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Who’s using Google+ and why? Who should get on now and why? Who ought to wait?

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It’s not like we all need yet another social network site to add to our online plate, right?

That was my first question when I began to hear the buzz surrounding Google+, the new social network platform that’s reportedly aiming to kill Facebook.

If you check out my article on Simple Answers to 6 Basic Social Media Questions, you’ll note I suggest newbies concentrate on five basic places when they are getting their feet wet in a teeming sea of social media sites. [Start here: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and blogging.]

Google is such a huge influence on our online behavior that you have to wonder if the omnipresent search engine could be wrong. Will we soon “wave” goodbye to the latest Google “buzz”?

I read a lot of social media pundits who are devoting time and blog space to their experiments with Google+ and so I have to wonder if it’s time for me to follow suit . . . or wait.

That’s why I relied on my trusted adviser LinkedIn Answers to post the following:

Who’s using Google+ and why? Who should get on now and why? Who ought to wait?

The question obviously struck a chord. In less than two days, I have received 16 answers. Here are some of them:

Depends on your business industry and marketing model. Does every business need a Facebook page? Does a HVAC systems integrator need a Twitter account? Customer demand will lead businesses to the technology. If there are no customers using the feature, a business is not going to spend the time investing in it.

Your early adopters are going to be personal blogs and tech-savvy businesses first who need to adopt every piece of new marketing technology in its infancy because its niche customers are primarily early adopters already. —Matt Rygelski

I’m just starting to experiment with Google+ and like it so far. Of course, one reason I like it is that it’s still in the “early adopter, just us geeks here” phase. The main reason I like it is that it’s NOT FACEBOOK, and I detest Facebook.

If you’re not a geek, wait a bit until Google has worked out some of the kinks. If you are a geek and want to help with the beta testing, come on in.

Oh, and if you are a company or brand, your employees can join, but Google hasn’t finished setting up its brand pages yet, so you should wait.

It’s nice to be able to organize connections. The group video feature is a little buggy yet, but it’s free, whereas someone has to pay for Skype’s group video. The ability to decide which of your circles a chat post goes to is nice. And chat in as many characters as you want is also nice.

As with Twitter, I suspect it will take some time before people discover all the things they can use it for–the uses that the creators never imagined. There will always be people who have to wait until those uses appear to use a tool. And people for whom a tool is just not the right tool, because it doesn’t help them accomplish their goals. If you aren’t someone who likes playing with new tools for fun and can’t see a business application yet, then wait until you DO see a practical use. — Sallie Goetsch

There is very little there TBH…I got invited, signed up and 5 mins later had seen the whole thing and left.

That’s not to say it isn’t going to be good….just way to early to tell yet. If you haven’t seen it, you are not missing anything i assure you. — Scott Linklater

I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks and overall it’s very good, but I’d caution businesses or ‘collecetive entities’ in general from doing too much on the platform just yet. Google has said that branded pages will be available soon, and has taken steps to remove some early branded accounts that have sprung up. I’d reccomend signing up for personal use and exploring, possibly publishing some content there and beginning to build contacts, but I wouldn’t throw too much investment at it just yet – the platform will eveolve as more gmail users get involved, and it’s nly then that the usage norms will start to appear and make it a truly valuable channel.
I wrote an article on Econsultancy recently about this, if you’re interested, I’ve added a link below.
http://ecly.co/q5ErI9 — Matt Owen

Glad you asked this question, because I’m curious why I should blithely hand over even more personal information to Google. That Google is facing a major FTC investigation indicates a wait and see attitude to me. Overall, I think they’ve devolved from search engine to omniscience. — Elektrish Media

People who are involved in Marketing, Promotion, Social Media, Advertising, and Technology related fields should jump onto Google + immediately in order to establish their credibility in speaking about it, and other current trends, and also to become “experts” before anyone else.

This of course adds value to them as individuals and companies, and also means that they will be in a position to influence others about this product/technology.

Who should wait? Everyone else. There is no business or monetary value to being involved with Google+ yet for anyone who isn’t in the industries I stated above. They can wait to get involved with this.– Roberto Blake

I’m currently using Google+, but I don’t think it really compares to other social networking platforms (at least not yet). I think it will be much more innovative when a Google+ app is available for the iPhone or Blackberry. Right now I’m really only associating with business contacts, friends, and blogger connections. Some of it seems to be a bit of a spam; lots of Asian dialect and inappropriate pictures. I’m not too sold on the idea of switching over to it and haven’t used any of the functions yet (group chat/video), but I think once it’s available via mobile devices it might just be a game changer! — Molly Dixon

I think Google+ is worth watching because Google seems to have finally moved away from knee-jerk efforts at “social” to thinking through how “social” might work within the context of Google’s core business and the Google-sphere.

While it is far too early to tell how successful Google+ will be (or which elements will really take off), I like the concept of Circles, the serendipity of Sparks, and the potential of the Hangouts. Plus the fact that (hopefully shortly) there will be integration with Google Reader. — Daria Steigman

Seems “clear” to me: If you’re an SM geek and/or techie early adopter, then you need to be there, i.e. Google+

To Google+ it OR To wait.   — Which is it for you?

 

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98 thoughts on “Who’s using Google+ and why? Who should get on now and why? Who ought to wait?”

  3. Its interesting that Google+ is now allowing businesses to create pages on there for promotion. However, I think until the critial mass are on Google+ it will be difficult for it to beat Facebook. However, it is logical to think that Google will be using activity on there when looking at search engine rankings.

  4. I have had my google+ account for a couple of months and it has been given me better results than facebook, why? I don’t know, the only thing that I know is that I have more friends, more contacts, and is easier when searching and adding people as well

  5. I was actually in the beta group for Google+, which really isn’t saying much since there were about 10 million people in the beta. I checked it out and found that there were many different aspects that were pretty cool. However, I don’t really think the world needed another social site. Google would have better served with just releasing Google Hangouts on its own, as well as the Google +1 button.

  9. It will take time but Google+ no doubt will be a great social network one day. As many people above have alluded to its important to decide on your marketing strategy and where are your target market before spending a lot of time and effort in one more social media channel. Without a strategy for social media you can spend hours doing basically nothing.

  10. It seems that slowly google takes over the internet. Although, not happened yet, sooner or later it will happen. Google + is already used by most blogs and serious industry websites, and I think is already a trend if not a must have among webmasters.

  16. Since Google pretty much controls everything when it comes to search results, then it would probably be wise to harness the power of Google+ pretty soon. This is Google’s 3rd attempt at a social media platform, so I doubt they will be giving up anytime soon, and will continue to chip away at Facebook’s user base. We are already seeing positive search engine results from people +1’ing our website.

  18. We’re just waiting for Google+ to start allowing businesses to join! Once it’s possible to create business profiles, we’ll be very happy! Think it’s going to be a great way to promote your company online, we’re looking forward to it.

  19. After a couple of months using G+, I agree 100% with your final conclusion: Most of my friends who have moved to G+ are techies. Also, I would add (and this is a personal appreciation) that women don’t like G+ too much. Also, most of my female friends are “addicted” to Facebook games, and they won’t move to G+ in any way.

    1. “Addicted to Facebook games,” eh? Most of my business colleagues don’t understand this at all. Too bad, some of their best prospects could be found on Facebook games. I also understand that “gaming” is going to be really important in the future of marketing.

  20. I like some of the Google+ features such as circles, and it has a cleaner look than facebook. Now that we’re several weeks in, though, it looks like the growth rate is slowing. It’s going to be hard to sway people from facebook with its massive user base.

  21. Well, I signed up for G+ a month ago just to see how it works as I had seen a lot of hype about it online. I figured out since it by the big G one could not go wrong. One thing I have realized with social media sites, they are not one size fits all. One has to really pick a few that works for their business. It will drive you nuts if you tried to work around all of them. Maybe G+ will be the next big thing, but I just don’t see how they are going to replace fb.

  22. Even the basic 5 you recommend is more than most of us can really handle, if each is done well. That’s why Google+ will not just be “another” platform, it will replace something else. Not necessarily FB either. It’s simply that time does not allow for effective use of more than 2-3 platforms and still be able to do something productive.

  23. People just don’t want to start with the same thing all over again. FB and Twitter (and other networks) are ‘old’ now and people are satisfied with that, that’s one of the reasons they don’t want to mess with G+.

    1. Well stated, Rob. However, it seems like many Geeks want to show their leadership and creativeness by helping grow Google + in ways the other sites cannot. Personally, I’m like you and am “satisfied” with what I now have.

    2. Rob, while I see what you’re saying about FB being familiar, it is about due for replacement. With the recent and ongoing bad press regarding information storage and manipulation, added to the fact that FB is essentially not that interesting a gadget, it’s days are numbered. With the public attention span getting shorter and shorter, it’s time to start looking around. For that reason, I think Google + is worth keeping an eye on, even if we don’t decamp en masse just yet.

      Really interesting post, thought provoking. Thanks putting it up.

  24. Thank You Shari. I really like how you target this article. Sometimes it is easy for bloggers, marketers, and especially newbies to just jump around everything that comes online.

    Being a consistent presence on only a few social networks like one, two, or three is more important than being everywhere but interacting nowhere!

  25. Hi Shari ~ I have received a Google+ invite but have been hesitant to leap in with both feet as it were. I really like that you posed the question to Linkedin and have enjoyed all of the thoughtful responses to your question. I can’t say that I am an internet geek but I am somewhat disillusioned with facebook. Nevertheless I think I have more of a reason after reading your blog post to tread carefully.
    Thanks

  26. Hi Shari,

    Great idea to post the question on linkedin. The answers you received were great and I agree with almost all of it. I really like the potential of G+ and I’m sure there is more to come that we haven’t even thought about yet.

    Thanks for Sharing!
    -Kevin

  29. I would agree that right now G+ is for social media geeks, such as myself. However, I think this will go out past the techies much faster than people expect. Get ready to see this go to the public within 3-6 months. That means that businesses need to be set up now.

    1. I hear you Andy. Do you have a top 5 or 10 list of tips for businesses to do NOW to get set up on Google+ ? If so, I’d love to publish or cross-publish it as a Guest Post on my blog [and you could do the same].

  30. Hi Shari,

    Like many I suspect, Google is that evil force you can’t do without. For now they still have most of the search traffic and I like how the little gravitars turn up on web pages with google plus recommendations.

    I have joined and wil be exploring more. Thanks for your words and feedback on this brand new venture in Social Networking.

  31. Cool idea to put other people’s answers on your blog post.
    All of this social media stuff is getting out of control! =) I’m just learning the basics of Facebook and Twitter to use in my business… and now Google +
    I guess that’s just how things go in internet marketing. I’ll look forward to seeing where Google+ will go.

  33. Hey Shari,

    Good to be on your blog again… Yeah Google+ is making waves and I enjoyed the answers you gathered to your question. Just when I run through the answers it popped up in my mind that obviously all the correspondances and post within Google+ will build a huge platform of inteligence for the owner of Google business wise and trend wise. What a clever idea to have this built in in-house and being able to pull from that.

    Thx for sharing these responses.

    All the best,

    Alex

    1. Alexander, stay tuned, one of the previous comments was so “telling” about Google’s presumed objectives that I am publishing it and more Google + responses on LinkedIn sites where I published the first article. Thanks for visiting again.

  34. Thanks for sharing this, Shari. Google+ is definitely worth looking into, if only because of all the “buzz” it’s creating! I joined it a while back and am still getting to grips with it – it’s interesting to read all the comments you got from LinkedIn and see other experiences.
    One irritation I have with it is that it seems the default when I post is to e-mail everybody in my e-mail account who is NOT in Google+. To avoid annoying my friends, I have to remember to uncheck that box.
    Keep up the good, informative posts, Shari!
    Alan

  35. Very nice review about Google+ I really appreciate that you have let others express their own opinions. Although I have been able to get on yet I am still very interested in how they have set up the platform in comparison to Facebook. I had to block some young girls that I work with because all I heard is them going on about the boyfriends. I did pick up on some texting abbreviations. I like that Google+ will let you put people into groups. But for now I will just stand on the side lines and let the geeks iron out the bugs.
    Joyce

  36. There’s no reason why Facebook shouldn’t have to compete with other companies. Having Google+ keep them on their toes can only be a good thing. As for which is better, Google+ already seems to be better in at least one regard: I don’t have to be bombarded with blue page after blue page, which is visually dull and restrictive. Hopefully it will really catch on.

  38. Yup, I’ve been blogging about this too. They say success of social media in marketing is based in the monetization of personal information, so perhaps we shouldn’t lose sight of the #1 reason that Google+ is in the media and being pushed right now. Google has been losing advertising revenue to Facebook so it’s launched a campaign and Google+ to “capture the wave”.

    But the success of Facebook is based upon the amount of personal information it has already collected. Until we know how much Google+ will collect it’s difficult to assess its value… and I’m simply not convinced that folks are going to jump there from Facebook en masse. Stats seem to indicate that, while search is not dead, targeted ads via Facebook are getting better ROI, and this seems to indicate that consumers are systemically changing the way they search for goods and services. We appear to be moving toward “referral” based business culturally.

    In the old model customers are told by the corporate entity what they should buy. In the new model customers want to be on a first name basis with the CEO first, before they buy. And this is what I love about social media, the human connection and the honesty.

    1. Anna, this is sensational! Would you mind if I re-posted it as a Guest Post on the blog itself? And you can certainly add or revise it in any way. I also would like a photo of you. Thanks so much for adding these important insights.

  39. shari

    Thanks for the good info.

    Yes i did join G+ but on this moment
    just join with my Picture on it.

    I need to do some time planing to work
    there to, Face book is my main “SM” site
    on this moment i know how it work so i will see
    how things work out .

    Regards
    Theuns

  40. Good review, makes a lot of sense. I’ve had several invitations to join “geeks” who jumped on the bandwagon early but so far haven’t taken the plunge myself … and I think I’ll wait a little longer till the dust settles. I view FB as a necessary evil so I’d love to see this work with Google. Thanks!

    1. Marquita, we certainly are alive during a very exciting revolution. I know I personally am evolving, and social media platforms, strategies, and opportunities have truly inspired me. Like you, I have been hesitating to dive into Google+ but this weeked, by gosh, I’m going to do it! We should have a TSA Circle for certain!

  41. Your article on the topic Who’s using Google+ and why? Who should get on now and why? Who ought to wait?includes the information that i was looking for. Your post includes great tips and you managed to keep it simple and understandable. Your post helps me to understand what Who’s using Google+ and why? Who should get on now and why? Who ought to wait? really is, and i will surely recommend it to other people. Thanks and keep up the good work.

  42. Hi Shari,
    I tried to subscribe to Google+ but right now it is hard to get in. But I will keep trying because the marketers that I know that are in are really liking it. Some say that they like it better than Facebook, and because it is still in beta, they are able to make friends with people that they could not reach on Facebook.
    I, too, am on overwhelm for all the social media to keep up with, but I will definitely join Google+ as soon as I get time to keep trying to sign up.
    Thanks for the fun post,
    Linda

  43. Shari, I’ve registered on Google+ but have spent no more time on it than putting up a picture. The big question is do I have enough time in my current schedule to jump onto yet another service. I waited on Facebook had haven’t suffered. So, I think I’ll wait, keep building where I currently am.

    RICK

    1. Rick, I “think” I’m on, but I’m not sure. I seem to have a pic up on some site that looks like it says Google + but the browser I was using lso said it didn’t support it . . . what was the first thing you did when you were on?

  45. Google+ aim to kill facebook? Is this for real? How come I never heard about it, just recently when I open your blog. Well I got to try it first before saying anything and see if it has the ability to turn down the table.

  46. Oh, the Google+ buzz is everywhere! To do or not to do?
    I guess I feel like I am barely keeping up with Facebook & Twitter, and to add another social network to my plate seems a bit overwhelming at this point. But I am open to the idea and am one of those who will wait and see.
    I do thank you for putting the time and effort into researching and sharing this information with us.
    Have a blessed day whether it’s Google+ or not. 🙂
    Lynn

  47. As someone who is starting to dip their professional toes in the social media world this has all been extremely useful. Certainly it’s one to keep a watch on for those professional reasons but some of the comments from others far more qualified than I means I won’t dive in just yet!

  48. I disagree with what Ian wrote about it not mattering to marketers – Google is the most powerful search engine out there. So if Google wants to put Google+ business pages at a higher ranking than, say, a Twitter page or an FB page, it can.

    I would say someone who is teaching social media should be experimenting with it now, before all the spammers join. Unfortunately, some spammers have already joined.

    One of the reasons why I like it is that the people in my circles who are posting are really smart people – and it’s easier to learn from them this way than on Twitter.

  49. I am on it pretty much because I like new toys, but I see a strong reason for anyone in business to get on it ASAP.

    Google is the search giant and if you are at all concerned about SEO, you would want your hand in Google’s algorithm any way you can. If someone searches for EHS management software, then my company’s Google+ page (once available) will have that one edge over a company that is not on it. That could be the difference between page 1 or 2 in the Google results.

    Anthony

  50. Ian Lurie • I’ve been using it a fair amount. The only problem: They’ve got to reach critical mass before non-marketers care about it. And marketers won’t really care about it until the non-marketers do.

    It’s like some of the Twitter alternatives that came out a few years back (ie Plurk). Technically, it is superior. Google+ has a better feature set, is easier to use than Facebook, and at least right now seems a little more ‘open’. But without a user base, it won’t matter.

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