The Google Plus Apathy Malaise

I would say I (don't) trust Google just at the same level as Facebook. Maybe I would say Facebook is mistreating my privacy in a different way but Google... well, they just know it all, don't they: they see me searches, I have my mail account there, now they want me do my social networking with them... I don't know if that feels so secure to me ;-)

@schnoerrchen Hi Katharina, Would you say you trust Google more, less, or just the same as Facebook when it comes to personal information and privacy? As they (Facebook) do seem to have more than their fair share of problems with that issue too?

I still don't really use Google+. I signed up, being one of the "marketers/agencies" you refer to. But to be honest, Google+ would have to be so much better than Facebook for me to be bothered to really switch or use it more ( http://wp.me/p1JgHJ-V) And I don't see that. Yes, the design of Google+ is clearer and seems to be easier to use (would I be used to it yet) but I still don't really trust Google with personal information safety either. So I will look into my Google+ account every now and then and wait what happens.

I still don't really use Google+. I signed up, being one of the "marketers/agencies" you refer to. But to be honest, Google+ would have to be so much better than Facebook for me to be bothered to really switch or use it more ( http://wp.me/p1JgHJ-V) And I don't see that. Yes, the design of Google+ is clearer and seems to be easier to use (would I be used to it yet) but I still don't really trust Google with personal information safety either. So I will look into my Google+ account every now and then and wait what happens.

I am still wating for the wave.

I am still wating for the wave.

@DannyBrown I don't think it is anything they are not doing, it just seems most of my time is twitter/commenting/blogging and I just go to FB as an afterthought because that is where I was first. I think it would take a major shift of my core group over there and if that was the easiest way to engage at that point then I would probably be more on board. I'm not adverse to embracing change, it's just I feel I still have so much to learn in the arena I'm in.

@bdorman264 Here's the thing, Bill - let's say you're the audience Google wants (or needs) to become the next Facebook (that may not be their goal, but obviously Facebook is the standard bearer at the minute). What would you advise they need to do to make it interesting for folks like you?

@newdaynewlesson Real life's a bugger at times, eh? ;-)

@ExpatDoctorMom Not sure if it'll go away, Rajka, and it definitely has its uses. Just not seeing the big "Wow!" factor I feel Google needs to really bring it to the game. We'll see. :)

I have read the advantages from other's blogs thesaleslion (Marcus) gave a great example. None of my personal friends are on Google+ and I was just going to start to utilize it more... Maybe I am right in delaying usage if it may go away? Thanks for your thoughts Danny!

I have read the advantages from other's blogs @thesaleslion (Marcus) gave a great example. None of my personal friends are on Google+ and I was just going to start to utilize it more... Maybe I am right in delaying usage if it may go away?

Thanks for your thoughts Danny!

I have definitely not given it much time or attention lately. So yeah for me the novelty has worn off-or real life has taken precedence?

I have definitely not given it much time or attention lately. So yeah for me the novelty has worn off-or real life has taken precedence?

Like everything else I've done so far, I just showed up. I have done some cursory adding people, but haven't really used it. However, I only use FB on a limited basis, so it's not much different . Since some of my twitter friends have now crossed over to my FB, I am picking the pace up a little bit. It will probably be old news by time the time I get 'all in'. Oh well, if you set your expectations low enough you will never be disappointed, right?

Like everything else I've done so far, I just showed up. I have done some cursory adding people, but haven't really used it. However, I only use FB on a limited basis, so it's not much different . Since some of my twitter friends have now crossed over to my FB, I am picking the pace up a little bit.

It will probably be old news by time the time I get 'all in'. Oh well, if you set your expectations low enough you will never be disappointed, right?

I stronlgy feel that Google is good on track this time to get the best of all existing systems (not only social networking, its about much more) but without the limitations. For example the spam problem. Google is really strong at that. They have experience from the search rank fights with blackhat SEO guys and also the technical assets needed to reach the target. For example I watched a long comment thread yesterday, and a spammer trying to post a link to an external site was taken of the system within 20 seconds and also his post disappeared "live" without refreshing the page ;-) The "digital passport" what they want to reach through strong identity focused measures holds great risks, but even greater opportunities for us. I am watching all those things happening online since 1993 and I am a great sceptic about privacy issues and also that until this summer all products of Google besides advertising (where the money is coming in) have only been little snacks to impress the competition. But this time, when G+ will be combined with Google Apps and the business users. Imagine the oportunities. You can then reach out and contact millions of contacts where the identity is checked through multiple measures. I would go this far in my vision that in 10 years even your financial rating will depend on your online reputation, and G+ will be one of the main sources of trust.

@nathanweaver I think that's probably the biggest disappointment, Nathan, the lack of integration with other Google tools. Maybe they're drip-feeding so as to not overwhelm, but since the early audience is made of of tech savvy folks and Google fanboys (and I say that with respect), it seems odd to hold off on the tools they'd love to see in use, and the ones that could really set G+ apart. Ah well indeed...

@easytouch Would you say G+ is more like Twitter then, Robert? Many breaking news stories on there before the main media channels (although this isn't always a good thing). So, G+ is the natural fit between Twitter and Facebook, and maybe Google doesn't want too many of either audience?

@easytouch Good points. Huzzah.

I use fb to stay in touch with people, and g+ to stay in touch with information. (ref. to the social graph vs. infograph thing that Robert Scoble refers to often) I already see a strong difference after a few days usage of g+ that i lets me really build up this "infograph" thing. I find from breaking news (learned about Steve Jobs 20 minutes before mashable) up to special interest information which I find by circling specific individuals. I never could "tap" into special interests like this on fb. In any case competition is good and so I stay with it and look forward what the future brings.

I use fb to stay in touch with people, and g+ to stay in touch with information. (ref. to the social graph vs. infograph thing that Robert Scoble refers to often) I already see a strong difference after a few days usage of g+ that i lets me really build up this "infograph" thing. I find from breaking news (learned about Steve Jobs 20 minutes before mashable) up to special interest information which I find by circling specific individuals. I never could "tap" into special interests like this on fb. In any case competition is good and so I stay with it and look forward what the future brings.

@DannyBrown It's a numbers game. If I keep saying stuff, something is bound to be sensible.

I was kind of excited about, because I use Google Apps with my site, and the possibility of integrating what I do with my site (which is built on Google Apps and Blogger) got me really excited. But then I found out that I couldn't join as an Apps account 'yet', which meant I couldn't get in there with the Google ID I wanted to use and take advantage of things like Circles, Hangouts and likes for promoting my site... at least, not now. I don't know if it will ever replace FB, or what, but I saw it as a great social tool for people trying to network for professional purposes... and well... that just hasn't happened yet. Kinda feel like they're shooting themselves in the foot. It just seems like Facebook is a nightmare for a person with ADD (self included). Whereas, I saw Google as a chance to reorganize. Ah, well... we'll see what time holds.

I was kind of excited about, because I use Google Apps with my site, and the possibility of integrating what I do with my site (which is built on Google Apps and Blogger) got me really excited. But then I found out that I couldn't join as an Apps account 'yet', which meant I couldn't get in there with the Google ID I wanted to use and take advantage of things like Circles, Hangouts and likes for promoting my site... at least, not now.

I don't know if it will ever replace FB, or what, but I saw it as a great social tool for people trying to network for professional purposes... and well... that just hasn't happened yet. Kinda feel like they're shooting themselves in the foot.

It just seems like Facebook is a nightmare for a person with ADD (self included). Whereas, I saw Google as a chance to reorganize.

Ah, well... we'll see what time holds.

@DannyBrown Exactly. And though I didn't mention this before, I'm not seeing much takeup of Google+ among my NON-early-adopter friends and family. I can't even imagine trying to make the case to my parents, for example, that they should try out Google+. They only joined Facebook about a year ago. And at least as of today, there's no real compelling reason for them to go someplace else.

@BryanPerson That's it in a nutshell, mate - no (clear) overriding factor to be there, but no reason to close the door completely either. Let's see what next six months hold. :)

@Lori I guess dedicated video conferencing, but these are obviously premium (hence the better quality). But be interesting to see if it's taken up or just seen as a gimmick longer term. :)

@DannyBrown LOL, I was wondering just that after I posted my comment Danny. I don't think the Hangout feature would be enough to sway people over, only that it could be used for that. I see way too many "funny" videos being posted :o I don't know what that's about and have had to unfollow someone already! For sure, it's a super challenge for Google to do this. The only way it will work is if all the newbies go over and/or all the ones already deeply indoctrinated in Facebook decide to go over. How does that happen? I don't know. Does anyone else have the ability to have 10 people on a video chat at once? But then, it will probably be only a matter of time until they do!

In terms of how I spend my day — at least right now — it's just difficult to devote a ton of time on Google+, particularly because I'm a heavy Twitter and Facebook user. I have good networks in both of those places, and I get personal and business value from both. Since the G+ novelty factor wore off, it's just made more sense to me to continue to devote most of time to Facebook and Twitter. But it'd be silly to close the door on Google+, because this is really only Phase 1 of a project that Google is obviously committed to. And there's certainly potential for it to evolve into a viable channel for some our brand clients. So I'll keep checking in on it and experimenting every now and again, and see where it leads!

In terms of how I spend my day — at least right now — it's just difficult to devote a ton of time on Google+, particularly because I'm a heavy Twitter and Facebook user. I have good networks in both of those places, and I get personal and business value from both. Since the G+ novelty factor wore off, it's just made more sense to me to continue to devote most of time to Facebook and Twitter.

But it'd be silly to close the door on Google+, because this is really only Phase 1 of a project that Google is obviously committed to. And there's certainly potential for it to evolve into a viable channel for some our brand clients. So I'll keep checking in on it and experimenting every now and again, and see where it leads!

I believe that most people will eventually use 1 SN site with some adding another like Linkedin or twitter.

@Ari Herzog See, THAT sounds pretty cool and something to make non-users think about.

@MSchechter Wow, you said something sensible? ;-) That's definitely the biggest challenge ahead - Facebook has appealed to the everyday user. G+ has built a reputation of being full of geeks and tech nerds. Which is cool for folks like you and me, but maybe not so for the user that Google needs to gain critical mass. We'll see.

@LordZion Are you a faux celebrity or a faux wannabe? ;-) That's the thing, mate - Facebook isn't about to roll over, and with engineers in lockdown mode, you can be sure they'll counter heavily. Getting past the Facebook "Fans" is going to be an interesting challenge for Google - assuming they want to, of course.

@DannyBrown The first time I joined a hangout there were 10 other people from around the world -- and one of them tried an experiment, bringing his laptop and tethered phone into the car, and drove around Los Angeles like an episode of COPS. Whatever he saw driving, we saw alongside in his video stream. I imagined future uses of this if/when Google hangouts is synced with Google latitude and other programs. For my own use, I see it as a viable way to schedule mini town hall forums. People can enter and leave.

@Vicki_Kunkel It'll be interesting to see what the landscape's like in 5 years time or less, Vicki. Like you say, there are just waaay too many platforms at the minute. Yes, competition is good, but how many of these are really viable competitors, and how many are just ambling along? Loyalty plays a huge part, and so far Facebook has played that card really well, despite their frequent screw-ups with privacy, etc.

@EugeneFarber You know, that's an interesting point and one I'm hearing a lot of, the closed door approach. A lot of people are saying, "Okay, well why should I go back when they didn't want me in before?", and it's a valid one. Especially when Facebook pretty much has all most people need anyway. Be interesting to see how the opening of business options will change this, since the test accounts at the minute aren't offering anything mind-blowing...