A new social networking platform was recently released called Google Buzz. www.google.com/buzz

I thought as our companies designated technology research-ist, I had better sign up and check it out. Here are my thoughts:

1. What does it really do? Well, so far I am not impressed, and am quite under-whelmed. The interface is clunky, slow, and difficult to navigate (and I say that as a techie) - which I think will ultimately prevent it from catching on as quickly as its competitor.

2. Where' the Google juice? I always look to see how beneficial a blog or social network will be for my Google search rankings. So far I see no real value in this platform, until at which time they allow for more robust content posting. Currently you can only post updates and photos (similar to the Twitter model). Neither of these things will result in additional rankings on Google.

3. But what about the social aspect of it? Well this one is also lacking. Simply put, they do not provide the tools to allow you to easily import your friends lists from MySpace and Facebook. Why is this a problem? Well, since its a new social network there are very few people signed up. So you cannot just search for your friends and hope that they will show up. Another issue is that there seems to be no current way to invite someone to join Google Buzz (which is the best thing to do if your friends are not already memebrs of your preferred social network).

4. So...what IS good about it? So far, the only redeeming feature I see is that setting up and account is free. Outside of this, Im not sure what would intice me to join or to abandon any of my current social networks for this one.

5. So should Realtors and Loan Officers ignore Google Buzz? THE ANSWER IS NO. Despite its initial shortcomings, bad navigation, and clunky confusing interface - it is new. Like all new social networks there is much fine tuning required before it becomes the next overnight web success. With this in mind, I encourage you to keep tabs on the program and to even join just so you know about it and have a presence.

6. Why should we care about Google Buzz if its not "all that and a bag of chips"? Because even Facebook struggled for several years until they perfected all the tools and options. MySpace took 5 years to take off. Twitter was the only true lightning fast buzz site - this is primarly because of all the sports and celebrity figures posting updates.

Bottom line is this: What if you had ignored ActiveRain when it was a fledgling website? You would now be paying for rainmaker status, severly behind on points compared to others users - and you would be struggling to learn it quicker in order to try and catch up. This always results in a less than ptimal experience because if you truly do not fully understand the tools of these platforms - then how can you best use it ti its full advantage.

Watch this infant website in the next few months. I would not be suprised to see numerous tools and changes added in the coming months. Plus, you never know when something can change from free to a paid subscription - better safe than sorry, and in this case "better never than late!"