One of my subscribers was kind enough to send an invitation to Google+ and I took the time to look it over to see what it offers.  The service has gotten a lot of press lately and there's talk that they already have over 10 million subscribers.  The service is still in "beta" test while they work out the kinks.  At first glance, Google+ looks great and offers superior integration with many Google services including Picassa, Gmail, and others.  There are no stupid games like they have on Facebook so it looks like the perfect balance of fun and simplicity.  However, I started to realize one big problem:

I don't need another damned social network!

For me, the time I spend on Facebook and LinkedIn is more than enough.  Both services are clearly defined, LinkedIn is professional, Facebook is personal (although most people mix personal and business).  Those platforms are stable, reliable, have a huge following, and do nearly everything Google+ can do, it not elegantly.  So I'm looking at Google+ and wondering why I want to pour more of my limited time into another social network that is very likely to die in a couple of years?  Google has a beef with Facebook but I'm certain I don't need to rebuild my link of friends on Google+ to help them win that battle.

5 Good Reasons Google+ Is Likely To Go Away...

  1. Facebook and LinkedIn do a very good job as it is and there's little reason to switch
  2. Google+ doesn't offer anything truly unique to the mix of social networking
  3. Google has had other "Big Plan" services that they eventually shut down
  4. Social networking has reached a saturation point in the US (Facebook lost subscribers this year)
  5. We're all looking for something "new and exciting" but quickly get bored so the fascination with Google+ will fade quickly

I'll access invitations to Google+ and will take a little time to poke around on it from time to time but I'm not going to waste energy with updates and other content just to build my presence on there.  It's time consuming enough trying to work with Facebook and other sites, let alone adding a new one.  So, my prediction is that Google+ makes a big splash and we'll see it fade into the distance as people become weary of "yet another social network".  Unless they add some incredibly slick feature to make it stand out from the competition, I'll stick with Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Posted by Bryan Robertson on 07/12/2011 03:54 PM   Comments (11)   Google+ in the Technology and Tools Channel   google, review, social, network  
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11 Comments on Google+ Remind me why we need another social network?

JUL
12
2011
105,721 Points Outside Blog

Couldn't agree with you more! I think people are tired of managing all their social networking sites so unless someone comes out with something that we can't live without it will never take off.
4:05pm • #1
137,386 Points 8 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I slightly disagree with you about the Google plus. You have made very valid points but i believe that majority of the users on other social networking sites would migrate to Google plus. The Facebook user statistics already reduced drastically this year. This is something we probably thought would never happen. This was partly because of twitter. Now twitter is going to be allowing promoted tweets (adverts) to everyone's timeline which they have no control of. This may piss users off and would make them migrate to Google plus. The number of users as at today is approximately 10 million and is estimated to be 20 million by the weekend or something close to that and this is in a short period of time. I think Google plus might actually stick around longer than you think. Also if potential clients are communicating on Google plus why not engage them there?

 

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4:22pm • #2
885,525 Points 178 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Laura - There are tools to manage all your social media sites via one interface but that feels like a bandaid looking for a wound.  We'll see what happens to Google+

Gabrielle - You make a good point - users who find themselves unhappy with Facebook, Twitter, etc will look to Google+ for a change.  The trick to Google+ surviving will be how long they can offer these little differences when the big players don't have fixes.  If Twitter adjusts their ad model, users might come back.  Does that make sense?
4:36pm • #3
137,386 Points 8 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I agree Bryan. I guess we would have to wait it out but id advice that you dont completely neglect it because people are starting early to build followership and if it does take off it would be difficult to catch up with competitors. 
4:42pm • #4
161,186 Points 5 Featured Posts

My biggest beef with Facebook is that they keep changing (not improving) their interface and none of the iterations are intuitive
4:46pm • #5
885,525 Points 178 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Gabrielle - I'll keep tinkering with it but just a little bit at a time.  As you say, it could take off.

Colleen - I agree with that!  The Facebook interface is a joke and hasn't been good for a long time.
4:49pm • #6
753,266 Points 107 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I'm with you, Bryan. There is only so much social networking we can do, if were going to make a credible effort at it, and it's hard at this point to justify the time and energy to add another one. I might change my mind in the future, but it isn't something I feel a need to rush into.
4:51pm • #7
611,137 Points 14 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I wonder when we all can even get on????   I tried but am on a "waiting list"   
5:09pm • #8
217,235 Points 17 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

At this rate, we may never put down our smart phones or back away from the computer.  It'll be interesting to see if Google+ takes off.  Online social networking is still so young (generally speaking).  The models used today will evolve into a platform many of us can't even fathom right now.
6:56pm • #9
1,168,336 Points 159 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I share you concerns, but am also trying to keep an open mind, so not sure how I feel...but I am feeling overwhelmed w/ all the time you could spend on SM.

I hope they add G+ to hoosuite...that would make it easier for me.
10:08pm • #10
450,381 Points 57 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Interesting thoughts... Maybe searchability will be better?  I started using it, but I am not an expert at it yet...  I like FB more...
10:35pm • #11

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