a great point, Jessica. The interface is incredibly sleek and user-friendly. I used to say that about Facebook as compared to MySpace.

Brad Hogenmiller says:

Thu, July 07, 2011 at 9:45:am

Good perspective Ashlyn, thanks for the back link. I agree one of the greatest things to come of Google Plus could be the competition that drives new innovation. I’ve been thinking more and more that part of the reason Facebook and Twitter are still as successful as they are is the lack of competition.

-Brad (@JavaSTL)

Nick Sargent says:

Thu, July 07, 2011 at 10:31:am

As much as I hate to disagree with you Ashlyn ...

Google+ doesn’t feel like an evolution so much as a hybrid of things that people already like on the web. It’s like Facebook meets Twitter, with a dash of Skype and StumbleUpon. The circles thing is cool, but I get a feeling that Facebook will improve the usability of its lists features before the general public starts to catch on to +1ing.

Everyone who’s interested in social media has jumped on the G+ bandwagon, but I haven’t had one person in my life who is a causal Facebook user or Twitter scanner ask me for an invite. I’m not sure how they can ever generate enough interest to build that critical mass.

Every time I try to explain Google+ to a friend who isn’t social media savvy, I get the same question: “Why do I need a Google+?” I don’t have a good answer.

Craig Moore says:

Thu, July 07, 2011 at 10:38:am

I think Nick makes a good point.  A lot of my “social media” friends are rushing to Googl+ to try it out, and its got some interesting features, but really nothing that Facebook couldn’t fairly quickly adopt/steal.  Getting the overwhelming mass of people on Facebook who are casual users to slide to Google+ will be a challange, especially if the don’t have an easy way to transport pictures, groups, ect…

Integration is the thing that may make it possible…if Google can really maket Google+ the one stop shop/portal to everything you really want on the internet (what Facebook has been trying to do) then they’ve got a shot…albiet a long one.

Craig
@craiggmoore

Brian Schwartz says:

Thu, July 07, 2011 at 10:43:am

I agree with Nick & Craig…

Google+ feels to me a lot like FriendFeed - cool, new features, nice UI, only used by social media + tech folks.

That’s fine by me, I don’t need to interact with everyone from my high school at all times. However to truly gain traction (especially for advertising), G+ needs to gain people like my wife, rabid FB users who have pretty much replaced their email with Facebook messaging.

Ashlyn says:

Thu, July 07, 2011 at 11:06:am

Nick, Craig & Brian—You have a good point that Facebook can easily replicate the most buzzworthy features of Google+. However, I don’t think they’re going to have an easy time replicating Google’s potential for integration. As you pointed out, Craig, if Google can truly create a one-stop-shop for the Internet, they can create a unique market offering. I find Twitter valuable because they took what was basically the status update and created something useful and engaging. Google+ could succeed by doing the opposite - taking the “social networking” aspect of Facebook and integrating it with nearly everything else.

I do disagree that the lack of interest by casual users signifies a problem, at least at this point. Many in my network were once completely loyal to MySpace, and didn’t understand why they needed a Facebook account. Facebook eventually won them over with an excellent interface and features that added value. I have no doubt that Google+ could eventually do the same.

Blake Fehl says:

Thu, July 07, 2011 at 12:14:pm

Too many people are dealing in absolutes on Google +. They believe it can only be a triumph or a failure, not somewhere in between. Hardly a week into launch we already have people pronouncing Google + a social media failure.

First off, there isn’t a lot of things that Google is doing with + that is really progressive, but I kind of think that might be part of the plan.  The coolest thing they are currently doing is the “circles” options, which makes it much easier to control who sees what, but I’m not sure how important that is to most people.

Facebook had the benefit of coming around when MySpace was peaking, and during the phase where MySpace continually had coding errors and server issues. Unfortunately for Google, Facebook does not have these issues.

Facebook’s biggest downfall is the fear of the sale of personal details, but I’m not sure people are going to trust Google anymore, especially since Google commands a much wider net than that of Facebook.

(cont’d)

Blake Fehl says:

Thu, July 07, 2011 at 12:15:pm

(cont’d)

When + launched Wired had a fascinating look at Google’s approach to social media and their new project, and it sounds like there is still a lot more in the works. Doesn’t look like they are putting everything out at once, and going to be integrating new features as their userbase grows, which is a solid business decision on their part.

I’ll continue to keep my eye out on Google +, but unfortunately until more people in my own close social circle adopt it, it might be hard to connect with.

Here is the Wired article for anyone interested in a long, but solid read.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/06/inside-google-plus-social/

Mike Ziegler says:

Thu, July 07, 2011 at 6:58:pm

The big advantage for Google+ for me is how it implements lists, or circles, from the start and how it requires you to pick who you want to share what with. I had every one of my friends on Facebook grouped into various lists and was always conscious of who I shared things with.

Lists are not a priority for Facebook in the same way circles are for Google. Good luck trying to share something with only certain lists if you’re using Facebook’s app/mobile site. It’s your default share setting or nothing.

Facebook also treats lists as a way to exclude people from content rather than who to include. Everything is visible to everyone by default, unless you tailor your privacy settings, which the majority do not. Google treats circles as a way of including exactly who you want to see what you are sharing.

Mike Ziegler says:

Thu, July 07, 2011 at 7:06:pm

(cont)

In response to Nick and others I’ve read say Facebook will most likely make their features, like lists, more robust: they may do that, but they won’t change their mindset on how they want users to use those features. Facebook is all about setting your privacy settings on who you want to exclude from content, Google+ is all about picking who you want to include. Exclude vs. include. I prefer the latter as a priority.

Another issue I had with Facebook is any of my friends can tag me in photos/posts/content. Google+ lets you choose which circles or individual people can automatically tag you in photos or posts. This isn’t to say I engage in a lot of risky business, but I want that control.

I’ve deleted my Facebook profile much to the shock of my friends, because who doesn’t have a profile these days? Google+ is the answer, so far, to everything Facebook didn’t provide.

I think competition to the two biggies, FB & Twitter, will only result in good things for social media.

Ashlyn says:

Thu, July 07, 2011 at 7:11:pm

Blake - Thank you for reading and commenting! You’re right that Facebook benefited from MySpace’s failures to keep up. I’m planning on diving into that Wired article soon; thanks for sharing it.

Mike - Great insight about the difference in Facebook & Google’s approach to segmented sharing. I hadn’t thought of that, and you’re completely right.

Brad - I think I missed you in the back and forth. Thanks for commenting - your original piece was fantastic and really got me thinking about the Google v. Facebook dynamics.