Google + Social Network – The Plus Project

The banter has begun. The Internet is buzzing about Google’s first real foray into the social network arena with Google +.

*At post time of this article Google + is in a Field Trial. This is what is listed on Google +: “You’re a part of a small group of people who are helping to test Google+. When you share something with people who are not yet able to use Google+, they will receive it via email but won’t be able to comment or engage with the content like other Google+ users. They’ll be able to join Google+ as we let more users in over time.” Google +.

The Atlanta SEO Review of Google +:

Google + is a social network site much like Facebook and Twitter. Now, before you dismiss Google’s effort as a copy of it’s highly successful predecessors, hang on for a minute, there are a few very important things to consider here. First, this is Google. We all know Google as a search engine and don’t think much about how amazing they are (because it’s free and because they’re always there). But Google is, by far, the best search engine. They are so much better than everyone else that it really is a one-team sport. So understanding that, we are talking about a company that owns search and is amazing at it. So what makes Google + (or Plus Project) a contender is where they incorporate all their services. Google has so many things going on that they really can’t fail. It’s a one-stop shop for anything you can think of online (cloud services, video, mapping, search, email, etc). So if they can get traction on their social site, they could really do some damage. But the reasons listed above are not the primary reasons Google + has a real advantage. The main reason is search. Every business on the planet wants to be #1 on Google for their desired search terms. And the + feature (much like the “like” button) is a feature that integrates with search. So if someone you know +1′s something, it may affect the result of that page in your search query. Now before we go jetting off the next topic in the article we need to linger here for a second, as this point is really major. Imagine now that search works with all the components that it has in the past (in relation to SEO) but now it also matters who +1′s you and who doesn’t? This is big, and a reason why Google will get into this game and stay. They are so powerful that it is simply inevitable. As long as it takes them, they will get there. You will notice that many websites are starting to include the +1 button (along with the tweet button and like button) on their websites (as is Atlanta SEO).

The more I research Google the more into this company I become. They do everything world class. And for Google it is, and has always been, about the user experience. Their search results are focused on delivering the searcher the best information possible to solve their search query. So again, I feel that Google will get their arms wrapped around social and make some big inroads.

I have been using Google + in its “test” period and I must say, I am having fun. I love going to Google (I am there all the time for Adwords etc.) and it is cool to be able to stay there and toggle between all of their services (from Adwords to Gmail to Docs to Search it’s great to have it all together). Google + is much like Facebook (really like Facebook) in it’s layout and use. Its circles feature is a main difference. Facebook Groups may be similar, but with circles you can put people in different circles (and they do not know which ones they are in) and they only see what you post to that circle. There is also a video chat feature that you can use, which is much like iChat.

Some of the things I think they need to change:

What is the url? I can’t seem to figure out exactly where I need to go to get to the site. Also, it is so much like Facebook that they really just need to take the plunge. I would be happy if it were more like Facebook so I can do the things I like to do (like recommend something to my friends fast and easy). It seems when I +1 an article is shows up on my +1 page but not in my stream (like Facebook). I want it to be there. They need an app. Enough said there. Also, on the “app” version (which is the mobile version of the site) you can’t upload pictures.

Those points aside, start Googling + and learn about it, with everything Google does it is really great that they are growing into this area.

Google + Project

Circles:

Hangouts:

Sparks: