Google Has Done Right by Social Search
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5. Circles is a major step
One
of Facebook's biggest flaws is managing how to share content with friends.
Although it's possible to lump friends into different groups on Facebook, the
best integration of the feature is on Google+ with Circles. The way I see it,
Circles is a major improvement in the social world, and it's something that
other networks are still struggling to match.
6. Cut the waste
One
of Whittaker's chief complaints about Google's social strategy is that it fails
to allow for an entrepreneurial spirit at the company. But is that really a bad
thing? Google was releasing tons of online services before the company cut
back, and many of them just weren't cutting it. Google should be commended for
realizing that sometimes not every online service is worth using.
7. Usability
One
of the nicest things about Google+
is that it's made to work the way users would expect. Unlike so many other
online services, the social network is intuitive, immediately making it
inviting to the user. Is it perfect? Of course not. But it's far more usable
than many competing social networks.
8. Resisting major acquisitions
Along
the way, Google could have acquired a host of major social-networking companies
(and years ago did). In fact, the company could have bought up Facebook and
Twitter. But it smartly stayed out of that buying craze, instead delivering products
of its own. In the social space, especially, acquisitions don't work out. Google
benefited by understanding that simple rule.
9. Delivering a real alternative to
Facebook
As
mentioned, Google
didn't just offer a Facebook clone with Google+. The company was also able
to offer a real alternative for consumers. Not copying what Facebook does is
one thing, but actually delivering a service that makes at least some people
think twice about connecting with others on the world's largest social network
is quite another. It's a real testament to Google's social strategy.
10. Staying true to Google
Finally,
and perhaps most importantly, Google has been able to stay true to itself with
its new social strategy. Sure, it's heavily focused on advertising and
integration with other services, and it's not exactly third-party happy, but isn't
that what made Google so popular in the first place? Sorry, but it's awfully
difficult to fault Google for being, well, Google.
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