The Problem With Google +1
Editor’s Update: Google introduced a secret project called Google+.
The web is a social place now … when we find something interesting online, we share it with our friends and hope it sparks some sort of conversation. Sharing content online either as a content publisher, content consumer, or the Tumblr consum-isher hybrid has become what the web is all about. It’s about information yes, but it’s more about connecting with each other and learning from one another.
We depend on each others’ recommendations and trust each other when it comes to reviews (Yelp), videos, articles, products, services, and humor.
This is what Google currently has it’s sights set on (no pun intended) … becoming more involved and relevant in regard to the social experience of the web. Just as Facebook and Twitter positioned themselves as platforms where people could share and recommend content with their friends, Google is hoping to create a way for people to share and recommend content.
They’re introducing Google +1 … a way for people to recommend content.
The Big Problem
Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Google doesn’t have the social network. They have an awesome audience constantly using their service to find content, but they don’t have what makes social sharing work … a platform where people socialize.
The reason why publishers have implemented the Facebook Like button and the Tweet or Retweet button from Twitter is because it enables people to share content with their friends … something which has become extremely important to our culture. The more interesting content you share with people, the more likely you are to spark conversation and connect.
Instant Interaction = Instant Gratification
Imagine yourself at a party … you just finished telling an amazing story about how you got lost in the jungles of Tanzajarakow, because imprisoned by the natives for trespassing, and then managed to ride a wild alpaca to safety.
With a story like this, you can expect to have some sort of reaction from those listening as soon as you reveal the ending. That’s what Facebook and Twitter provide people in terms of social sharing. You share a piece of content, and your friends respond with some sort of reaction.
It’s fun. It’s social.
Google +1 falls short of this because of the lack of social network. Instead, imagine telling that same story to your personal recorder, then playing it on repeat in a busy hallway … eventually you might get some sort of reaction from someone, but there’s no telling when.
Recommend Interesting Content with Friends Google
The fundamental reason that will hold Google +1 back from reaching the scale of Twitter and Facebook buttons is due to the lack of a solid social network foundation, which is where the sharing should take place. By enabling users interaction on their own profile or on their friends profiles, users have a reason to share and recommend content — it keeps them present in the party and relevant and fun.
Recommending something using the Google +1 button will result in your “vote” appearing in the Google index. If a friend happens to search for something relevant to the piece of content you recommended, Google will let them know that you recommended it by revealing your “vote” to them. There’s a big IF in front of that sentence.
What do you think about Google +1 and how it will fit with Facebook and Twitter buttons across the web once rolled out? Will you implement the +1 button and will you make use of it when searching the web?
Will this flop just as Google Wave and Google Buzz did?
And finally, do you think this will spark the launch of the forever-rumored, Facebook-killer, Google powered social network … and no, I’m talking about Orkut
Christopher Rice is a publisher, entrepreneur, and abstract artist in Santa Monica. He’s a founder of Wearabl, editor of CreativeBlogger, and creator of Gumball. Friend him up at Twitter | Google+ | Facebook | Pinterest |
Hi Christopher.
Glad to see I’m not the only one with reservations about Google +1. I think you’re right about the appropriateness of recommendations/sharing in search compared to social networks.
I wrote a blog post for my company, Brandwatch, about some other potential issues with Google +1: http://bit.ly/izNuoH. Please do take a look and let me know what you think.
I really don’t share your thoughts. While there might be no formal social networks, make no mistake about it, the connections are there: Google already has access to all your connections from Twitter and Facebook, not to talk about your Gmail contacts and other products like Google reader. Even as of now, Google knows when a friend of yours tweets about a link you find in the search engine. Just now, it will be able to tell when somebody from your Twitter account who has a gmail, also does a +1.
The connections are already there. Google doesn’t need a social network to launch this feature, but rather this feature will help Google establish a social network. let’s hope it does a better job than Facebook, as I look forward to migrate.
Google probably won’t push to share your “ones” with your friends, because of past privacy concerns.
Good points, Claudiu.
I don’t think Google can do anything with all that contact info though, can they?
While I think you’re right to some extent, I also “like” a page to show the author how much I appreciated/liked/laughed while I read the post. Then it’s more akin to seeing how many people like that site or post.
For instance, if I see that 60,000+ people liked a site, I don’t go looking to see if my friends are on the list (in fact I never do). However if I notice that my friends like a site (while I’m on my Facebook page), then I might go and look up the site.
So I think it depends where you are. I think this is just another method for Google to rate/rank the popularity of sites.
Right on, Rachel. I do the same — it’s like tipping a server at a restaurant … you want to show your appreciation and thank them in some way.
You bring up the exact reason why I think +1 is flawed … “if I notice that my friends like a site (while I’m on my Facebook page), then I might go and look up the site” … that’s the social network working … and Google doesn’t have that outside of their gmail account base, which sucks for them because as Google Buzz proved, people don’t want everyone to know their email address … it starts crossing that privacy line.
Like!
This is an interesting post, I agree with your thoughts.
I think +1 will not take off, for the reasons you talk of, and also because there is no need or desire for another such service.
However, I don’t think it will flop completely, because the ranking button will always be useful in Google search results.
Thanks thinsmek!
Are you talking about the benefits the button might provide publishers in terms of SEO?
It will be helpful to Google for learning intelligently about search results, and yes, perhaps also for the publisher. But surely, there is no social future for this button on the Google search engine…
Looking quite hopefully at the New Google – which is all about the user – Google+!
Google has finally realized that their true competition is not Yahoo! or MSN but the sky rocketing social media Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. The Google +1 is just one of their steps to engage into the social media space. It’s very interesting to see that this kind technology provided increased competition which greatly benefits users and advertisers.
see I knew this whole Google +1 thing was useless. You just made my point for me :P You rock!
I agree with Claudiu. Google probably knows more about you than you think. Also, Google is definitely in the competition.
Facebook is best..why we need Google + 1.unfortunately the same people are going to signup there .