Today I accessed my Google Plus account to discover a whole new look and feel. Honestly, I didn’t know it was coming so it was a little bit of a surprise. But after posting the same update on Google Plus and then Facebook’s timeline, I quickly realized that Google is doing a better job than Facebook at putting content first.
As an example of what I’m talking about, take a look at these two status updates.
This status update was made on Google Plus.
This one was made on Facebook.
The content was the same, but look at the difference in presentation. Google Plus put the video front and center, fully expanded and ready to go. Facebook gave a postage stamp that isn’t all that inspiring. Google Plus made put the ability to leave comments out in the open with the least amount of clicks to get to the action. Facebook hides the ability to comment under a link that requires multiple clicks to interact.
After looking at the two updates it occurred to me. Facebook recently announced that they are buying Instagram for 1 billions dollars in cash and stock. That’s nothing more than a media play before their stock IPO when you realize that Google dropped that much pocket change in the parking lot on their way into work this morning.
The fact is Google isn’t going away any time soon. In fact, if you use Google Docs, Google Calendar, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Voice, Google Chat, or Google Search, then your already there anyway. Your gonna use Google Plus eventually. Maybe not today, but eventually. Google doesn’t need to take Facebook head on because Facebook can go the way of … the way of … what was that other thing called again … oh yeah, MySpace.
Don’t get me wrong. I like the interaction that I get on Facebook. My friends are there. My clients are there. But I’m telling you, one day you’re gonna wake up to the fact that Google Plus is just a part of the fabric of your daily internet experience. It’s not going to be a billion dollar announcement, it’s just going to be a fact.
Charles McKeever
OpenSourceMarketer.com
