Is Google+ Socially Awkward? Positive and Negative Reviews for the New Social Media Platform

The latest release of data from developers at 89n, a web application design company, records a heavy decrease in Google+ traffic even though it recently opened to all users.  While its inception was hyped and awaited by many, recent figures show that user participation has dropped by over 40% in the past two months.

Google launched the social network in late June of this year with an invitation-only sign-up to test its features and build anticipation among users.  With over 25 million registered users, Google + has been adding new features and incorporating social media with current Google services in order to provide a more integrated Google system. It seems as though many users who initially signed up for the network have gone back to more popular social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook has taken a cue from Google+, though, in its recent tweaking of privacy and posting settings, allowing users to choose who can see their status updates and activities. With elements like easier sharing, live video chat, “hangouts” (which are like live chat rooms), and the ability to cloud-share videos and pictures, Google+ has many more features than Facebook and Twitter. Nonetheless, social media users seem to be sticking with their go-to sites.

Currently, Google+ doesn’t offer a social media option for businesses like Facebook does. However, the social network is still in its developing stages as Google tests new components including a business feature expected to release winter 2011. While users seem to be getting bored with what Google+ is offering, it may be that people just don’t yet know how to utilize the network’s integrated components.

Social media advocate Daniela Baker believes that Google+ will be more beneficial to businesses than some may think, though. Most businesses have regular user profiles on the network now that allow them to act like a typical user. However, the Google+ business profiles could be more beneficial to small businesses than Facebook’s current business pages.

There is speculation that Google did not renew its “Realtime Search” options with Twitter that displayed certain tweets and Facebook posts along with search results earlier this year because it plans tointegrate that into its Google+ system. This means there is a chance that businesses regularly using Google+ would show up organically in real-time on a user’s search query, upping their SEO ranking within SERPs (search engine results pages). Other beneficial options could include integrated e-commerce websites to allow payment systems through the business’ profile as well as better advertising and analytics options.

Much like the initial opening of Google+, businesses will have to sign up for an invitation and wait until the unveiling to see what features Google has chosen to include in Google+ for businesses . However, small to midsize businesses shouldn’t delete their Facebook pages. Instead, utilize the beneficial features of both in order to reach the maximum number of current and potential members of your target audience.

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