The question seems premature or perhaps over dramatized, but I ask it with all sincerity. Whether the answer is yes or no or if the answer is not yet within grasp, think about the question at any level you wish and try to answer it. It is the process of thinking through the strengths and weaknesses of Facebook and Google Plus where you discover what each network means to you and why and how you will divide your time and focus in each. Or, you may uncover reasons to jump from one network to the other or pull the plug all together. It’s a healthy exercise to help you find balance and reconnect with your core values that drive productivity and fulfillment.
The adoption of Google+ is nothing short of astounding. comScore estimates that 25 million people have circled their friends and are sharing, +1’ing their way, and chatting their way toward social bliss. comScore visualizes the blinding velocity of Google’s growth, reaching 25 million within its first month of debut. In comparison, it took Twitter and Facebook almost three years to hit that milestone.
Now, some argue that the comparison to Twitter and Facebook is not parallel as Google is well established, for example there are an estimated 200 million users of gmail today. In the grand scheme of the discussion, the other social networks emerged as startups. On the other hand, Bradley Horowitz, VP Product at Google+ pointed out to me that network growth is purely organic without the benefit of Google’s marketing muscle-at least not yet. People can only join the network with an invitation from someone else. Imagine what the momentum will look like once users of other Google products are officially invited to join and in turn invite others.
Adoption is global…
As you can see, adoption is a global phenomenon. with the U.S., India, Canada, the U.K., Germany, Brazil, France, Taiwan, Turkey, and Spain rounding out the top 10 countries driving growth.
While women generally out number men in some of the leading networks in the social web, Google+ is another story. comScore notes that males make up 63% of all U.S. visitors.
Will You Leave Facebook for Google Plus?
As I noted in my initial analysis, Google+ is not a Facebook or Twitter killer and I don’t think that’s the right lens for which to survey the social landscape. In the U.S., we have a few top traditional TV networks, CBS, ABC, and NBC. In social networking, we now have three top social networks to compete for global online attention and interaction. In this example, none of the traditional networks successfully captured the attention of every viewer possible nor did one network kill the other. Instead, the programming of each network attracts people through content, creativity, and timing, defining, segmenting and sharing the audience around shared interests.
The same can be true in social networking. People will invest in the networks where they find value. Value is defined by the groups (or circles) of people they know, those they admire or respect, and the content and experiences they share. Personal fulfillment is also key. Social currency drives engagement as individuals must feel a sense of reciprocity, recognition and reward in each exchange.
With that said, I was fascinated by the number of passionate debates that explored whether or not people were planning on leaving Facebook in favor of Google+, those who were reluctant to embrace a new network and those who were ready to declare social media bankruptcy. I hosted a poll to surface opinions and perceptions that would bring clarity to the discussion.
I asked a simple, but leading question, “Will you abandon Facebook in favor of Google+?” I also invited participants to share their reasons why they voted yes, no, or selected any of the other options. I then shared the poll on Twitter, Facebook, and in Google+ and captured feedback in each network to contextualize each response. 1,977 people voted, with 23,000 people viewing the poll
To say that it seemed to strike a chord is an understatement. The emotion was raw. The responses were revealing.
I was surprised and not surprised to see that 23% of participants stated that they will leave Facebook in favor of Google+. 18% said “no way!” Almost half of the almost 2,000 respondents plan on using both networks to learn more. For fun, but also to take the temperature of social users, I asked if people currently suffer from social network fatigue (SNF) to which 7% responded yes.
Mashable and PC Magazine also hosted similar polls and I found the results worthy of sharing.
Mashable readers directly align with the results of this survey with 23% planning on leaving Facebook for Google+. But, PC Magazine readers are a little more ambitious with 50% claiming that they will move their social residence to Google+.
I also wanted to learn more about those who participated in this survey, so I asked respondents to indicate gender and age.
The gender divide almost matches the comScore U.S. breakdown of Google+visitors (63%), with men accounting for 60% of all respondents.
I also asked about age. As you can see, the numbers again almost match the comScore results with 24-34 and 35-44 representing the two largest demographic age groups with 36% and 28% responding respectively. The younger demographic didn’t turn out for my study, but as you can see from comScore’s report, they represent a significant user base.
Women represent the larger population in Facebook estimated at 57%. With Google+, men represent the larger percentage of inhabitant. It is how the results break down the gender lines that I find interesting. Note: these numbers are a representation of the larger dataset as pulling information out of TWTPOLL proved a bit difficult here.
23% vs 15%: The percentage of men to women explicit in their claim that they plan on abandoning Facebook in favor of Google+.
50% vs. 51%: The percentage of women to men that will equally explore both options before making a decision.
7%: The equal percentage of men and women who feel SNF.
Now let’s take a look at some of the responses…
YES!
Travis Wright (teedubya) – Already shut down my wall… and moved shop. Although, I will keep it open so I can “connect” with 3rd party sites easily… and comment on my high school luddite friends statuses.
Source: Google+
Steven Streight – Facebook is a cesspool of rogue apps, spammy games, phishing exploits, and disrespect for user privacy. It has very trivial content compared to Google+. I permanently deleted my account a long time ago. Twitter seems cold, lifeless, hard to manage, no Circles or ways to quickly see what my close pals are saying. Google+ is way better than both. I am spending a lot less time on Twitter now.
Source: Google+
Note: The conversation hosted on Facebook did not yield a single “yes,” but it did produce one example of SNF.
@FangFan62 – I hope to once more of my friends and family are on it.
Source: Twitter
@MiguelAngelArce – I voted Yes!, I like circles and as long as I can see, G+ is taking the best of fb and twitter, and making it better. Google absolutly are respondig to the question: How will be a social networking service if it was invented today?, using all the power, tech, tools, and apps of Google.
Source: Twitter
NO WAY!
Chad Brack – No – I believe that, over time, FB will be the primary location for sharing with family and most non-technical friends. A ‘lightweight’ sharing. G+ will be a spot for more involved dialogue and twitter/rss-style ‘following’ of topics that interest me.
Source: Google+
Jennifer Stavros – As it stands currently: no. I will use both because both serve different purposes for me. I will also not be abandoning twitter for any of these services either. For me, Google+ is a great way to moderate the various “personalities” I have on the web in one place. Its a place for me to be more serious with my colleagues and still remain the creative with those that share those interests as well. It’s for business conversations and shared innovations. Facebook stands as a platform for connections with my closer network family of sorts. These are people whom I know personally and who can understand/enjoy the dual personality of corporate & creative. Twitter is for art and free flowing thoughts. My stream is not always as business oriented as some, depending on the hour, but it is meant to be the place where my thoughts are able to spill over a bit.
Source: Google+
Bruce Scherer – No. Google+ will be a ghetto for wonks for a while, and is not tight enough to persuade regular people to stake new territory. I’ll keep feet in both places, though.
Source: Facebook
Jean Martell Ames – No..i like the separation between fb and g+…friends and family on fb…work network on g+…i know that will change when more people join g+ but it’s so refreshing to be on g+ right now
Source: Facebook
@AiDBusiness – It would be almost impossible to give up Facebook once established there. I may spend less time on FB, for a while, however.
PLANNING TO USE BOTH
BRANDInsider.tv – I think that it’ll take some time before people actually pay attention to Google+. Facebook is king and many are used to it but Google + has already been very good at sharing and their Hangouts is awesome!It’ll take some time for it to be a true competitor with Facebook
Source: Facebook
Jeremy D’Hoinne – It’s hard to tell now. None of my non-geek friends are on G+ yet. I use Facebook mostly for close friends and family.I’ll abandon it if they use Google+, otherwise I’ll keep both.But I’ll probably give up on twitter as soon as Google+ find a way to manage collapsed comment by default and smart choice for displaying shared post (no more than once per circle for example or just mention the re share)
Source: Google+
Garrett Moon – Why bother? I get tired of this idea that one network has to die for another one to come it. How about both? I think they can both provide something different, unique, and worth while. It will keep them both and use them both. Now, that doesn’t mean G+ isn’t more fun!
Source: Google+
@JudithSoto – I haven’t played with Google+ enough to commit 100%. But I’m not a fan of Facebook because of privacy issues and I often teeter on closing my personal account. Not confident that Google would respect my privacy either, though. I’ll have to explore Google+ more
Source: Twitter
@Aaron_Emig Personally I will use both. I will use FB more for the business pages and other apps like events, notes, etc. Google+ is great for most FB users who just chat, post pics, ask for recommendations, etc. because G+ is a lot more user-friendly than FB.
Source: Twitter
SNF
Niki Nikolaou – anybody else as tired as I am on sharing so much? I don’t want to add another thingee to my list of thingees. Now I know why we die.
Source: Facebook
@chrisfauch – Facebook is dead! G+ offers a quiet and cosy ONLY place where to meet people you have to meet for your job & projects. Looking like SNF
Source: Twitter
@AAARenee – I voted SNF because since 2003 I have been exploring Social Networks, building them up to make them meaningful & finding success in different ecosystems. With the promise of every new SN I am both skeptical & hopeful. Over time it is harder & harder to pack up my social friends & convince them to go West with me for bigger & better things. Google+ for now reminds me a lot of FriendFeed, an ecosystem where the innovators & early adapters meet to discuss high level content. For that reason alone I will spend time on the site. I have no doubt that Google+ will be around for some time but I think it will be a long time before it becomes mainstream & has the audience engagement that Facebook has. It’s growth will accelerate with the right apps & social tools.
Source: Twitter
A NOTE ABOUT TWITTER
It wasn’t a question that was asked, but some respondents did say that Google+ had already claimed Twitter profiles.
Heather White-Laird – Never been a fan of facebook..too many pets and babies. But the sad part is i’m leaving twitter behind which I do love. G+ has almost my full attention these days.
Source: Google+
Dana Severson – No, but I’m considering Twitter.
Bill Hewson – no, but i have already kind of abandoned twitter
@HLeichsenring – I am thinking about changing FB to a purely private usage. In any case I am going to use my FB Page even more. G+ is right now an interesting SM experiment. I am using it besides my FB FP. Let’s see, were it will end One of the more interesting things is: will G+ be able to attack twitter… Kind regards from Germany Hansjörg
Source: Twitter
barry brown – Facebook will be how I stay in touch with family and close friends until or if they move elsewhere. My Facebook page is where my customers live and I truly don’t see that changing any time soon, but will be trying to create a community of new customers on Google+ when business profiles are introduced. I am already spending less time on Twitter and believe that platform has more to worry about than Facebook.
Source: Twitter
If you can make the time, I suggest that you read some of the other responses. They really steer the discussion in interesting directions.
Google+ 1 (Poll Round 1)
Google+ 2 (Poll Round 2)
Social OS
At the heart of the matter is the either or nature of Google vs. Facebook and to some extent vs. Twitter. The numbers and the supporting responses reflect passionate, frustrated and also practical views of a multifaceted discussion. Personally, I don’t believe this is an either or discussion however, at least not yet. It’s far too complex to pick up and move completely away from a social or interest graph. Investing countless hours assembling personal, professional, and also emotional pieces of who you are in real life to build a semblance of you in the digital egosystem plus the valuable relationships forged over time equates to a tangible value measured in social capital. What I do believe is worthy of exploration is a conversation that’s less about social networking and more about the notion of a social OS.
Over the years, I’ve thought a lot about the idea of social networks as hubs for the digital version of “you.” The idea was that Facebook, Twitter, and now Google+, become your attention dashboard. And through the cultivation of your social and interest graphs, the apps that further personalize the experience, and those that plug into other applications such as Web sites, documents, collaboration tools or those that translate into the real world, essentially create a social OS. Ideally, this platform eventually connects the online with the offline, creating a complete experience drive though one integrated dashboard.
If you wonder how I voted, I side with the majority of respondents. I plan on using both, learning about the cultures, dynamics, and opportunities in each to gain personal and professional value in each.
Where do you stand in this discussion. Have you made up your mind or are you planning on experimenting to see where the social tide takes you?
Connect with Brian Solis on Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Google+
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I like everything except the comparison of how long it took each network to reach 25M users. Not even mentioning the name recognition Google has, facebook started out with a restricted audience of people involved in higher education and only over time opened up to more and more networks. As for Myspace, it was the first true social network, so it’s growth is understandable as well. Twitter doesn’t count because the effort involved in creating a twitter account is nominal, you can be up and running in less than a minute. Everything else looks nice though.
I like everything except the comparison of how long it took each network to reach 25M users. Not even mentioning the name recognition Google has, facebook started out with a restricted audience of people involved in higher education and only over time opened up to more and more networks. As for Myspace, it was the first true social network, so it’s growth is understandable as well. Twitter doesn’t count because the effort involved in creating a twitter account is nominal, you can be up and running in less than a minute. Everything else looks nice though.
I like everything except the comparison of how long it took each network to reach 25M users. Not even mentioning the name recognition Google has, facebook started out with a restricted audience of people involved in higher education and only over time opened up to more and more networks. As for Myspace, it was the first true social network, so it’s growth is understandable as well. Twitter doesn’t count because the effort involved in creating a twitter account is nominal, you can be up and running in less than a minute. Everything else looks nice though.
I like everything except the comparison of how long it took each network to reach 25M users. Not even mentioning the name recognition Google has, facebook started out with a restricted audience of people involved in higher education and only over time opened up to more and more networks. As for Myspace, it was the first true social network, so it’s growth is understandable as well. Twitter doesn’t count because the effort involved in creating a twitter account is nominal, you can be up and running in less than a minute. Everything else looks nice though.
I like everything except the comparison of how long it took each network to reach 25M users. Not even mentioning the name recognition Google has, facebook started out with a restricted audience of people involved in higher education and only over time opened up to more and more networks. As for Myspace, it was the first true social network, so it’s growth is understandable as well. Twitter doesn’t count because the effort involved in creating a twitter account is nominal, you can be up and running in less than a minute. Everything else looks nice though.
These pieces really set a standard in the insrdtuy.
You have noted very interesting details ! ps nice web site . “Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.” by Sally Koch.
re 3.23I don’t think Scamp picked your ambient idea because it is not very good, and thats being polite. Has Scamp become a student blog all of a sudden… please go back to Wal’s blog.
I like everything except the comparison of how long it took each network to reach 25M users. Not even mentioning the name recognition Google has, facebook started out with a restricted audience of people involved in higher education and only over time opened up to more and more networks. As for Myspace, it was the first true social network, so it’s growth is understandable as well. Twitter doesn’t count because the effort involved in creating a twitter account is nominal, you can be up and running in less than a minute. Everything else looks nice though.
I like everything except the comparison of how long it took each network to reach 25M users. Not even mentioning the name recognition Google has, facebook started out with a restricted audience of people involved in higher education and only over time opened up to more and more networks. As for Myspace, it was the first true social network, so it’s growth is understandable as well. Twitter doesn’t count because the effort involved in creating a twitter account is nominal, you can be up and running in less than a minute. Everything else looks nice though.
Many have jumped on the Google+ train because they do not want to fall behind. Let’s face it, our generation wants instant gratification. We all want new, up to date, the best of the best, and everything in between. I would not give up facebook, but I would not ad professionals to my facebook. Google + seems more for professionals. I think eventually they will meld. We have linked so many emails and networks together, what is one more?
I will be the LAST person to jump onto the Google+ train. The whole concept annoys me. Why would Google waste such time, resources and and the brilliance of their team’s brains to re-create the wheel? Sure they want some market-share in the huge social networking market, but this is no ordinary market. The rules in the social arena are not the same as someone choosing between which brand of television one would prefer. In addition, I cannot even fathom the idea of re-building my entire network of people on Google+, not to mention migrating all of my photo albums, groups, events etc. Ever heard the phrase “Don’t fix it if it’s not broken”? MySpace & Friendster was definitely broken and Facebook came in at the right time as the perfect solution. Google+ is not only late, it is redundant. I love Google products like GMAIL, Google Apps, Google Voice – they should focus on new innovative products and services, which we’ve yet to see.
Mind you – there are tons of social networks to choose from for different purposes:
Facebook – Social networking friends/family
LinkedIn – Business/Professional Networking
Twitter – Mini blog
Four Square – Location-based social networking
Google+ – ??
Google + is a like an intersection of Facebook and Twitter. If we limit ourselves into thinking that Google + is “just another social networking site”, we are missing a lot. Google is more than just social but also to help fix the SERPS – one +1 at a time.
It’s a defensive move. Facebook is pushing to become the way the mainstream uses the internet, kind of like a new AOL or something, a gateway and that would be bad news for googles search business. Notice that googles service is largely a link driving service atm. I don’t think they necessary want to be social, they just don’t want the internet model to change and I think G+ offers a compelling enough reason to maintain status quo. Also, I love the discussions that have been turning up on google +, it’s a whole different kind of public forum. Maybe I should have hopped on the quora bandwagon or something, but the comments on Scobles posts etc are just fun and largely very intelligent.
Traditional Mailers might die off, and that means GMail. So to protect the future of GMail, google probably has to try to integrate more social networking features. I recently abandoned Yahoo Mail due to instability and unreliability, Google won my business by default. If Facebook or Twitter ever make a similar mis-step or anger enough of their user base, Google again may win by default.
If G+ open the
business side now we will rapidly get a ’Social Business’ platform which I
think is what we ideally need. All businesses have a personal side that needs
to involve customers. The best business relationships involve face-to-face
interactions, however, there is a downside to the current methods and that is
costs! Imagine if we had a ‘Social Business’ platform that will cost next to nothing aside from meetings, emails, texts
and voicemails! I think we need a ‘facebook for business’,
look at the success facebook has had with the uptake of advertisers and Brand
followings.
You can see from these survey results that there will be the
usual ship jumpers, who I’d think would find fault with G+ given time, but I
think it is very premature, possibly suicide, to dump facebook outright. Can
you see the potential reach we have with 700+ million people in one place?
Obviously facebook works, it does for me personally and on the business front.
G+ will get a lot of people in a short time but you can’t compare
the uptake with any others. Anyone in the Technology/IT business would know
that things move so rapidly you can’t bank on one thing to be ‘it’! Me/we are
not satisfied leaving things as they are, we get bored and people with active
brains get bored quicker.
I reckon if you surveyed the intelligence factor you would
find those people moving to G+ are ‘smarter than the average animal’. Cheers J
Nope………… Both are very useful social media mode, we need it!
Most defintely make the transition from Facebook to G+, far too many irritations with Facebook to list:
1. ‘Like’ button is irrelevant if you happen to dislike something and still want to share it
2. Data copyright / Privacy – needs a rethink on data ownership
… a repository retaining massive amount of user data for what purpose! (reason why I do not use if for business)
3. Still reminds me of an electronic yearbook, but still clunky
G+ = professional social networking which comes with suite of innovative cloud components
Facebook = friends/family networking site
Nope, Because Google+ and Facebook both are very big platform of social media….
Nice pie charts. Too bad the data, to be understood, is 100% dependent on color. Effectively excludes 10% of men, i.e. those with some form of colorblindness.
Hola Brian:
Very interesting article indeed. In your research, where you able to capture any trends of adoption by US Hispanics? Given the astounding number of Latinos on Facebook, it would be interesting to see if there is a migration trend to Google+.
Best,
AskAymee
Brian,
Thanks for doing the survey, as a small business owner I was anxiously awaiting the verdict and was hoping for a landslide in either direction, leaning a little towards Google + myself.
But unfortunately your results came out as almost a tie which means Businesses will have to add yet another Social Media Platform to the watch list and engage in as it is critical to go where your audience is and at least for now it looks like it will be a 50-50 split between Facebook and Google +…
Kind of like TV advertising now, it used to be 3 Networks and you knew who was watching what and when.
Now with Thousands of content opportunities to watch on TV, Web and Mobile you have to really do your homework to know where to put your efforts, very tough for Small Businesses.
Using tools like Research.Ly will become even more important to Small Businesses although don’t think most feel they have the time or even the knowledge to use the tools available to them.
I feel that Audience Engagement will be the Number 1 future differentiator between Success and Failure.
Brian,
Thanks for doing the survey, as a small business owner I was anxiously awaiting the verdict and was hoping for a landslide in either direction, leaning a little towards Google + myself.
But unfortunately your results came out as almost a tie which means Businesses will have to add yet another Social Media Platform to the watch list and engage in as it is critical to go where your audience is and at least for now it looks like it will be a 50-50 split between Facebook and Google +…
Kind of like TV advertising now, it used to be 3 Networks and you knew who was watching what and when.
Now with Thousands of content opportunities to watch on TV, Web and Mobile you have to really do your homework to know where to put your efforts, very tough for Small Businesses.
Using tools like Research.Ly will become even more important to Small Businesses although don’t think most feel they have the time or even the knowledge to use the tools available to them.
I feel that Audience Engagement will be the Number 1 future differentiator between Success and Failure.
nice
Brian, Thanks fro this info… I am one of the people who has signed up but looking for time to figure it all out and determine what I will do with it! I think the Social Network Fatigue is a big issue for many.
I agree with much of the sentiment reflected in other comments. It is way to early to determine the answer to your question. However, Google’s muscle behind G+ represents a strategic shift on their behalf and likely we are about to see a woile lot of new developments coming from Google. In general many of the early social media adopters are looking for improved productivity from the technology rather than cluttered and chaotic behavior. Lets watch and see what happens over the next six months then ask this question then.
People are quick to dismiss G+ because it doesn’t (yet) fit into their mental model of what a social network is. If I were to chat up friends on LinkedIn, post jobs on Twitter and do business on Facebook, what rules am I breaking? I do stuff like this all the time.
G+ is still incredibly young, and there are constant changes. By attaching other Google products to + it will allow more features, more integrations into your existing workflow, and more business to be conducted.
Will G+ work for business domains? I’m sure it will. Will it incorporate the learnings from Wave and Buzz? Already in the works, as far as I can see.
I think this helps Google create a Social Layer and Business Layer platform for the next few years. http://harbrooke.com/2011/07/why-you-should-pay-attention-to-google/
If Google + takes offs and delivers what it promises to do, I think it could replace Facebook just like FB replaced MySpace, Friendster, etc.
As a yahoo mail user, I am having difficulties to adopt G+. I technically only login top gmail to update my Google profile and I have no contacts in my gmail account as it is not my primary email address. I actually only created it to manage google profile. And yes, my SNF is in rapidly progressing mode..
The Facebook, Twitter, G+ thing is going to be one of those situations where “only time will tell.” It’s still VERY new, reminds me of Facebook in the earlier phases where one had to be invited, or fall under a certain circumstance to become a member of the site.
The “newness” will eventually fade, until then, Facebook and Twitter will dominate.
Thanks for the great article, Brian.
Abandon Facebook.
I didnt throw away my screwdrivers when I bough a cordless, electric drill. Why would I do something different with these tools?
The dramatic early adoption of Google+ over Facebook and Twitter has less to do with how much better it is or how well estabished the Google brand is than with the simple fact that ALL of us are much more into social media now than we were when Facebook and Twitter (not to mention MySpace) emerged. The analogue of social media is now well entrenched so the choice is not whether to use social media or not, but whether to engage what is arguably the next wave in it. We all have a phone and getting to that level of ubiquity was the hardest part – then it becomes an issue of of which phone is best in the marketplace.
It’s hard to say. New channels always seem to step into the place of old ones, e.g. MySpace. Anyone using it any longer? I like the circles concept. It is something FB is lacking and I often wished for. On the downside, no business use as of yet.
Nice write up Brian!
I’d rather keep tabs with both social networks than leave Facebook for Google+. The reason? both are free to use and are great tools in social marketing.
As you say, I don’t think it’s a case of “either/or,” as I believe each network is used for different things. Twitter is specific information in short bursts. Facebook and now Google+ are more generalized information that may or may not be relevant to you.
As you say, I don’t think it’s a case of “either/or,” as I believe each network is used for different things. Twitter is specific information in short bursts. Facebook and now Google+ are more generalized information that may or may not be relevant to you.
As you say, I don’t think it’s a case of “either/or,” as I believe each network is used for different things. Twitter is specific information in short bursts. Facebook and now Google+ are more generalized information that may or may not be relevant to you.
As you say, I don’t think it’s a case of “either/or,” as I believe each network is used for different things. Twitter is specific information in short bursts. Facebook and now Google+ are more generalized information that may or may not be relevant to you.
I wouldn’t abandon facebook to use any other application, even if it was google app. For many reasons, first and foremost, facebook privacy is excellent, i like that you or anyone else cannot know who is viewing their own page, this way even if I’m unable to see who is viewing my page, but also I’m protecting myself from being caught viewing someone else’s page. Also it is so spread that you hardly find someone not using facebook, I don’t think that I have time to have two pages, two applications, one is enough for me, i have a busy life and have no time to discover new application. If Facebook was not enough, i would discover other applications, but facebook is very enough, it is connecting me to all my friends, games, pages, and groups, it is satisfying and i have no intentions to switch.
Premature. Google has their brand behind them. Does anyone honestly think that Facebook does not have a response to Google+? They know that Google wants to compete with them. They’ve known this for a long time. Google cannot be all things to all people. They should not be expected to be a competitor. They do search and advertising. That’s their core business. Okay, so mobile, let’s not forget Android. I agree with Peter Venero when he states; “- they should focus on new innovative products and services, which we’ve yet to see.” Quite right.
I think people that have never been able to be “early adopters” are excited that there’s a new social network out, Google+, so they are jumping on the bandwagon so that they can say they were a part of the early days. The same way all the tech geeks get to say Twitter and all the Ivy League students get to say Facebook. Google+ is the early adopter social network for the everyman/woman!
I will believe it when I see it.
Good
Interesting study. Just wondering where the survey was posted and how you recruited respondents? Was it hosted on your website? Just interested to know how representative it is of the wider population. I’m not convinced the wider public are going to be willing to move to Plus.
Hello Daire, I talk about it in the post a bit. I manually took the link to the poll to Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ and let people share it with their respective social graphs in each network to expand the reach and diversity of participants.
I will continue to use Facebook, Google+ & Twitter with only partial cross-posting for now. Whether G+ gains enough of a critical mass to supplant FB as the operating system for our social lives, will depend in part on the existence of killer apps on G+ that non-techie users can understand and want to use. The photo tool on G+ is promising, but still needs work. Hangouts (up to 10-person video conferences) could be that killer app that draws families over to G+, unless FB and Skype can reasonably match the functions. G+ will have to add good event tools, APIs, birthdays and other things that are central to FB. The adoption cycle will have to be followed by some pressure to join. Until there is a critical mass, G+ will be a great alternative for conversations and extended interaction, but not the center of our online social lives that FB has become.
very simple. I don’t want to use my complete name. For 40 years I’ve used my initials at work and online (I have an exceptionally common name) and Facebutt won’t let me. Google+, no problem. End of story.
I think by looking at the statistics we can easily say that Google Plus might going to dominate in very near future and other Social sites like Facebook and Twitter might not be able to gain that much traffic/members. Although this is new for everyone and people are still joining it, but the hopes are quite high that it will become popular among internet users. Thanks for posting.
I think by looking at the statistics we can easily say that Google Plus might going to dominate in very near future and other Social sites like Facebook and Twitter might not be able to gain that much traffic/members. Although this is new for everyone and people are still joining it, but the hopes are quite high that it will become popular among internet users. Thanks for posting.
On the particular last statement about a “Social OS”, I think that’s where mobile phone OSes are heading. If Google gets Google Profiles and Google+ tightly integrated with the basic contacts, messaging and calendaring functions of Android, this would form a good basis for a social OS that underwrites people-to-people activity.
I think that by launched of new similar sites older sites can not leave. And new sites are not harmful or killer for older sites. But the new launched google plus is just new site cover all the point which were not in older sites and people should feel be happy for new site with new features which are not in older sites. So google plus is not killer for facebook but we can say that google plus is the new advanced feature with some updation of older sites and people will use different sites as per their need and preferableness.
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Brian, I am in agreement re: your point that the whole FB or G+ dichotomy is a false choice, although honestly, I can’t help hoping that FB does wind up a casualty of G+’s continuing ascendance.
The power of the Google brand cannot be underestimated, nor can early adopters’ continuing engagement with social media as a whole. While certainly it’s taken Google a while to get this right (is anyone using Buzz?), I think they’ve done it now.
I like the description of G+ as occupying a space between FB & Twitter.
Brian, I am in agreement re: your point that the whole FB or G+ dichotomy is a false choice, although honestly, I can’t help hoping that FB does wind up a casualty of G+’s continuing ascendance.
The power of the Google brand cannot be underestimated, nor can early adopters’ continuing engagement with social media as a whole. While certainly it’s taken Google a while to get this right (is anyone using Buzz?), I think they’ve done it now.
I like the description of G+ as occupying a space between FB & Twitter.
Not sure why I’d stay on Facebook once G+ gets more popular. Facebook tries to control how you read. G+ lets you read the way *you* want to.
Zuckerberg is listed as making quite a bit of money this year so he is probably not worried either. After the past few horrific days spent on fb and all the time wasted with this new deal he has going on, he might need to reconsider. It’s not worth the hassel to work there and not get paid. I am feeling like a disgruntled worker instead of a happy social member. It’s not working.
It will be really interesting to see what happens with Google+ over the next year or so. I’m interested in the gender gap (it seems to be a common joke that there are much fewer women on Google+). I wonder why that is and if Google will make changes to address this issue.
Without repeating the obvious some excellent figures and information +Brian Solis
, but until everyone is welcomed to G+ through the open public doors
it’s going to be hard to tell what happens as all those asked are part
of the in crowd. That’s not to say i don’t like G+, for me it can slip
quickly by Twitter simplybecause it’s visual and yes Twitter quick ont
he go stuff but it’s dated andclumsy and needs to many apps and
attention to view streams etc. Linked In willcontinue to grow too as it
provides an excellent platform for discussion notjust aimless connecting
but fantastic conversation and chance to share andlearn from other
people, not done on the other platforms with such weight.Facebook
and Google in my eyes will at last be on similar ground and peoplewill
use both. One advantage Google has is that we are all aware of how to
useThe Internet whether social or not, most people use it effectively
without deepmeaning just effective use of what’s available. This is why
G+ will growquicker than anything else and why the core ages are
between 25 and 45 simplethey are the mid ground of all ages, no rocket
science really people are on theplanet aged 0 to 100 and the mid area
are communicating on what’s available touse. The major plus for G+ is
that it will never be connected to young peopleas have all the other
platforms and therefore business people see it asserious, the may
currently be ignoring the 750 million people [their customersand
clients] who are very active on Facebook. Even if they only use
FBpersonally [so many say that buit are they really, they may have 5000
friendsin private who share their thoughts on a band or a product] they
still ‘Like’things and with privacy set can talk to who they like about
your product orservice, as well as openly on your pages.So will I
abandon the other no as you point out Brian use what adds benefit
andvalue to your connected community and that is made clear by locating
who i wantto talk to and see where they are active, it has to be
relevant no pointtalking otherwise. The people are more important than
the technology, butusing it will help reach those people. All people
have ever done from dayone is communicate and build communities
technology just makes gives more opportunities to do that.
Without repeating the obvious some excellent figures and information +Brian Solis
, but until everyone is welcomed to G+ through the open public doors
it’s going to be hard to tell what happens as all those asked are part
of the in crowd. That’s not to say i don’t like G+, for me it can slip
quickly by Twitter simplybecause it’s visual and yes Twitter quick ont
he go stuff but it’s dated andclumsy and needs to many apps and
attention to view streams etc. Linked In willcontinue to grow too as it
provides an excellent platform for discussion notjust aimless connecting
but fantastic conversation and chance to share andlearn from other
people, not done on the other platforms with such weight.Facebook
and Google in my eyes will at last be on similar ground and peoplewill
use both. One advantage Google has is that we are all aware of how to
useThe Internet whether social or not, most people use it effectively
without deepmeaning just effective use of what’s available. This is why
G+ will growquicker than anything else and why the core ages are
between 25 and 45 simplethey are the mid ground of all ages, no rocket
science really people are on theplanet aged 0 to 100 and the mid area
are communicating on what’s available touse. The major plus for G+ is
that it will never be connected to young peopleas have all the other
platforms and therefore business people see it asserious, the may
currently be ignoring the 750 million people [their customersand
clients] who are very active on Facebook. Even if they only use
FBpersonally [so many say that buit are they really, they may have 5000
friendsin private who share their thoughts on a band or a product] they
still ‘Like’things and with privacy set can talk to who they like about
your product orservice, as well as openly on your pages.So will I
abandon the other no as you point out Brian use what adds benefit
andvalue to your connected community and that is made clear by locating
who i wantto talk to and see where they are active, it has to be
relevant no pointtalking otherwise. The people are more important than
the technology, butusing it will help reach those people. All people
have ever done from dayone is communicate and build communities
technology just makes gives more opportunities to do that.
Love how you use the example of competing TV networks for these sites. I believe that example can thrive as long as these sites establish a position of “THIS is what you can get here, that you can’t get anywhere else”. That’s how the networks compete – “It’s not T.V. – It’s HBO”.
Can’t exactly put my finger on how Facebook did that to drive Myspace into the ground but something in people’s minds made that connection. And as a marketer, which Facebook and Google are, you’ve gotta make it abundantly clear as to why people should favor you over anyone else. I’m interested to see how this cage match unfolds.
My first feeling is no, having just got into Google+ i find it hard to use on a regular basis with so many friends and family not on there. If it continues to grow though I may end up using it more. If nothing else I hope it forces Facebook to look at ways it can improve.
This has been a question I’ve posed to lots of people over the last few months.
I recently took a major step of extremism and deactivated my facebook.
I am hoping Google+ will at some point offer a new experience to good to stay away from.
I remain guarded where privacy and online safety is concerned and I am no fan of Google, but after only two (horrific) days with Facebook and news of more change to come there, I am in the market for a new social network. So, where is Facebook’s strongest competition when you need it most?
Already did. Along with all my intelligent and interesting friends. My Facebook profile remains just for receiving spam and to keep that people that really don’t matter and just bother me all the time.
Facebook is now like Myspace was: a place for tweeners with serious psychological issues to keep playing their wannabe-gangsta role. Too many kids in Facebook, that is annoying.
Some people will resist the move, basically because of the double dip recession that made all the (former) elite group of American coders to join the Salvation Army soup line. So, their only hope to feed themselves is to create some pathetic apps for Facebook. Well, I suggest they move on and join Google ecosystem. Google apps are way easier to develop.
Facebook will be dead by the end of this year. Like Myspace died last year…
I will keep using both of them! They both are important to my marketing strategy.