Is Google+ The Next Big Social Media Platform?

Google…. Smoogle! Is G+ REALLY the next big thing?

We spend more than 700 billion minutes per month on facebook and tweet more than 200 million times a day. So, you’re telling me there’s a new social media platform on which to engage?!! Oh dear… are there enough hours in the day? Most of my clients are a bit baffled over Google+ and whether they should care. So, I’ve spent hours and hours trying to figure out whether it’s worth the hype… and YOUR time. While I still have PLENTY of testing to do… I’ve at least developed some observations.

First of all…. what is G+?
It’s Google’s latest attempt at social networking after falling flat with Google Wave (no longer available) and Google Buzz. Right now, G+ is invitation only but it’ll soon be mainstream. It features “posts” for updates (like Facebook/Twitter), “circles” for sharing info (like Facebook groups), “sparks” for sharing video/articles and “hangouts” and “huddles” for video chatting.

WIIFM?
In TV News we always asked: “What’s In It For Me?” In other words, what’s in it for the viewer… and why they should care. So, WIIFM when it comes to G+? Well, Google is definitely trying to build a platform to take you away from Facebook and Twitter. And since it’s linked to Picasa, it could rival Flickr and Facebook photos. But the real hits, to me? The live video chat feature along with Google Docs can make collaborating breeze. I’m sooooo going to use this w/ clients!

Is this the future BIG THING?
It used to take decades for technology to become mainstream (televisions, anyone?). Then it was years (remember the bag phone?). Now it’s a weekend (one word: Ipad). When you couple that with the fact that people are willing to migrate (hello?! AOL)… then yes, this COULD be the next. Major brands, like Ford, are already sniffing around G+ for the possibilites! (http://digital-examples.blogspot.com/2011/07/ford-first-brand-on-google-plus.html)

The bottom line on G+?
I’m not sure. I believe the future is one-stop-shopping. Why go to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, Tumblr, etc… when you could go to one place to make all your connections, engagement, etc. THAT is the future of social media… in my humble opinion. BUT… don’t get too attached to one platform. Things are changing at record speed. It wasn’t so long ago that we were all on AOL and myspace… thinking that tweets were only something birds do and Google wasn’t a verb much less a noun. Keep your head on a swivel and be flexible… it’s the best way to survive in this technological world.

What do YOU think?

7 Responses to Is Google+ The Next Big Social Media Platform?

Andrew says:

July 12, 2011 at 3:24 pm

“The live video chat feature along with Google Docs can make collaborating breeze. I’m sooooo going to use this w/ clients!” — and circles will help keep that relationship professional

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Jessica says:

July 12, 2011 at 3:26 pm

Thanks Cindy! I’ve been wondering what’s up with Google+ The big questions will be, do we NEED to be there? I’m already stretched managing Facebook and Twitter and ll my other marketing avenues and have let LinkedIn fall by the wayside. Sounds like a great tool – but who has the time for another? Especially when social media is all about personal connection and engagement. Argh . . . I’m partly excited and partly overwhelmed – but I know I’ll be digging around in Google+ soon

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George Harris says:

July 12, 2011 at 3:44 pm

It is interesting how google is rolling it out, here we are all talking about, and have not even seen it, it least i did not get an invite, so you have to say that is good marketing in itself. The evolution of social media is quick, i say it will either be a rapid success, or fail quickly

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Dr. Julie Thomas says:

July 12, 2011 at 4:26 pm

Cindy,
I like where you are going with this. You might want to look up the experiments in psychology related to “recovery time.” even mice can recover from electroshock (this is why I would never want to be an experimental psychologist) with adequate recovery time. Without enough recovery time, their hair fell out, they lost weight and deteriorated. And there you go.
And…speaking of technology, I walked out to my waiting room today and there were about 10 people sitting around. About half were children and the other half were adults. Our waiting area and playroom used to be very raucous. Today, it was silent so I looked around. Every single adult and child were on some type of handheld. Kids as young as 6 or 7 had iPhones. Some had small game systems. The adults were glued to phones or iPads. Nobody even noticed me walking through the area and observing them. This seemed like a room full of people who were all in their own private-trance- bubbles. Lucky for them that I wasn’t a serial killer with a shotgun. Just wanted to share this little tidbit and encourage where you are headed with this. Good job. Dr. J./Girfriend

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Lisa Claudia Briggs says:

July 12, 2011 at 5:20 pm

Hi Cindy!
Just when I was wondering what the hell the new invites were about and whether to accept them, here you are with some great info… thanks as always! Glad you had some downtime and miss you.
xox
Lisa
IntuitiveBody
Simple Sacred Solutions To Living Beautifully In Your Body

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SangD says:

July 12, 2011 at 7:21 pm

I love it so far! I have been experimenting with it all day and learning lots of new features! I agree with the ever-changing platforms and eventually being linked in ONE place!

In addition, the abilities it has will be phenomenal!

Great write up Cindy and thanks for sending this link out Jessica!

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Mick says:

July 31, 2011 at 4:09 pm

You don’t know? I read the entire post and you don’t tell me if it’s any good! Cindy, you are MY social media strategist. I need to know!

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Cindy W. Morrison