I have a confession: I work in social media and I hate using Facebook. Apart from not wanting to be seen as a show-off (even if, at heart, I am one), the main reason is that I can’t figure out how to navigate round the Facebook interface. So I am perhaps the worst person for Google+ to have included in the first round of users for the Google+ Facebook-copycat system.
But my first impressions are that I love it. Here’s 3 reasons why:
The interface makes sense and looks lovely. Not confusing. Facebook take note?
Nice new functionality (see below for details): I like circles of friends; sparks is okay (I can see how it would be good) and group chat / hangout looks lovely too
It links well with my YouTube videos and my HTC phone (but not my online Picasa album, although this is probably something they plan to fix)
The attached video takes you through my attempts at using the tool:
The circle of friends is a very intuitive way to be selective about what you share with people and it is very easy and pleasant to set up (see the video)
The hangout looks like a superb way of doing vc – very easy to share stuff
Sparks looks like it solves the stumbleupon problem – namely that I can’t be bothered to open a new browser window to bring up StumbleUpon to find anything
So at the end of the day, will it work?
If it was down to looks, functionality and ease of use, then I say yes. But I can’t see how it can overcome the network effect of Facebook: why move over to something slightly better when everyone is still using the slight-worse system? Then again, what do I know? I can’t even use Facebook.
Site owners want to rank in Google. By implementing the simple little +1 icon badges, they can improve their relavent traffic. When a user clicks a +1, Google creates an account for them and asks just 1 question, their name.
Essentially the +1 buttons are little trojans scattered across the internet. Click one and you’re in. Horray for Google I say.
They’re going to have to do a little dance around the EU cookie laws though. Hopefully they’ll be able to use some of their clout to mitigate against the worst case implications of the new rules.
http://www.ithinkmedia.co.uk Dave Cable
Got to agree with you Bryan, think it looks lovely and if it was just down to ease of use they may be onto a winner – but with the hundreds of millions of Facebook users already quite loyal to the platform – taking a piece of that pie will be tough. But A+ for effort Google – I wish you luck!
http://www.ithinkmedia.co.uk Dave Cable
Glad to see your a fan of Epic Meal Time too! Love that!
Ryan Hollow
Are people really that loyal to facebook? Personally I can’t wait to move to Google+
http://brandwatch.com/blog Giles Palmer
i really like this analysis Bryan – and i agree with your conclusion too…
Google+: Why It Is Great And Why It Will Fail (Probably)
June 29th, 2011. Posted by Bryan TookeyI have a confession: I work in social media and I hate using Facebook. Apart from not wanting to be seen as a show-off (even if, at heart, I am one), the main reason is that I can’t figure out how to navigate round the Facebook interface. So I am perhaps the worst person for Google+ to have included in the first round of users for the Google+ Facebook-copycat system.
But my first impressions are that I love it. Here’s 3 reasons why:
The attached video takes you through my attempts at using the tool:
So at the end of the day, will it work?
If it was down to looks, functionality and ease of use, then I say yes. But I can’t see how it can overcome the network effect of Facebook: why move over to something slightly better when everyone is still using the slight-worse system? Then again, what do I know? I can’t even use Facebook.