Lack Of Signal In A Sea of Noise
There’s an incredible amount of media and blogger noise about social networks, yet most focus on “killer app” hype without an objective point of view. My career mission? To cut out the hype and help companies make sense of what to do. For those fraught with information overload, this definitive matrix distills what matters.
Situation: New Contender Shakes Up Industry
Google has entered the social networking play with “Buzz”, and by the look of it, this time it’s for real. There’s a lot of market confusion on how they could stack up, so here’s my take. Let’s cut the noise and get to the heart of it with a comparison matrix based upon my insights talking to these companies in formal briefings, observations, as a user, my former research and dealing with the brands trying to reach them.
Executive Summary: Brands Must Stay Focused On Where Customers Already Are
Google’s entrance causes media havoc but web strategists should stay focused. Find out where customers already are through developing data around consumer behavior called socialgraphics. Facebook continues to demonstrate a sophisticated marketplace for consumers and brands to mix about, however don’t discount MySpace’s active consumer base –but only if your customers are already there. Continue to monitor Twitter and respond if customers are tweeting –but they’ve yet to indicate sophistication to help marketers, instead rely on third party tools and agencies to respond. The feature set of newly spawned Google Buzz isn’t important, what matters is their ability to aggregate social content which will impact search strategy for businesses trying to reach consumers, read my first take analysis.
This scorecard has a limited shelf life, so I’ll likely create a new scorecard after future announcements from these players.
Web Strategy Matrix: Google Buzz vs Facebook vs MySpace vs Twitter (Feb 2010)
| Google Buzz | MySpace | |||
| One-Liner | A dark horse that has big backing and access to existing platforms. | A mainstay platform that needs to grow out of its shell. | The MTV of this generation is at risk during an ugly transformation. | Has opportunity to become utility-like infrastructure, but not a destination. |
| Vitals (see more stats) | Estimated to sit on a user based of over 100mm active gmail users, they have access to the most popular webpage in the world, google.com. Has access to mainstream users on Google.com and advanced email users on Gmail. | Boasting over 400mm users in just a few short years, they’ve saturated Gen Y in US, and show global expansion at record rates. | Recently reported at 57mm US unique users most of which are heavily engaged with site. Has saturation of coveted youth, working class and small businesses within US. | Although difficult to track, estimates indicate 75mm active users, but doubts are emerging about reduced rate of growth. Usage by tech savvy, media, and celebs. |
| Strengths | A large talent pool of engineers to pull from, Buzz stands on top of existing Gmail, mobile devices, and dominant search portal. As Buzz grows, they can integrate with all Google apps –and aggregate the entire internet. | Rapid US and international growth over last few years bodes well as quickly evolved feature set of platform and and FB Connect gain traction. Attracts top talent from Google –which are quickly defecting. | Big backing by a media giant, a super engaged audience, and rich history of reaching media starved young consumers. | Has clinched adoption over media elite, celebrities, and tech influencers. Incredible media buzz, and easy-to-use features. |
| Weaknesses | Late to the party, Google has had a series of social networking misfires from Wave, Dodgeball, Orkut their culture shows signs of becoming corporate –like Microsoft. | Struggles with the conundrum of having promised users a ‘closed’ experience where to be successful requires them to be ‘open’. Historically poor track record in meeting privacy expectations of customers, and overall complex interface. | Complacent: they really let themselves go. In the eyes of the tech world, they are becoming irrelevant or even worse, a niched media play –not even a lifestyle network. This leaderless ship without a captain is undergoing radical internal turmoil and innovation has stalled. | Although features are dead simple, they are now a commodity –status update features are ubiquitous. Mainstream users confused by how to get started. Overhyped, the infrastructure has shown strain. Brands generally confused on how to interact. |
| Opportunity | The more information users share, tag, or create, the more data is created on Google’s platform to organize, giving them opportunity to monetize. | By integrating Facebook Connect everywhere, the service becomes ubiquitous, and therefore the default identity and default address book for consumer behavior. | A few hours ago, the CEO Van Natta was let go. Now a new chief can step up, and lead the recently formed executive team, fostering innovation and solidarity. | Must develop more features to increase the overall value of this utility of the this simple status messaging tool. |
| Threats | Mainstay email companies like Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL have already shown social features ‘bolted’ onto their email systems, and could pose threat, although success hasn’t been proven by any. Secondly, Facebook has made notions to develop an email web client “Project Titan” that will threaten tech savvy users competing for Gmail’s attention. | Facebook is a conundrum as they must make experience open –yet this provides Google the opportunity to monetize as an intermediary. Social networks come and go, before MySpace was Friendster, they run the risk of becoming complacent, losing talent to Twitter and failing to innovate over the next few years. | Self-implosion from internal instability causes stalls, forcing media brands to develop their own social networking on their own sites, rendering MySpace a duplicate. Worse yet? Cool kids jump ship, and establish a colony elsewhere, leaving MySpace a wasteland of clueless advertisers. | Overhype from media leaves Twitter at risk for burn-out-syndrome like a Hollywood child star turned skid row. Secondly, the more successful they are, the more strain it put on the already questionable infrastructure. |
| Marketing Platform | Although not fully developed, expect advertising options to appear for brands who want to promote relevant ads wherever Buzz is located, especially on SERP pages | Confusing and overly complicated, there are too many marketing options perplexing brands. It’s not clear if brands should advertise, interact in pages, create widgets or do a combination of all. | Strong and straight forward. Established team has cut deals with many media companies and has legacy culture of understanding media. | Nascent. Although promises have been made for branded experiences, analytics, and other premium features, for most marketers it’s being treated like a chat room –not a marketing platform. |
| Future State | Buzz will aggregate the voices of their users –and those of other social networks, aggregate and serve up monetization options. | A communications platform for consumers and brands. Expect Facebook experience to be in many public experiences and mobile devices. | There are two paths: Integrate MySpace into TV and mobile devices or fade into pit of irrelevance like Friendster. | Like gas, water, or power, Twitter is likely to fade into the background and become a utility that’s integrated into everything –someday, even your fridge will Tweet. |
| What They Don’t Want You To Know | The collective already owns you –you just don’t know it yet. | They’re trying so hard to shift from closed to open, and like a nasty divorce, it’s tearing them apart from users. | Like an internal disease, the insiders are hurting, morale sunk, teams in disarray, yet they don’t want the public to know. | Not sure what they want to be when they grow up. |
| What They Should Do | Demonstrate success with Buzz, then quickly integrate into other tools like Search and Chrome. Kill off the confusing Wave, and consolidate teams and efforts. Aggregate public content from Twitter and Facebook, intermediate them and monetize their own content. | Get open now. Build a browser to quickly go transcend the web. Reward users to share more information in public like restaurant or media reviews in exchange for other values. Double down efforts on Project Titan email feature. | Quickly establish a chain of command and execute based upon a single vision. Have regular talent turnover to avoid complacency. Develop a white label product that can compete with Cisco EOS, Kyte, Pluck, or Kickapps (Altimeter client). | Develop a vision to become the dominant protocol over SMS, where teens and international cultures are already heavily texting. Continue to build out platform for developers to build on top of, becoming a data play, like a utility. |
Everyone has a morning ritual, for me, I invest up to two hours reading, thinking, and blogging each morning. I hope this helps you cut through the noise –if it was helpful, please pass it on, email to colleagues, tweet it, and blog about it.
Nice Matrix. Is the date on the Matrix Feb. 09 or is supposed to be Feb.10?
Thanks (again) for your brilliant Analysis!
Jennifer some people say some are 'stuck in the 80s'. I guess I was stuck in the oh-nines. Updated, thanks.
Jennifer some people say some are 'stuck in the 80s'. I guess I was stuck in the oh-nines. Updated, thanks.
Great analysis in a concise and readable form. Certainly delivers on your promise of cutting through the hype and delivering the information and views that are important to know.
Nice article. Under the “Vitals” section, shouldnt the Google users be mn or bn?
Initially, I was dramatically underwhelmed by BUZZ. Your matrix does a great job of illustrating the potential Buzz and helps us look beyond its current iteration to what the future may hold. The potential is enormous and based on your matrix, the one-trick pony of Twitter has a lot to be concerned about.
KJ
I was just counting active Gmail users, not overall active Google users. I use “mm” for million, as suggested here:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_abbreviation_…
Matt, thanks. It's about looking at potential future state, as savvy brands place bets on where the ball will be.
Thanks for the list. It was easy-to-read and interesting. I'm curious to see how Buzz works it's way into or out of the fold. Time will tell.
As ever, this is great. I do have a question though. Is the very expansive and pervasive nature of social networks in general a retardant to the value that might be delivered through really specialized community networks. Is the value to be gained by domain specific 'intelligent' aggregators. Imagine an automated-Jeremiah that's watching everything on the different networks for industry specific events/tweets/etc – not just in a Radian6 like way – but with Jeremiah-like analysis built in?
great great post.
Right now a lot of people think Buzz is confusing and hard to use. This is only because they aren't used to it. We also have to remember that it's not a finished product. It will only get better!
Jaimey
http://BuzzUsers.com
An automated Jeremiah? Oh dear, the manual one is enough.
Yes, what you're talking about is 'social graph aggregation' there's a few vendors that are doing this, see our categorization of Social CRM vendors that are doing this.
See the third bullet from the bottom: “Social graph aggregation”.
http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2009/12/08/l…
The challenge is, most of these players have not built in any intelligence, they're just scraping. Immature space still.
Ultimately, Google is attempting to aggregate all social graphs, that's the whole point of Google profile.
Thanks Jeremy for the swot matrix, I totally agree with the opportunity of Twitter to become a SMS protocol. I'm missing some reference to Google Buzz approach on open standards, though.
I have really high hopes that Google Buzz can aggregate twitter and facebook. that would be awesome and so practical
Thanks Jeremiah! Really great analysis – it has already been shared with colleagues and friends. Would it be relevant to add Foursquare and LinkedIn or is that not relevant?
Excellent analysis. It'll be interesting to see how these networks stack up in a few months. Adding LinkedIn to the analysis would be interesting as well. Google has an interesting balancing act to perform – becoming Big Brother without letting us see them do it and without revealing all to the NSA in their work with them.
Foursquare is far to small for this list, however expect me to invest more in mobile social networks later.
LinkedIn is *very* relevant, but doesn't have B2C focus, making it hard for me to measure up as mainstream. Nearly al B2B companies must focus on LinkedIn.
There's the noise surrounding Google Buzz and each move of Facebook and Twitter and al…
… and there's the noise created by Google itself by letting social capabilities get in the way of the preferred one-on-one (and one-to-many, let's not forget it) communication device that is email.
This is quite a surprise move from Google in terms of user experience. Even Google-champions are confused. Google Buzz add so much confusion in the means that beside, Facebook looks like an Oscar-winning in the UX category…
Good matrix/summary. I have a hunch Buzz will eventually overshadow the rest as a marketing platform, especially if Google is able to aggregate content from FB and other social platforms.
In this format, I can only fit 5 columns. Maybe I'll do another Matrix for B2B space.
Very useful comparison. And thanks for clarifying B2C vs B2B and LinkedIn.
Great analysis, my peers don't play in MySpace at all though, not even a consideration. Do you view MySpace as a age and industry specific? I interact in the wine & food world, and I just don't see them using MySpace.
“Things are internally falling apart, but they don™t want the public to see.”
The world knew MySpace was internally falling apart when they put the founders in an “Advisory role” and Rupert became the webmaster over there.
GREAT read Jeremiah. I also wanted to commend you on the speed and engagement you have with your commenters/followers. I forget whos blog I was reading, maybe Seths or DannyBrown and they were saying that is one of the most powerful ways to build a following, is engaging with your audience after the blog post.
Your newest follower (8 seconds ago),
Mike Howard
Outstanding analysis. Agree that a Linked-in column w/b an important addition. Thanks so much for laying out this feedback side by side, and coming clean on Wave. “Confusing” is a great word for it (but first time I'd heard it used !!).
You didn't get at feature sets, and I'm still a bit in the dark on Buzz. Is that coming?
Chris
Yes, Google just announced Buzz, I was on site at the Googleplex to learn first hand. Read my 'First Take' Analysis
http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2010/02/09/q…
Mike
Welcome to the Web Strategy community, I'm glad to serve the industry –and have fun along the way!
I agree. That's why my third bolded paragraph encourages brands to first focus on 'where there customers are' rather than be tool specific.
The four I listed above (there are many others) have global growth, media hype, and mainstream adoption patterns –that's why I focused on them.
thanks so much for putting this together!
What a great analysis! If the 4 aren't reading this, they're missing an opportunity.
Great matrix! I think MySpace is dying quickly… and I agree, Facebook will have to step it up a little bit to stay in the game for the long haul.
PS – I wish I had your blogging work ethic – 2 hours a day, Wow!
Google Buzz vs Facebook vs MySpace vs Twitter = kweeper.
Try kweeper.com a fresh and new heapcast service (mix of microblogging, visual bookmaking and real-time web ) and stop allways talking about the same…
Nice at-a-glance!
Excelent post.
Thank you for this analysis
Super framing, thanks! I just wonder; so many social tools…will it fragment the market further or where will cohesion begin? How many “aggregators” are we going to have/need?
Hey did you notice how your post is recent /blog/2010/02/11/ but the url is labeled feb-2009/ or Feb 2009?
http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2010/02/11/m…
You may want to consider checking into your blog setup
Yup Jeff, my initial title was wrong, I was stuck in a mental time warp in 2009. I changed the text, but can't change the URL at this point.
Thanks for making all this clearer. I love the idea of Twitter as a child star. Will it grow and adapt like Ron Howard or just wind up as mere tabloid fodder? We will see. Cheers.
Thanks for the thoughtful analysis. I agree Google's “current state” social networking initiatives have been lackluster. But, when the effective integration of social networking into their other properties inevitably occurs I believe they will become THE future force to be reckoned with it this space.
Excellent analysis. Another row you might add to the matrix: who is the customer?
Thanks for the terrific and nuanced analysis. Jeremiah — any initial thoughts about how Buzz might integrate the newly-acquired Q&A service, aardvark?
Great SWOT analysis – For corporate development and investment, I still think bets have to be made on a killer app.
I am seeing the long term viability with Google in markets like Real Estate. Embrace and extend the MLS with apps and content will inevitably bleed off revenue. Real Estate boards may have to partner at some level or disappear.
Not sure I can say the same for Facebook, Twitter or MySpace although they can be used in the second tier for aggregation and propagation of the programs etc. with connectors.
Would enjoy feedback!
Craig
Very well put together. I agree with your starting point and that is go with where your audience is. As a reasonable size content play we at RedBubble, Facebook is what drives visits and transactions. The nature of the interactions on Facebook means the referrals are valuable. I doubt also if Google gets how to build the psycho-dynamics of a social network. Google Groups was illustrative of this failure. For them the challenge is to understand it is not just about technology.
Extremely interesting, already retweeeted and I will buzz it too 😉
Thanks
Love and appreciate your business pragmatics Jeremiah regarding the eco-system of the social media players.
What I found so interesting about Google Buzz was how Google didn't enable any outward sharing.
They collect and aggregate information, yet it feels like they missed a massive part of the sharing puzzle which relates highly to their business of relevance, no SHARING functionality from within Buzz.
I may have missed it but can't seem to find tools to enable me to share information you may post via Buzz. Facebook is the same. Friendfeed and Twitter get it.
All the best.
This is the most concise comparative analysis of the top social media players. I am glad that I found you Jeremiah. Awesome job. Once I post this message, I am going to join… Cheers Java
Thanks, great insights as always, JO.
good blog post! i like your future state points particularly for twitter. I can see twitter being used more notification services like rememberthemilk.com, updates (have u seen baker tweet where u get notices from your baker that the bread has just finished baking!), etc…
With myspace, they need to totally own that youth/music space including TV as u mentioned.
Good information, I love the “what they don't want you to know” 🙂
Nice analysis, but based on a very perfunctory critique of usability, I don't think Google Buzz will be successful. Here's a link,http://bit.ly/b3TQBn, if anyone wants to know my complete thoughts, but in a nutshell, do you really want to share photos and videos with your friends using a same system that also stores your boss' email address?
Also, I definitely agree with you that they should kill Wave.
Shhhhh. They don't want you to know.
Too soon to tell. Often Google acquires apps, strips the product down, and just rebuilds with the new team.
I'll do that next time, for 'market' I had some of that in the 'vitals' row, but if you click on that link in the left column, I have all the data in subsequent page.
FB – “Build a browser” that one caught me off guard. Needs another article, I suppose.
Great analysis – thanks.
Is there a difference between B2B and B2C? I mean, really?
Great writeup; need to digest it. I'm boggled you included MySpace. I also wonder how prevalent this matrix would be outside North America.
Yup, there's a much longer discussion to be had there. It's one way Facebook can keep their promise of a 'closed private' experience for users while still transcending the open web.
Thanks! But ya should see my client work 😉
Interesting that Facebook and GOOG Buzz are creating #splinternets – massive inward aggregation with minimal tools to share with outside arcologies. In the wake of Van Natta's departure, I'm fascinated by Jason Hirschhorn primarily because of his experience in “anywhere media” and monetizing content from Sling Networks and MTV. I think most companies (other than Amazon, Apple and Hulu.com) have yet to demonstrate powerful experiences that include a system for rights-holders to monetize their content.
In a silly factoid that may interest only me, when I was researching Fox's actions leading to Van Natta's departure, I realized News Corp scion Lachlan Murdoch's ex-wife Anna Torv is now the lead actress for the Fox TV series “Fringe”.
This is a great resource for me! THANK YOU! Well done. 🙂
I think you like FB too much and twitter not enough. My belief is that, in time, FB will be in the same or worse condition that myspace is in now. Twitter, on the other hand, I find quite useful.
I think it's very early to say Twitter will be anything in the future.
Very good insight as always!
Can you tell us though what are your morning readings, I have a hunch that it might be a very good source of data for us too!
Cheers
I tweet out the important stuff. Follow me at twitter.com/jowyang
Here's how I use Twitter: http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/11/29/h…
HELPFUL
Within just a few days, they've already made UI changes, I think they're going to do rapid UI evolution. I think they'll be fine.
Great side-by-side comparison of networks, though it's too soon to call anything for Buzz. It's important to keep in mind crossover, and that some people use these networks for different reasons; Facebook is more my personal space, while Twitter, LI, and when I join, Buzz will be more professional. FWIW.
Very comprehensive analyze, Thanks for your efforts to compile this article.
Jeremiah thanks for such an insightful post.
I agree that the introduction of Google Buzz should not divert us from the communication strategies that are working. If our customers start to appear in Google Buzz then we have to react.
Phil
PS This is my visit to your site, so I'm scooting around reading some of your earlier posts. Love the way you interact with your readers, very much in the style of Rich Schefren. Maybe he copied you 🙂
I haven't met Rich, but I probably should. Phil, I learn so *much* from the web strategy community, at times if feels like they contribute to this site as much as I do.
Good to be stuck somewhere. Love the thought process that you did on all the platforms. Many people are still adopting social media and so we will see which one prevails in the long-run. Change is always good.
Good to be stuck somewhere. Love the thought process that you did on all the platforms. Many people are still adopting social media and so we will see which one prevails in the long-run. Change is always good.
Outstanding post and so important for B-C brands to digest the fast moving/developing social networks. Most importanty, “Go where your customers are” is the fundamental jumping point for brands. Facebook needs to open adding a trending search feature in addition to developing user influenced ecommerce apps.
BTW – just added you blog to my favorite links http://michaelcnewhouseblog.blogspot.com/
I'm surprised that your comparison matrix compares Google buzz to Facebook and other social network platforms.
In my mind it seems that google buzz should be compared with other search engines that are looking to harness social search, because surely this is how Google will likely end up using buzz??
They need to think about us, the users. We make them big, and we can revers it too. I dont like the way Youtube is changing, and I hope Buzz works well.
Many thanks for the thinking and the blogs.
All the best
“Everyone has a morning ritual, for me, I invest up to two hours reading, thinking, and blogging each morning.” Great quote on many levels and not at all because of the specific article. Congrats on the article – it's interesting. Much more congratulations are due however for the discipline of the morning ritual!
I think as you see a transitional change from search engines to social media, you'll see Google start to take a back seat. It's not that they don't recognize the need to change, it's that they have a certain amount of inertia that will keep them chasing the next wave…kind of like what happened to the yellow pages (and Microsoft). You've got to give it to Google but just when you think they're catching up in the social media arena, what they were chasing will already be a remnant of the past. It's fun to watch but I'm not so sure the landscape will be something for huge companies to dominate.
SEO Dayton
This was a great article and something I wrote about last night for my first real blog entry, I'd love to link it, if that's alright?
Thoughts on your post…
I wouldnt say Wave was a misfire, this is still invite only and the level of communication it offers is superior to any of the above right now. I feel Google needs to get all these products such as Gmail, Reader, and Buzz all into one application.
Your thoughts on “threats” were dead on, I'd also like to add if “Facebook's email” catches on and includes import POP and allows you to use imap, then they could fire back at Buzz.
My fridges already tweets, it just tweeted now. I'm hungry
I definitely liked Myspace, but it has issues. They need to be able to fix them before they can even think about starting a website that will attract a lot of people.
Myspace is very dangerous to kids, but they don't realize it.
A girl killed herself from being harassed through Myspace.
That is only one incident, and I'm sure there will be more in the near or distant future.
Excellent table. Outstanding. You eloquently state what many of us out on the street are observing.
Thanks Troy. It's a passion, and I'm glad it impacts so many other people beyond me.
U
Good point. That would be a different matrix, showing Yahoo vs Bing vs Google. Fodder to come.
great article, well written
Fantastic overview Jeremiah. I haven't seen anyone pull together something this concise and I see a lot of value in your recommendations. I think it'll be very interesting to see how Buzz plays out but it seems to me that with Wave and Buzz, google are just flinging mud at a wall to see what sticks. Perhaps fearful of Facebook… justifiably so given that they can't get access to everyone's status updates.
Hi Iconic88, Google has committed to releasing federation and full read/write support for Buzz.
[ http://code.google.com/apis/buzz/documentation/… ]
I'm looking forward to it too 🙂
Thanks jinkhet for your reply.
Jeremiah, this truly was a very insightful post into the current dynamics surrounding the big players in social media. A must read for those scouring the web for something worthwile.
Thanks for the great overview and the analysis. A lot remains to be seen as to how people and businesses are going to use Buzz. Right now, I find Buzz very noisy and not very user friendly. Hopefully, they will figure that out or someone will tap into their API and figure it out for them.
Very interesting
Great article that was well written; glad I stumbled across this. Well done you really hit some key points.
Exactly what did your fridge tweet Anthony?
Search engines aren't going away, they'll simply aggregate social content. It's an “And” not an “or”.
Wow! great analysis… good content to help you plan how to use these social channels…very helpful…
I'm going to be waiting on the sidelines and seeing what happens with Buzz. If they come out with a chrome plug-in, then maybe I'd be interested since Chrome is my main browser. As it stands, I use Mozilla Thunderbird to access my gmail account, so buzz being integrated with the actual site has no draw or use for me.
Very interesting!
In addition to your great article, I believe that one of the biggest weaknesses that MySpace has is that they are housed inside a very large corporate. The thinking is different, the energy is different and most importantly the leader is not as emotionally engaged being an employee rather than the founder. This will have significant impact throughout their business.
Great matrix and very well laid out. Made it easy to get a feel for the lay of the Social landscape with Buzz included. Thanks
Jeremiah …
Buzz looks like it isn't going to go away anytime soon, because if Google get their positoning statement right that it “easily integrates all the other social platforms into one easy interface”, then they will win.
This integration from many to one simple interface is the pitch line I used with the software company where I was marketing director. As a result we went from 2mill to 15 mill in 3 years.
Why on earth this simple statement isn't plastered all over the windscreen of Google Buzz launch vehicle is beyond me.
Jonathan
Great matrix. Not too many chances left for Twitter if they don't change radically in a year.
Really nice breakdown of the Social Media scene, complete with pros and cons.
Good overview and great example of how many users forget to look at the bigger picture.
Love your quote on twitter – “Not sure what they want to be when they grow up.”
Google will in my opinion have to allow users of buzz to log in away from gmail as it will discourage activity while people are working and ensure it is more social.
Facebook may actually do some things wrong (and don't we know it when they do) but lets not forget facebook for many is the new portal and doorway into the net, add on a good webmail solution and detailed search via bing and may people will stop “googling”.
WoW! Web Strategy Matrix ..this is really a very good piece of information. I thank you for preparing such a good comparison chart. This is really helpful.
I think a major category you left out is “Privacy”. Can you break this down?
Most definitely helpful, Jeremiah!! Thanks for always delivering on thoughtful, objective commentary – I love how your mind works! (And had a good chuckle at some of your metaphors – nasty divorce, internal disease – yikes!!!)
I'm a diehard Facebook fanatic forever… but the constant changes are wearisome. If they would publish a more robust open blogging system to really communicate well with their users, provide tutorials and better explanations of the changes, users might be a tad more forgiving .
As for Buzz, well, I'm in observing mode for now – just one more place to put my attention. 🙂 I was certainly most impressed with how quickly likes of Mashable & Huffington Post incorporated their “Buzz This” buttons, though!
Thanks Mari. This reminds me:
Metaphors are like similes Mari, just without the 'like'.
In context of the mass criticism of Buzz –it would be appropriate. For the future analysis I may include.
Oooo, brilliant mnemonic!! So you used similes, not metaphors. Coolio!! I feel just a wee bit wiser today! 🙂
Very informative post. I use Buzz as a social marketer
Google needs to do the following to increase the amount of buzz users: allow people with non-gmail email address to create a google account (which they already do) and then (here's where they're lacking): ALLOW those users with a non-gmail email address TO USE BUZZ. What do you think? Will Google see the importance in this tactic and go for it?
Terrific article and a very in-depth analysis of the major social media players. Thanks for sharing!
Mark K.
Jeremiah: For purposes of achieving search engine high page rank for an idea, do you think Google Buzz would out-perform Twitter? The rationale for thinking G-Buzz is better is that G-Buzz allows the microblogger to speak with more words, which gives the search engine more useful material as its attempts to register a sensible page rank. What do you think? –Ben
Great analysis, like your logic. Missing Buzz weakness of 'no Gmail= no Buzz”. No access via other mail clients.
I like Twitter better than gas, electric, phone or cable.
Thanks for this Jeremiah, appreciate it.
Thank you for the article. Very well written
As a whole the article is well written. because it gives lots of examples and it shows data. The author has written this piece without taking any sides, and therefore we can say that this article is non-bias. One of the many usefull things It does, is to inform readers of the actual situation of these organisations, so it may prevent people from doing mistakes such as choose the wrong network.
i think buzz is invading our privacy
i have a gmail account and now i automatically also have a buzz acount without even wanting to
Great article, very informative and gives us a good overview of the 4 big social networks. Gives us an insightful comparison between the social networks.
it is a good article but with google buzz went to court due to the fact that they were breaking the law, security of privacy.
AWESOME!!!!!!!
WONDERFUL analysis and tool … I know it's ever-changing but it's still going on my wall to help me plan! Thanks again – your posts are great!
I don't see the point of Buzz. I already have Facebook. Why on earth do I need a duplicate?
I don't see the point of Buzz. I already have Facebook. Why on earth do I need a duplicate?
for me it will still be facebook…
I should have waited on this perfect analysis of the social situation before jumping into buzz Feet First. Thanks for all of the insight that you provide.
Jeremiah, this was a really great read! I've been on social networks for the pass 9 years and will probably always be. It has definitely become a way of life for me. My initial thoughts about Buzz is that it feels somewhat disconnected. I could be wrong but it seems that Buzz is primarily email based.
I recently joined a newcomer on the block…YourNight.com. Personally, I think is will be poised to be a strong contender in the future because one of the key features is privacy. Each user is given 5 profiles with 5 walls on 1 site; friends, family, professional, commercial, dating. Each profile has its own wall and unlike Facebook, when you post status updates, you can choose which profile can see what information. Another added twist is that it will provide the cash back feature for shopping like Ebates.com. They've also provide a widget homepage where you can still access all your other social networks, web-based email, news, banking etc on one page. These key features are what peeked my interest because it combines most everything I do online in one place with more privacy.
It is currently in its Beta stage, so of course the user interface is pretty generic. They are supposed to launch their 2.0 version on 4/15/10. I've watched 2 of their weekly Sunday night webinars with their CEO and he provides an inside look at the new version, plus the future plans of the company. If you are interested in viewing that webinar, I will forward that link to you. It is an invitation only site.
I'm really interested in what experts like yourself think about this new network and if it really looks promising. Your opinion is truly valued! Thanks in advance for your response!
Great read, buzz is only looking to be a contender for the people who already use google services ie adwords, gmail. The people who are currently stuck in the facebook and twitter networking will have a hard time straying from something they are just learning to get used to.
You see, your just blaming Myspace. The same things happen on Facebook and other big networking sites. Every social network is dangerous because the people on it. Not the site its self. Dont blame the site, blame the people who were on the site.
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Nice read, im attempting to use facebook and twitter and venture out to other social networks, thanks for the read.
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Well, I feel back links are always good if they are coming from relevant sources, High PR pages and Do follow ofcourse. If dont give much weight age to sites or blog, but to other parameters love PR, content, relevancy etc.
I couldn't agree more with this little table here. The Myspace section, while sad, is painfully and comically true. Great article!
wow that was the first fair and unbiased look at the comparisons of the four websites that I have ever seen! wow, really a really fantastic review!
You hit the nail on the head. You verbalized and completed a lot of my perceptions on the subject.
Great article and well written too. what i feel about Google buzz is it didn't enable outward sharing. i think they miss the sharing puzzle
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I use facebook and myspace.. but I still love myspace better!
Interesting article…
Thanks for sharing.
“someday, even your fridge will Tweet.” Love it. Thanks for the great analysis.
i think as facebook is getting more and more stereotypical…and people getting bored,anything new and exciting would work….buzz has good oppotunity here…if they can come up with something that can surprise exsisting social networkers
Some of the major key point you have discussed thanks for sharing these Differences sir 🙂
The Power of Information Review launches excellent topic!!
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