There’s a resurgence in the old “ghost town” argument surrounding Google+ recently. I’ve seen doubts about monthly interaction estimates, surprise at the lack of panic with Google+’s recent power out, and discredit around Google+’s new application sign-in service. Many of these articles have come from authors who haven’t filled out a Google+ profile and/or barely dabbled with the social network, but still consider themselves authorities on the subject. Now of course people are entitled to their own opinion, but here’s my take on what’s happening with Google+ usability and why so many get it wrong. Continue reading
Category Archives: Social Media & SEO
Is the Photo Sphere Google+ and the Nexus 4’s Secret Weapon?
In a sea of social networks struggling for relevance, finding ways to differentiate from the competition has become a recurring challenge for Google+. It has remained a social network offering every option available on alternatives, but nothing truly differentiated for everyday use. Google+ Hangouts remain very powerful, but video chatting will always linger as a third-tier communication method (texting first, voice calling second). Because of this, the missing final piece to the Google+ puzzle has always been real-life users – meaning people you know in reality using it consistently. Continue reading
Dude Ranch: Does Google+’s Low Female Ratio Really Matter?
A Wired article today discussed the lack of a female presence on the young social network Google+ (70 percent male). With five female technologists blaming Googlers themselves for the skew to the Y Chromosome. But does any of this even matter? I’ve never seen a site like Google+ answer to so much scrutiny for only being a year old. Pinterest, makes up about the same ratio exchanging male for female (70 percent female), and this feature is viewed as an attribute, not a curse. Continue reading
Is Google+ a Social Network?
Vic Gundotra, Google’s senior vice president of social business, wants you to think of Google+ as not a social network, but rather something a little more broad. In fact, he’d like you to not really acknowledge it as one at all.
The Power of the Post: 6 Ways to Nurture Your Google+ Content
Unlike any other social media site, Google+ offers you the ability to get the most out your posts. Because of a few key features only on Google+, the site offers the greatest ability for exposure over Facebook, Twitter or any other. Disagree? Well for anyone who is not a known commodity (celebrity, popular brand) getting visibility has never been easier on G+ – I’m a great example. Many of you have no idea who I am, but that doesn’t prevent me reaching you on Google+. Two weeks ago I had a very simply post about street lights, it was shared by 768 users, +1-ed by 1,582 and acquired 285 comments (link to post). Just try doing that on Facebook or Twitter – good luck. Now I only bring this up, because this could easily be you and here’s how. Below are six steps to get the most out of your posts and give them the maximum level of exposure. Continue reading
Getting the Most out of Google+ with Google Analytics
It’s a marriage we’ve been waiting for. The ability to integrate Google’s powerful analytical tool Google Analytics with Google+. Over the past couple weeks, this update has been rolling out to various profiles and I have to say I love it. Why? Well in the brief time of my new blog site I’ve wondered what people have been saying about my particular posts if they forgot to +mentioned me. So how do you leverage these new features as well old ones to get the most out of Google+? Let’s start with the new. Continue reading
Escape Your Twitter Funk with Pinterest
One of the biggest issues with Twitter for marketers is perhaps its greatest strength for others: text. This feature works great for news updates, mobilizing large groups, and creating a true fast and productive mobile communication method. But because Twitter relies heavily on shortened URLs and text to promote your message, Twitter becomes a sea of drifting headlines, with no other unique engagement to entice customers to click. Just the idea of text bores me from a product perspective and any marketer will tell you customers respond to images, video, and interactivity more than copy. Customers want to see the product in action, and then ask questions later. Continue reading
Is Google+ a Ghost Town? 5 Reasons That Will Change Your Mind
Several articles have appeared over the past week highlighting how Google+ is “dieing,” but maybe they’re looking at it through the wrong lens? What if Google+ never needed to be Facebook, but rather exist as something more? Continue reading
6 Reasons why Google Music is Better than iTunes
Is it just me or is Google’s under performing music service “Google Music” one of the company’s best kept secrets? Many, if you told them about the service, have probably never even heard of it or have no idea what differentiates the service from say iTunes. And most if they ever did, would probably react with eye rolls and sighs. So for the digital laggards out there who say, “I already have iTunes, what’s the point to getting Google Music?” Here are six benefits you can’t get with iTunes. Continue reading
Google+: Destroying SEO and Why That’s a Good Thing
Now anyone who knows a little about SEO, knows the importance of keywords, Meta tags, inbound links, and AdWord campaigns. You may know to notify Google about crawling new sites/landing pages you produce or you may constantly worry about your current page rank on the top search sites. You may have call-to-actions embedded in YouTube videos and your CPC campaigns may be an overwhelming success. But what if all that went away? What if content could stand alone? What if the only promotion you ever needed was great content? Insert Google+. Continue reading