Facebook and Google+ Duke It Out
October 19, 2011 
35 Comments
Since Google launched its own social networking site back in June, a number of questions have been swirling about the site, Google+:
- Will it be successful?
- Will users flock to it?
- And most important, can it compete with Facebook?
The battle has raged throughout the summer, but I’m here to declare a winner: Facebook.
What About Google+
Google+ rocketed onto the scene and had the distinction of getting to ten million users faster than any other social networking site. Pretty impressive, right? But, and here’s the key, they were not able to sustain this. According to a number of articles, Google+ traffic has fallen by as much as sixty percent! Speculation is that people ran to Google+ because it was the new kid on the block, but few users saw any reason to stay. Wow! That doesn’t say much for Google+.
Management Doesn’t Use It, Why Should You?
A damning piece in this whole drama of Google+ versus Facebook is that it’s become public knowledge that only three of Google’s top management team even use Google+. And these users apparently rarely even post on their own site. That doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement, does it? Like or hate Mark Zuckerberg, but he has his own Facebook account, and he likely knows at least some of what users like and dislike about Facebook. It doesn’t sound like the same can be said of Google+.
To further compound their problems, a post from a Google+ engineer surfaced in which he ripped his fellow workers for not understanding platforms:
Google+ is a knee-jerk reaction, a study in short-term thinking, predicated on the incorrect notion that Facebook is successful because they built a great product. But that’s not why they are successful. Facebook is successful because they built an entire constellation of products by allowing other people to do the work. So Facebook is different for everyone. Some people spend all their time on Mafia Wars. Some spend all their time on Farmville. There are hundreds or maybe thousands of different high-quality time sinks available, so there’s something there for everyone.
Check out this wonderful article for this Google insider’s rant on his own company. It is truly fascinating.
For Google+, It Only Gets Worse
The biggest thing you need to look at with either of these social networking sites is what is called the Time on Site metric. When someone visits your Google+ page or your Facebook page, you want them to spend time on your site, not just bounce off it right away. And here’s the problem for Google+: they are no competition for Facebook. Statistics indicate that people spend up to three times more time on Facebook than Google. This means more chance for ads to be clicked on, more chance for users to engage with you as a fan page owner, and more chance for you to get people from Facebook to your website or book selling page. And with the ability to automate some of your tasks, an opportunity to make passive income online. Google just doesn’t do this.
The Knockout Blow For Facebook
So you add up all the points, it seems that Facebook is the winner. But here’s another thought that kept running through my mind when I first heard about Google+: why do we need another site like Facebook? What does Google+ offer that Facebook doesn’t? From what I’ve read, Google’s whole point in launching Google+ was to try and steal Facebook’s market share. But what do I care about that? If I’m going to spend time on a new site, I want new features that benefit…me! I have a site where I can engage with people, share links, videos, chat and so on, and that’s Facebook. So why do I need another site that does the same thing? And now, with people flocking away from Google, why would I want to be there?
Image courtesy of digitalart.
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I don’t think that google+ can compete with facebook. Facebook has gained there popularity as a social network & it is very tough for google+ place to gain such popularity.
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I use both Google+ and Facebook. Google+ now has over 40 million members. Although they don’t offer a tough competition yet for Facebook, we will need to wait and watch how things turn out in the coming months. It is always good to have a competition.
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November 3, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Yes, competition should keep both striving for the best. Thanks for the comment.
thanks for this information aim going to have an account on Google soon…thanks!
Twitter: reneepawlish
November 2, 2011 at 3:53 PM
I hope it’s successful for you – I’ll stick with Facebook for now
I think Google, facebook and twitter are on the way with different interfaces.
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November 1, 2011 at 12:20 AM
It will be interesting to see what happens to all three. Thanks for commenting.
When Google first started their + I thought it will be another site with new networking idea..
but it was just anther site that combined Facebook and twitter..
And why should i go and use anther facebook site while i have all me friends inside facebook?
that why facebook still on the top of G+
Thanks for the post.
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October 30, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Yes, so true, in my opinion. Thanks for the comment.
People are already addicted to Facebook. I will only change Facebook if all my friends migrate to Google+. But, that’s not going to happen real soon. Facebook will rule for a long time. What features can google add to make users interested? Currently, Facebook has almost all the features people need. They need to think of something better.
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October 30, 2011 at 11:41 AM
It would seem that way to me. Thanks for commenting.
Hi Renee, thanks for the post
About the race between Facebook and Google+, personally, I don’t pay much attention to it. IMO, I think the reason we have Google+ now is pretty obvious – market share as you stated.
I’m not participating in Google+ much not because it’s not good or I just hate Google. It’s because I jumped on the Facebook wagon long ago and I don’t wanna change my vehicle
As long as they keep their visitors in mind, they both deserve a stand online!
Thanks again for sharing Renee, have a nice day.
Duy.
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October 25, 2011 at 3:42 PM
Great points. I, like you, have used Facebook too long, and it’s hard to keep adding social media sites. If I could see more benefit to Google (from an author standpoint, not just socializing) I would be more inclined to go there. But I don’t, so I’m fine with Facebook. Thanks for commenting.
Though people says that Google + is failing to compete with Facebook, however according to the Larry Page’s information in the last week Google + has noticed about 40 million users. Though it is far away from Facebook’s 700+ users, but its a pretty good start. And since, Google has delivered many successful platforms to its users, I believe that Google + will definitely get success.
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October 21, 2011 at 11:05 AM
That’s interesting. How does their advertizing work? Do they have that option like FB fan pages?
I use them both… I like the features of Google+ but I just can set aside Facebook since lots of my friends are there.
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October 21, 2011 at 11:07 AM
What features of Google+ do you like? For me, I don’t have time for another social media site if it’s not different enough from Facebook. I use FB primarily for business, not socializing), and I’m really not interested in a social network site just for socializing. What are our readers thoughts on that?
Nice ideas! Reading googles are nicer than facebooking. Because you can gain knowledge in google while in facebook you can be updated only.
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October 21, 2011 at 11:04 AM
That’s interesting. Do you find that there are less people there since Google launched?
Hey, Renée that’s a good post but are you really sure Google+ is failing? I don’t know. I feel it’s too soon to tell.
Give them a chance! It’s absolutely normal for a new site to attract a lot of curious people at first and then they walk away and go back to what they’re used to (i.e. Facebook). We’re creatures of habit…
But, there’s always a but! Google+ actually does have an extra wheel (and I don’t mean “circle”!).
I suddenly realized the other day why it was so much better than Facebook for interacting with NEW people! Facebook has set up firewalls: unless you operate from your author page, people can’t interconnect with you easily. And author pages can be annoying to view, so much self promotion…So the best place to interconnect is from the normal pages.
Trouble is: you have to befriend people first. This friending process is deeply annoying, fraught with messages like “do you know this person”?
Google+ GETS AROUND THIS WALL. How? By allowing you to set up circles and limit messages to some people if you want to. Great for privacy of course. But the other side of the coin is fantastic: it means you can read the other stuff opened to the public, i.e. streams from people who are absolutely UNKNOWN to you but – this is the beauty – if you like what they say, you can comment. You don’t have to befriend them first. And if they like your comment, they invite you into their circle.
In other words, it’s like when you walk down the street and sit at a sidewalk café and start engaging in conversation with the people sitting at the next table. The chat can be fun. Sometimes you meet great people that way! Twitter does the same (to some extent, with hashtags) but Google+ is best at establishing this sort of connection, and Facebook is least good at it (if I may be pardoned the expression!)
In any case, thanks Renée, this is a great post and a very interesting subject!
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October 20, 2011 at 12:02 PM
I’m glad you like Google+. We’ll have to wait and see where it leads. I am a big advocate of fan pages because of the free advertizing it offers. As for too much self-promotion, that is definitely a fine line – it is of course a fan page, so promotion should be there, but authors need to know how to connect with their fan base, too.
Thanks for your wonderful insights into Google+.
Great comments, Renee. When I first heard about Google+ my initial reaction was, “Oh, NO! How can I possibly monitor one more social site?” We have so many friends in so many places now that it’s impossible to keep up. Facebook wins because it was first, and because users can use it in a thousand different ways while it continues to evolve.
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October 20, 2011 at 12:03 PM
That’s my feeling, I can’t keep up with it all. If Google+ really seems to take off, I’ll spend more time there, but for now, I’m with Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, a blog, a website…oh and writing books.
Thanks for sharing.
Hey Renee,
I think you pointed out the main reason why Facebook won over Google+, Mark Zuckerberg has his own Facebook account so he is better equipped to understand what can make Facebook the best social networking site online.
And the fact that people were spending three times more time on Facebook than Google is staggering. We definitely don’t need another Facebook.
Google should just stick to what they’re good at and thats being the best search engine online.
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October 20, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Good points. I think the most compelling thing was reading Google’s own programmer bash it and the higher ups at Google. That’s not good, no matter what company you are with.
Thanks for commenting.
Really,is it true?I don’t believe on this.It is very good news that Google launched its own social networking site.I will create account on this site.Thanks for this information.
Twitter: reneepawlish
October 19, 2011 at 11:32 PM
It is true. You’ll have to let us know what you think of Google+, especially since people seem to be flocking away from it. Thanks for your comment.
Are you serious about that no gravatar, no post thing? I can’t get my gravatar to work. Well, if you will post this, I was going to say great writing Rene. I’ve tried Google+ but really can’t get into it. I’m just really at a loss of purpose when I try Google+. Haven’t been back on since day two.
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October 19, 2011 at 11:34 PM
It seems so. I’m like you, I just didn’t see the point of Google+…and it sounds like there are a lot of us out there. Thanks for the comment.
I will not abandon facebook. Google+ is not good as Facebook.I only like google+ because of the a ngry bird game.
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October 19, 2011 at 11:35 PM
Ah, angry birds, they are everywhere. Thanks for the comment.
You hit a lot of good points in this blog huh! Speculation is that people ran to Google+ because it was the new kid on the block, but few users saw any reason to stay. Wow! That doesn’t say much for Google+.
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October 19, 2011 at 8:49 PM
Thanks! I got on there, but I couldn’t see how it would necessarily help. It’s not different enough so I’m sticking with what does work (Facebook, Twitter, a blog). Those keep me plenty busy. Appreciate the comment.
Google+ is similar to a Facebook, my friend and I have an account through it and as I seen it. It has a lot games likely the angry birds games. Thanks!
Twitter: reneepawlish
October 19, 2011 at 8:50 PM
I think that’s part of why it seems to be failing, it’s too similar to Facebook, and people don’t need more of the same. But if it works for you, that’s awesome. Thanks for the comment.