Google finally over delivered.
Google plus is a hit so far... and I say so far, because let's face it, if you're already on Google Plus, take a look around your circles, who's there? Social media and technology enthusiasts, that's who... and yes, they all love it, and so do you... But who are you again? Aren't you one of those geeks too? ...and I am not just pointing fingers, I belong here.
I thought it was worth pointing out though. The people in my circles so far? They're the twitter community. Why? Early adopters.
Timeline vs News Feed
Wouldn't we all think that Google would have developed a complicated social algorithm to sort its stream? Well, it seems that on July 1st, the stream looked more like a news feed, as it was not organized by chronological order... and today, well, it seems it has changed to a timeline; definitely, a work in progress.
The Marketing Difference
Google finally understood that Facebook's smartest strategy was exclusivity; a strategy previously used by the Small World network, but taken up a notch, to become a growth strategy rather than a mission statement. Google's limited users interface is almost as effective in creating word-of-mouth. Only, the target is different. Facebook aimed elites in the real world. Google Plus is leveraging on elites in the digital world; which certainly is creating a buzz, but will it work as effectively to shift the users from Early Adopters to eventually reach a majority.
Google Plus Privacy
I won't go on and on about this section. I am sure too many people are tackling it already.
I will just point out that the profile picture album is irrevocably set to "public". Moreover, something is more bothersome than Facebook when it comes to the share button, and I think I figured out why: it is on every single post on Google Plus, even if no picture or link is shared (unlike Facebook)!
About Google Plus and Facebook
Ok, so the design is really close to Facebook; Which makes it easier for Facebook users to understand and locate what they are looking for. Nonetheless, Google Plus is cleaner (design-wise) and offers more. It has a little bit of Skype (in Hangout), RSS (in Sparks), it is incorporated in everything Google, and offer a little bit of Twitter's follower/following form whereas people can add you to their circles without you having to "accept/ignore" and not everyone who is following you, is being followed by you.
Google Website Statistics
I might have spoken a little too fast when I wrote
Facebook's untapped potential in using its profiles to give accurate demographic data to websites. Google seems to already be unto it!
Google Webmaster Tools now have +1 Metrics... and I am really curious at the sort of characteristics they will be able to disclose thanks to Google Plus! If Google Plus works, people are more likely to be signed in to their accounts, they are more likely to +1 websites and eventually, web owners will get a more accurate audience description.
Brilliant! Simply, brilliant!
