Tech Tips: Google+ looks like it’s off to quick start, but so what?

The latest social media platform to make big news is Google’s
launch of Google+. Although this platform is still in its Beta
phase, it managed to break 25 million users in record time. My
initial reaction to this new platform is “So what?”

The back story to this is very interesting.

In December 2010, Facebook managed to outshine Google, and
officially overtook Google as the most visited Web page. In
response, Google parted ways with their CEO and developed their own
version of Facebook with Google+. Because of Google’s strong brand,
Google+ reached 25 million users in just 30 days and more recent
reports show it adding a million new users each day.

The only way to join Google+ is to be invited by a current
member and each member is only allowed to invite a limited number
of people. There is no current way to determine that number
threshold at the moment, remember this is a beta version.

Once you are “in” it will look familiar. Your home page allows
you to upload photos, create a biography, post recent news, chat
with friends, and find potential people to connect with.

Sounds familiar right? The one unique item on here is the
Google+ concept of “circles.” Put simply, circles breaks down into
four categories – friends, family, acquaintances and following.
This allows you to qualify when you post, what you post and who
will see it. So, if you want to tell a risque joke, but you don’t
want Aunt Sarah to read it, then only post the joke to your
“friends” circle. If you’re curious about the latest from Johnny
Depp, then you can “follow” him and get the latest post about
Captain Jack Sparrow.

Now the question remains, can Google+ maintain this momentum
with just one trick to differentiate it from Facebook?

Current trends say no. Despite the rapid rise in registered
users, Google+ is already showing a decline in daily activity. The
problem being, Google+ currently doesn’t offer many of the
applications and features available on Facebook. Frankly, Facebook
can generate their own circles format if they decide that it will
help retain users.

If you get a Google+ invite, you should accept it and poke
around to see what you think. Whether Google+ will find its way to
the business community, much like Facebook has, remains to be seen.
There’s a host of electronic media methods currently available to
get your message out, be it business or personal. If you’re
interested in finding out the fastest and most effective ways to
market, attend the Tech Council educational seminar on Sept. 30.
It’s a “how to” on Social Media and Social Networking
Marketing.

Mike Shelah is an account manager for Quantum
Telecommunications, Inc. and Ambassador Chair for the Carroll
Technology Council; he can be reached at 410-982-0045 or
mikeshelah@yahoo.com, or on Twitter @mistertelecom. For more
information about the Tech Council, visit
www.carrolltechcouncil.org.

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