Social Media Marketing

Is Google Plus a Facebook ‘killer’?

The highly anticipated Google+ Project has been launched and marks the entry of Google into the social media arena, and according to experts who have taken a tour of the features of this new Google product, will turn the rest of Google’s offerings into one giant social network.

There’s no doubt that this new social network targets Facebook as its competitor, and what it provides its users (even though it is restricted to invitation only) sets it apart from the popular Buzz and Orkut social media platforms that are being used these days.

Yet it’s going to take a while before Google+ can compete with the 700 million users of Facebook, there’s one of m any features that distinguishes it from Facebook in its current ‘avatar’: Circles.

Yes, you can create “circles” (smaller groups) that segregate your family members, colleagues, schoolmates for the purpose of being able to share specific information with each of these groups.

Until now, people would have to share information with everyone or message people in private if they wanted to convey information, and which can be a bit awkward especially in public – and this is where Google has customized the ability to share specific information with certain people only. Perhaps a feature that isn’t available on Facebook which makes one wonder why!

Now each of these Circles has their own streams (similar to Facebook’s Newsfeed) where you can share what you would like to each group without having to worry about any of the other groups seeing what you are sharing with the others.

Hangouts, a video group chat feature and Sparks, a search engine for hobbies are also two other features that this new social network has to offer, and even though the opportunity in this social network is by invitation only, people who are lucky enough to participate say that it is a winner alright.

Yet what is for sure is that there’s a long way to go before it threaten the reach of Facebook in the world of ‘social media’.