I have subscribed to Google+, I have tinkered with it and started to form an opinion. I think it has some great features but offers nothing spectacularly new. I will no doubt find useful in the future but, right now, I have no particular need for it.
Here’s how I use social media to be social
I communicate with people via my website, Twitter, Facebook, WordPress, Paper.li and LinkedIn most frequently and occasionally Foursquare and a few other social media tools. What I like most about each of these sites and tools is that they all talk seamlessly to each other.
I usually post to Twitter and then feeds get sent automatically to Facebook, WordPress and LinkedIn. This approach saves me time because I don’t have to muck about with lots of sites. It’s also easier for my tiny mind – I only have to remember to broadcast via one site.
How do I add Google+ to the mix?
Right now, it feels like Google are trying offer and alternative to Facebook and Twitter rather than integrate with them.
This approach may well work for them in the long run; someone has to win in the end (remember VHS vs BetaMax?) but in the meantime I, the audience, am left wanting.
I would prefer Google to play nicely with their competitors so that I have the best possible experience right now. I think my use of Google+ in the near future will be sporadic because:
- I don’t have the time or inclination to copy and paste my Tweets, etc. to another channel
- I will simply forget to talk to people via Google+ because I use other channels more frequently
- I can reach the same people and more via my other SM channels
A missed trick?
I have subscribed to Google+ and I am regularly adding new people to my circles but if I can’t integrate it with other SM tools I am unlikely to use it.
I know there are plans afoot to integrate. The Guardian recently reported that “Google may co-operate more closely with Facebook and Twitter and believes there is room for multiple social networks” (http://is.gd/qg4JCy).
But my question would be “Surely, they should have launched Google+ with that level of integration?”
Live in the now
I’m sure Google have a long term plan for Google+ and I bet that plan explains why they have chosen not to seek integration with other systems but I don’t work at Google so I can’t get that excited about where they are going.
I can only look at what they give me today and Google+ today is just another social media tool vying for my attention, offering me something I already get somewhere else.
claireraikes
/ October 27, 2011Hi Craig, some interesting thoughts here. I actually read this post yesterday, and wondered whether your thoughts have changed now we’re a few months down the line, but didn’t bother to comment. I’ve returned now because I just came across an article (on G+ funnily enough) which I thought you might find of interest: http://www.stateofsearch.com/how-google-is-pushing-google-in-your-face/
And while I’m here, I may as well chuck in a couple of my thoughts on the topic…
Because Twitter, Facebook & G+ are all at different lifestages and offer very different user experiences (never mind that the end result of sharing/relationship building etc), I’ve found that my networks on each channel are actually quite different in terms of the people in them, the active people in them and the information which comes through. As a result, I pick and choose what I share/say where, so whilst I totally agree that there are integration issues AND I too ‘forget’ to drop in and catch up with people in G+, I am not really bothered about having the ability to ‘share once, hit all’ so to speak. My irritation is in sharing OUT of G+. I see plenty of stuff that my FB or Twitter friends would find stimulating/funny/informative etc and find it totally frustrating that (unless I’m missing something) I can’t easily ping it out to them.
But generally, I rather like G+. And the biggest reason why can’t really last in the long run…
[whispers] I like it because it’s quiet :)
Stepping into G+ from FB or Twitter, is like being in the main room of a massive banging club and having a pass to the ‘vip’ chill out suite. It’s kinda restful but full of quality links from early adopters… I’m gonna stick with it. :) How about you?
craigbrewster
/ October 27, 2011Great response. Thanks.
A few months on, I am in a similar frame of mind.
It’s not that I don’t like G+, it’s that I am struggling to find a valid reason to use it over FB and Twitter. I agree It is nicer to use than both those channels but the larger portion of my network of friends, colleagues, etc. still use them more than G+.
I do think that, as more people sign up, I will shift from FB to G+ but that still doesn’t address my original point. G+ doesn’t integrate with anything; it may take over as my social media channel of choice in the future but, right now, i often forget to use it!