“Build it and they will come.”
“Add some features & we can charge more.”
“Build the social media tool & they'll switch as long as we give it away for free.”
Let me start this post by stating I am in no way endorsing either Facebook or Google+ as the winning platform in the silent but very loud virtual boxing match we all know is happening.
The purpose of this post is to explain WHY I believe people are not going to immediately migrate to the Google+ network just because they are ticked off at Facebook.
A few facts: (Source: Facebook)
- Facebook has 750 million active users
- Average Facebook user is connected to 80 community pages, groups & events
- Average Facebook user creates 90 pieces of content each month
- Facebook users install 20 million applications every day
- More than 30 billion pieces of content are shared each month.
- 250+ million people engage with Facebook on external website every month
- On average 10,000 new websites integrate with Facebook every day since social plug-ins launched April, 2010.
- 2.5+ million websites have integrated with Facebok
- 250+ million active users currently access Facebook via their mobile devices
- 200+ mobile operators in 60 countries work to deploy and promote Facebook mobile products
Bottom line, the social ecosystem looks a lot different now than when Facebook came along. MySpace didn't have the footprint, the mindprints or the handprints that Facebook does today.
Facebook knows more about us than half of us know about ourselves. You can read a post I recently wrote on this topic “Got Facebook Data? They Got Yours!”
Do you really think that Facebook is going to give up that easy? They aren't going to let the launch of a beta platform keep them from continuing to build out their platform, grab more of our data and figure out how they can monetize every click, share, like and look we give them for free!
We like Google+ because it's NOT Facebook!
I have really enjoyed my time on Google+ as a beta participant. However, when I really think about why I am enjoying it, it is for all the reasons that go against what it would take to knock Facebook out of the ring.
I like the fact that it's just us geeks. I love the fact that I can have more personal conversations with people I have only sent a few tweets with prior.
There is something about removing the “Facebook” like that makes people feel more real, more connected and less intimidated. Is it also because the masses aren't on the platform yet. However, it's also because we aren't confined. We don't feel controlled. We aren't yet worried about if our post is going to show top or bottom of a news feed based on how many +1's we have. There is no Google+ edge rank… YET!
What is an ecosystem, really? And why can't it move like the good ol' days?
It shouldn't be that hard to move at least a portion, maybe 250 million people during the 2nd half of 2011, right? Wrong, think again!
1. Facebook has ruined it for other honest players. Our guard is up. Facebook has taken advantage of our privacy. They've taken advantage of my grandma and my mom as most people don't have a clue where to look for their privacy settings.
2. The ecosystem has a love / hate relationship with Facebook. Bottom line we love to hate them.
3. Aunt Marybelle, Granny & dad aren't going to move to Google+ before Christmas no matter what happens.
4. You'll still post the baby pics on Facebook for granny to see even if you live on Google+ all day with your geek buddies.
5. Even if they wanted to move, moving 750 million people can't happen over night.
6. Granny doesn't hate Facebook as much as you do.
7. Many businesses just invested in Facebook business pages, training for sales, customer service, PR and marketing teams.
8. Social media & marketing agencies are not going to push clients who have invested in Facebook to jump ship to Google+. Why would they when they have a multi-million dollar retainer developing, designing, and managing their online presence and ad placement much of which is Facebook. Agencies wouldn't think to push clients to Facebook until there is a majority and return on investment can be better justified even if intangible in numbers.
9. Yes, early adopters will obviously jump on both ships. However, to move an ecosystem we're talking about more than early adopters.
10. Similar to #1, we have been burned. We all know Google has a plan to monetize. We fear Google+ will start to copy it's virtual boxing partner, Facebook.
So the question we have to ask ourselves…
is Granny really the deciding player to decide what platform has a chance at knocking Facebook out of the ring?
Check out Robert Scoble's entertaining article on why Granny won't use Google+
It’s funny–I just scored my invite to Google+ over the weekend and have to agree with a lot of your comments, Pam. I don’t think that anyone is “too big to fail” but I don’t think Google+ will be squashing Facebook anytime soon and I’m okay with that. I’m sure I’ll run them side by side and find different uses for each. It’s going to be fun to see this grow and evolve!
Granny SHOULD hate Facebook even more than we do, because she’s potentially 100% more vulnerable to having her information stolen and used against her. Scams against the elderly are extraordinarily common, and can also be costlier than scams against younger generations.
No thanks, Facebook, and no thanks, Google+. There are things evolving that will be better than both, and until then, you can find me on Twitter, Hashable, and LinkedIn.
Love your accurate and wry description RE:Google-FB: “silent but very loud virtual boxing match we all know is happening”!
So true that as you say “Facebook knows more about us than half of us know about ourselves,” although I don’t think folks feel like they’re being held hostage because of this. I also believe presence on a particular platform — or not, depends upon the users’ reason for participating or just “being there.” If a user feels their needs are met, and they don’t feel particularly adventurous to try another social media spot, or have the time and energy to expand their social media horizons, I believe they will hold their current virtual ground.
Personally, I’m enjoying the quality of the content that is being shared on Google+ All of us are wondering how it will impact other Social Media Platforms. It will be interesting to see. I predict that LinkedIn will be much less affected than Facebook, because I see LI as a very different platform. What do you think?
It will be interesting to see how this boxing match works out – privacy issues aside (not saying that they SHOULD be put aside!), we are a fickle bunch of consumers.
We have been conditioned to jump on the next-big-thing bandwagon once the early adopters have over-hyped it, and the inevitable media-frenzy kicks in.
We cannot bear to be the ones to be left behind, we HAVE to be seen to be ‘getting down with the kids’, otherwise we aren’t keeping up!
Good to see Google encouraging business to stay away from Google+ for now (Ford Motor Company) – until it is ready for prime-time. Better for businesses to dip there toes in the water on a more informal basis initially – until G+ proves its worth.
I’m sending my Granny into the ring to sort this one out…..
Dean – I think a Granny match would not only be entertaining but might be able to get Zuckerberg to listen! ;)
Your comment makes me think how much has changed in regard to where we spend our time.
Before FB, we didn’t spend so much time on social networks as they obviously hadn’t hit prime time. So to jump on Facebook was fun, inspiring. Now, it’s become so much a part of our DNA in both life & biz. We don’t have free time to jump on another platform unless it provides some sort of real value. And if we do we’ll have to stop doing something else to make time.
So eventually, yes, there will be platforms that suffer if Google+ is successful. My guess it will be spread across multiple versus taking one out completely in the short term.
How many granny are actively using FB?
True. Facebook users will not migrate that quickly to Google Plus because of the number of people and networks found in Facebook. Your reference to G+ users as geeks really cracked me up because I can totally relate to that. I am also one of the few people who already has an account there, along with just a few of my friends.
It’s not an issue of goggle facebook, they may coexist nicely. But the hype from early adopters is certainly misguided. Great post
Thanks Warren Whitlock! I agree. Early adopters are the easy part. ;)
I’m enjoying Google+, but I think its importance to social media lies in its ability to foster deeper conversations. For instance, the “ice breaker” could begin on Facebook or Twitter, but the real conversation could occur on Google+. At the moment, I’m viewing Google+ as a complementary network rather than as a replacement for the other networks.
Only time will tell. The truth is for any platform to survive, it has to add value without being fully redundant. We only have so many hours in the day & therefore, redundant platforms can’t survive long term unless they are providing unique benefit.
Yes, exactly.
I’m still mad at my mom for throwing out the old bear with the missing eye! No joke! ;) On a serious note, good analogy Josh.
great post Pam! you are magnificent! love ya gal!! xo
thanks Pam, I will book mark and read-you are a nut!
Good Views. Many users have networks with a broad range of users. As you mention many just got on Facebook just to stay in touch with families. Many active users will go over to Google+, but will not abandon Facebook to stay in touch with those who are just getting comfortable with Facebook. With my alumni association work, I am just beginning to get the WWII generation comfortable with my Facebook Fan Page. Many just got on to stay in touch with their grandkids and great grandkids.