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Google Plus - bye bye Facebook?

Apparently Google is launching a social networking offering in the near future. You can watch the video below. I love Google's marketing. Notice how they hardly mention 'features' at all, it's all about a philosophy and the user experience - about making your life better.

If I were Facebook I'd be very very scared. I personally don't use Facebook. I find the interface annoying, I'm not a fan of 'the wall' and to be honest, I stay connected with the people that matter to me in different ways. That said, based on the limited view of Google Plus, it's got me interested and I suspect I'll give it a try.

I think their categories will also help PR folks engage in social media strategies that are more in line with how PR folks think and strategies (we base messaging and communication around various stakeholders and audiences... Facebook treats all audiences the same, which PR tends not to do).





I have to say I love the comment one user made on YouTube to this video:


First its Chrome
Then, its Android
Now, Its Google+
Later, SkyNet

hehe. It's true, Google is a beast that simply cannot be stopped. I see them as the Michael Jordan of the tech world.

The only thing that might slow them down at some point is copyright issues (I think YouTube is definitely becoming less interesting as content starts to slow down as a result of strict copyright rules).

From a PR / marketing perspective though, Google is still doing a great job. Could they be better? Probably. I'd give them an 8.5 out of 10. But you know, an 8.5 out of 10 is damn good and sometimes to get to a 10 out of 10 means taking risks that could, if they don't work out, hurt your brand. So I think their brand is chugging along just fine.

In comparison, I'd give an Apple a 9.5 out of 10 and I'd give guys like RIM or Nokia a 3 out of 10.

Facebook I'd give something like a 6 out of 10. Their success is tied more to the fact that they are the only game in town. To me they've always been a prettier version of MySpace (which recently was sold for $35M after it had been bought six years ago for $580M)

This is the big problem with social networking, people tend to gravitate towards a single service provider. Which makes sense right? After all, whoever has the most users is who everyone will start using to connect with the world around them.

Which means that it's an industry prone to massive bubbles. Facebook to me is clearly the #1 social networking site in the world. But it's not beyond imagination that if a better offering comes along, say Google Plus, that once people start leaving Facebook that it will happen mind-boggling fast. I won't be surprise if Google Plus does to Facebook what Facebook did to MySpace.

Anyway, we'll see how it plays out.

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