The Days of Comparing Google+ and Facebook are Over

We take a look at the future of G+ and consider if it's still worth comparing it with "that other social network."

For months now, it was no secret that a major shift in the overall direction of Google+ was in the works, from the removal of G+ integration in YouTube comments, to the separation of Photos and Hangouts from G+, the former leading to the creation of Google Photos, dedicated to the storage and editing of pictures and videos.

As pretty much all of us know, the site was created from the outset to be a “Facebook-killer,” one of the core features being much more granular sharing via Circles, where you could create categories for different groups of people, such as college friends, photographers and the like. This set it apart from Facebook and its friend lists, which were (and still are) very restrictive, being able to see who’s on a particular FB list being one of them.

Apart from competing head-on with the world’s most popular social network, Google+ was the solution to unifying the rest of Google’s services, requiring just one sign in for everything, from Gmail to Calendar, and everything in between.

Of course, Google didn’t succeed in making Google+ the biggest and most popular social network in the world, and that in reality isn’t a bad thing after all, as they found their forte in connecting like-minded people based on their passions. This gained a lot more traction and popularity after the additions of Communities in 2012 and Collections earlier this year. If you want to engage with users with similar passions, such as fellow techies, foodies or even Sherlockians(!), Google+ is the place to be.

[Opinion] Google finally wises up by no longer forcing Google+

I was always told I couldn't eat dessert until I finished my dinner. They'd say: "It's good for you!" Google was just doing what was best for us, right?

Lost, anyone? The plan was simple... Step one: Make new social media platform and force integration with beloved services. Step two: ??? Step three: Profit! Light up the torches because that's a recipe for an angry (albeit digital) mob. YouTubers rioting in the comments, spam running rampant, and... well, you know the rest. The issue wasn't how good Google+ was; we just didn't like it forced on us. Why didn't they back off right then? It's like a bad poker play: just go all-in. Oops!

Now they've looked back on their mistakes and are going to make it all right. This opens the door for some pretty amazing things in the future. What will they do with their newfound realizations. Let's take a look at each of Google's social tools individually!

What are Google+ Hashtags Good For Anymore?

The title got your attention, yeah? It's a question that sparked the discussion with my editor-in-chief (Lee Jarratt) on hashtags. Are they even relevant or needed in this day and age of the optimized search engine? What was his answer? I'll get to that in a bit.

Some of you may be thinking, what exactly is a "hashtag" and what is it for? Many have gone over the history of the hashtag, but that's not what this is for. For those living under a rock, the short answer is that Twitter made it popular and now nearly every social media platform uses it for categorizing content.

Here's a fun blast from the past with the first ever use of the hashtag on Twitter:

The first Tweet to make use of a #hashtag

What is the future of hashtags on Google+ and other social media platforms? Let's dive in...

Your Google+ audience – Who are you writing for?

There’s nothing quite like the moment when you realize that not everyone cares about what you say.

As humans, we have an innate need to be heard and respected by others. To put your ideas out there in the first place requires courage; to have your hopes dashed by a lack of attention or even negative comments can be devastating for people who hoped that the Internet (perhaps even Google+ in particular) would be a place of intellectual refuge.

At first, it can be upsetting. Why aren't they paying attention to what I say, you moan, berating yourself for creating something on social media that didn’t include pictures of puppies and kittens. I’ll never make it here online.

It’s not easy to make it over this particular psychological hurdle. In fact, this is often the stage where people leave an internet platform altogether. Plagued by insecurity or facing the frustrations of a business that needs to get going NOW, you need encouragement to keep going (even with the ongoing discoverability of Google+ posts).

Post discoverability on Google+ vs. Facebook vs. Twitter

Working in the social media sphere every day, you get used to the pace of posts flying by. We are all flooded, every single day—both by content we care about and by content we couldn't care less about. In today's Marketing Monday article, +Greg Trujillo of CT Social discusses how to keep your post relevant longer on Google+ and how Google+ compares to Facebook and Twitter.

Though the amount of posts can be overwhelming for consumers, businesses who use social media have a real financial concern with the longevity of what they create. When they post on Twitter and it disappears from the top of the stream in seconds, how can they create a meaningful brand message?

Post longevity measures the approximate length of time that a social media post can be discovered. And your ability to take advantage of that longevity (as opposed to the immediacy of most posts) can significantly affect your long-term marketing opportunities.

For example, when you are on Google+, you can see posts that other people you follow have given a +1 to. This allows more people to see the post and potentially interact with it. Depending on how viral the content is, you could potentially have a post that people interact with for a few days or even weeks.

The Great Google+ Debate: Using Personal vs. Business Profiles

When small business owners begin using Google+ to build their business, they are often wonder whether they should utilize a personal profile or a Google+ business page.  In today's Marketing Monday article, +Carolyn Capern of CT Social sheds light on the pros of both and how you can use them in harmony for ultimate Google+ success.

Naturally, if you have no specific purpose for your Google+ presence beyond the purely social, this debate is not important to you. You may never have even considered setting up a business page. But any goal related to a distinct professional identity may suddenly make it relevant:

• Starting a musical or film career
• Building an audience for a blog
• Developing the SEO value of a website
• Expanding a company brand in search of new business

So, accepting the fact that there are only a limited number of hours in the day, if I am trying to develop business opportunities (find a new client, increase my search rankings, etc), is it better to use Google+ primarily with my personal profile or my business page?

Hashtags on Google+

There's a misperception by some that hashtags on Google+ and other social media sites are no longer useful. In today's "Marketing Monday" article, +Greg Trujillo of CT Social debunks this myth and gives tips on how to make the best use this key feature of Google+.

Lately I have heard many people (most of them self-proclaimed social media experts) giving the advice that hashtags are useless, and telling their clients not to bother with them.

In my professional opinion, this is bad advice. Hashtags on any platform can be very useful if you take the time to build an appropriate strategy around your content.

Zombie apocalypse of Google+ Communities & how to cure it

In today's "Marketing Monday" article, +Greg Trujillo of CT Social discusses the issue with the "undead" members that some Google+ communities have and how the "zombie apocalypse" can be cured.

I moderate a local Google+ community for my city. The community is home to many small business owners, all of whom understandably want their businesses to thrive and grow.

Word has clearly been getting out that a foothold in the digital landscape can create a huge business advantage, and that Google+ is a particularly strong place for that reputation to develop, because people keep coming to my community (and others around Plus) to let us know that they are here.

The problem is that many of the people who stop by our Google+ communities don’t actually seem like they are really engaged. They seem, in fact, kind of… undead.

Google Play Games - Making Google+ Mainstream

Google Play Games integration with Google+ is becoming increasingly common in games on Google Play. Could this be drawing more users to Google's social media network?

Ask your average person what Google+ is and unfortunately a large number of them won't know the answer. Many people have had a negative opinion of it and this is usually because of the fact Google is increasingly asking them to use the service.

However, in recent weeks I have noticed a lot more people joining Google+. Why? Google Play Games. Because of its increasing integration with apps and the competitive element it provides, I have seen a surprising number of people using it. Because of this, it allows me to see things like this:

Games are more fun with friends

Google+ & the value of a customizable social media experience

Whether you're engaging with close family or a professional connection, your social media interactions are often very personal. In today's Marketing Monday article, +Carolyn Capern of CT Social discusses the value of the customizable experience on Google+ juxtaposed to Facebook and how to take advantage of the customizations Google+ provides.

Those who use Google+ on a regular basis are treated to an array of options and features that (in my humble opinion) put other social networks to shame. Yet it seems that, while we have been watching our Hangouts on Air and enjoying our Communities, we have begun to take some of the less flashy but equally if not more valuable features of Google+ for granted.

As with any relationship, sometimes a little time away can bring perspective. The moment of clarity for me came while I was cruising around Facebook last Friday afternoon (yes, I still have an account…and yes, I still look at it!).

As I scrolled through my Facebook News Feed, a shared post from one of my work friends caught my attention: 

 

Take control of your Google+ stream!

In today's "Marketing Monday" article, +Greg Trujillo of CT Social follows up his Google+ circle managment article with a Google+ stream management article to give you tips on how to take control of your stream!

When you log into Google+, the first thing you are going to see is your “All” stream. If you are like me, you are in several Google+ communities and have different circles for different groups of people. Depending on how you have these groups and communities set up, the “All” stream can become cluttered with a lot of posts that you may not be interested in seeing. This can make it confusing to use Google+ to communicate with people that you have decided to circle.

Google+ Hangouts on Air: The new generation of talk shows

With Google+ Hangouts on Air being being both easy to manage and far reaching, it is quickly becoming the new generation of talk shows. In today's Marketing Monday article, +Carolyn Capern of CT Social gives insight into how Hangouts on Air are being used as online talk shows and why they are so powerful.

Talk shows are as old as broadcast television. While the format and topics of every talk show may be slightly different, the mission remains the same.

Stories are at the heart of every show.

Stories of noteworthy or famous people, perhaps, a lot of the time.

But stories all the same.

And with the advent of the Internet and the rise of YouTube, even more platforms have arisen for people to share their story and create their own fame.

The minimalist’s approach to Google+ Circles management

In today's "Marketing Monday" article, +Greg Trujillo of CT Social discusses the minimalist's approach to managing your Google+ Circles so that you gain the most out of your time spent on Google's social media network, and why it matters.

How are your Google+ Circles? Do you have them under control? Would you like them to be? Whether you’re new to Google+ or even if you have been around for a while, it seems like almost everyone struggles with Circles. I was confused about them myself when I first started out. I had a Twitter mentality, and I felt that what I needed to be doing in order to succeed was adding more and more people into my Circles so I could gain more visibility.

Top 5 Google+ Updates of 2013

Of course, all Internet services are expected to improve over time; however, Google+ seems to do it at break-neck speed. There appears to be new updates every week. As we begin the new year, let's take a look back at top 5 Google+ updates of 2013.

This past year was another one full of updates to Google's social media network. Google+ continued to improve in 2013, and there's no sign of +Vic Gundotra and the team stopping as we enter 2014. They will have to keep it up to continue to keep current users happy and give reason for prospective users to check it out and stay a while.

[Mockup] How complete integration of Google+ & Google Play might look

Google recently added a social layer to the Play Store. That's great, but what if Google+ had an even tighter integration with Google Play? I threw together some mockups of what I'd like to see if Google+ & Play completely merged.

As part of the now more social Play Store,  there's a new page with all of your reviews and a new recommendation algorithm that's highly influenced by your contacts' opinions. It's a great start, but I don't think it should stop there. The Play Store, I think, should be much, much closer to Google+, both in features and in appearance.

Dreaming Up a New Look

Let's start with looks. Why does the Store have to look like a completely different site? I think the interface looks cleaner when using Google+'s appearance for inspiration:

The real value of Google+ relationships

With Google+ being a very open social media network, creating relationships on the platform is inevitable. In today's "Marketing Monday" article, +Carolyn Capern of CT Social gives insight into what the real value of these Google+ relationships is and why you should strive to build them.

For those of us who are already familiar with the platform, it’s easy to see the value of Google+. We know why it is the kind of platform it is; we have set up our circles and identified some people with whom we want to have conversations.

However, for someone arriving “fresh off the boat” from Facebook, Google+ can be a daunting place. Why? The number one complaint that I consistently hear from new Plussers is some variation on, “All of my friends are on Facebook; who am I supposed to talk to here?”

People who asked that have not yet discovered the real beauty of Google+—and indeed, have perhaps missed the biggest point of Google's social media network in the first place.

Do +1s on Google+ really add SEO value to my site?

There's a lot of discussion around the impact of Google+ activity on the impact of SEO value. In today's guest author article, +Carolyn Capern  of CT Social gives us all a background on the recent history of search engine optimization and busts the myths related to +1's on Google+'s impact of SEO value to your site.

Search engine optimization: a semi-mythical field wherein technical and marketing wizards go into a lagging website and, in a matter of weeks or months, move it to the first page of Google, infinity, and beyond. At least, that’s what it looked like from the outside.

Actually, in reality, the search engine optimization field used to be basically a numbers game. In order to persuade Google that your website was the right place for users in search of a particular answer, professional SEOs would work (using methods both legitimate and questionable) to get your site to the magic number of relevant keywords and website backlinks. A particularly thorough SEO would also look at the way your website is coded, your online reviews, your directory listings, and maybe your social media presence. They might even look at setting up new websites that can cross-reference each other.

ESPN's Jay Bilas Google+ Conversation

Social media has become a way for "the everyman" to connect with thought leaders, politicians, and celebrities. With Hangouts on Air and Communities, Google+ is becoming the go-to for medium for these people. Next week, that continues with Jay Bilas of ESPN.

For quite some time the topic of paying college athletes has been discussed in academia. A few months ago Google+ started a "conversations" program in which thought leaders in an industry use Google+ communities to discuss very important topics. Google+ employees often reach out to the influencers on the social platform to get help within a specific community. I created the college football and college basketball communities the day of the communities release. Since then they have grown to become the largest communities in their respective niches. Google wanted to leverage these diehard fans by giving them a great topic to talk about which is, "Should college athletes be paid?"

Using Google+ for a Local Small Business

Many of the large companies like +ESPN, +BMW, and +H&M are using Google+ and have found it to be very valuable. However, many small businesses have yet to come to the same conclusion. +Jesse Wojdylo discusses why and how local small businesses should be using Google+ in today's Wojdylo Wednesday article.

Most Google+ users enjoy the engagement and interaction on a personal level but finding successful small businesses on the Google social layer is not so easy. Some of the major brands have discounted Google+ because they cannot get the engagement and interaction they receive on other social networks. What they do not realize is they are missing out on a huge audience that wants to consume their content. Recently, I started working with the Law Offices of David Azizi and I have learned quite a bit. A little bit of hard work and understanding of the platform can go a very long way when it comes to building a Google+ presence as a local small business.

Why Google+ will surpass Facebook in total users [Wojydylo Wednesday]

While Google+ continues to gain users every day, there are many who scoff at the idea of the total users ever getting close to that of Facebook's. In today's Wojdylo Wednesday article, +Jesse Wojdylo discusses why Google+ will eventually surpass Facebook in total users despite Facebook's lead.

For over 16 months, I have staked the claim that Google+ would surpass Facebook in total users. I was ridiculed, mocked and even laughed at. In real life, friends would mention Google+ and make a condescending comment about how Google should just let it die.

Just last week a friend asked me if Google+ was going to be shut down. I showed him my profile on my Nexus 4 phone, with over 360,000 followers, and he almost passed out. He looked at me and said, "How?!" My response was, "Google+ is for smart people that want to create an amazing Internet; not individuals that want to relive their past." I will admit that it was a jab, but I have taken enough heat for being on the forefront of social media and what Google is doing. Here is why Google+ will surpass Facebook in total users.