Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) recently announced its newest entry into the social media arena with the launching of Google+. The beta release was limited to a small group of handpicked users. This is Google's newest attempt to compete with Facebook since the dismal failure of BUZZ.
Does this really matter to business? If you listen to the experts they'll tell you that you'd better pay attention. It is rumored that Google+ is just the beginning of a major shift in the way Google handles search.
Current search engines use key words, links, and other data to move information up to the top of the search page (using their magical and mysterious algorithms). With Google+ it makes sense that the search engine will tap into social media as one of the key metrics for moving up in the search. This means in the future, when somebody is looking for a company or product, the social aspects will be considered in the ranking on the search page.
I don't know exactly how this will work, but I can envision products', services', or companies' rankings being affected by negative or positive social media comments or reviews. I think this means that customer service will become even more important to companies. Bad comments or reviews by people in the social community have the potential of taking a company off the first page of online search.
The reason I think this is going to happen is that Google specifically has asked businesses to hold off for a business version of Google+. We will just have to wait and see how this all plays out, but in any case, be aware that it's coming. If you would like more information on Google+ check out the video at PC World.
Whenever we talk about social media, I get anxious about the security issues. I have heard alot of horror stories how people can easily extract your personal information from varoius sources and put them all together to commit crimes. In fact, I have alot of friends who wouldn't put their pictures or their kids pictures on facebook.
I read that there are already 10m users on G+ but it is not surprizing as all the gmail users will automatically get G+ and hence the user count will easily go to 150m or so. But getting close to Facebook will be a challenge. I read news that Google is going easy with G+ in terms of making it open to all, Google will probably keep G+ under invitation only for a year or so and will work agressively to improve it.
I also got invitation for G+ and i am impressed with the simplistic design and addon features that are nonexistent on Facebook.
I agree with your opinion that this might dilute the market. But the user base of web is going up all the time and it will not be any wonder if Google+ actually see more number of users in the future.
I agree that Google+ will tend to make search more 'social' as it integrates social media aspects into search results. Apart from ranking the search results based on comments and 'likes' by people on Google+, I think the search engine will also rank the results based on the user's tastes and preferences. If the user is signed into his Google Account and is searching for something, the search engine knows a lot about user's background and his/her nature through Google+. It's likely the the search engine will use this information to show the results most relevant to the user.
I do not have the chance to touch Google+. From the reviews i have read so far, it will be more or less another version of facebook. Might not be a game changer, but will dilute the market that facebook is dominating.
That's a fairly high number, Dave. It owuld mean it would have had to have more than quadrupled in a single week, according to PC Mag's figures. See http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388325,00.asp The same article includes an updates for FB that now confirms 750 million users.
I am really impressed with the momentum that G+ is building.I did get a chance to play around with it this weekend, and I have a good feeling about G+.G+ seems to really be thought out well and could be the social platform of choice for the enterprise.
Being in the ratings business can lead to a lot of controversy for a website. Google will probably take from the experience of Yelp, which has come under fire for using a proprietary scoring algorithm to keep business from "gaming the system."
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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