Falling On Deaf Ears: Facebook and Google+ Battle It Out

Are Marketer’s @ the Mercy of More Social Media Mediums?

The introduction of Google + has forced Facebook to make some major changes. We will see if both can compete together, or who will eventually rise to the top. It certainly puts pressure on marketers to discover new ways to introduce new content. It’s good to expand one’s knowledge and reach, but not at the expense of the business will suffer or devote resources to the wrong channels. Businesses will be competing for attention of audiences on Facebook and Google+ as they navigate new waters. It’s not about following trends, but finding the RIGHT FIT for you and your audience. It’s about incorporating some fundamental best practices, but at the same time adding the human element to the experience.

“Curse you, Facebook! Just when I think I’ve figured out how to use the features on here, you go and change everything again…arrgghh.” – Comments by Keri Singer’s Facebook Friend

“At least give us the option of having the old feed. I HATE the new layout. Might be moving to Google+.” – Comments by Facebook profile Amanda Lee Brock.

Since its start, Facebook has been offering new options and they are having security issues around profiles. Today’s new launch includes different new options for your “News Feed” and last week was the “Subscribe” feature. As the service expands and competition arises, more companies need to be nimble. Facebook and Google + must constantly better examine their approach. They must give the right guidance to customers and attempt to be more authentic with their communications. Yet, we still find people getting annoyed with Facebook and distrust the changes with other social media services.

Similar to any personal relationship: It’s about listening, learning and building trust online with your audience. Otherwise, there is a chance people could leave you looking for something better.

Google + and Minuses

A New Form of “Virtual Pressure”

I predicted this to happen and do we really need more circles of friends in cyberspace? There is a lot more online peer pressure which I have coined as “virtual pressure.” It’s defined as a strong desire to belong to a larger online community and become an early adopter of new technology. First it was MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, FourSquare, Google+ and whatever else to add to the list. Plaxo, Digg, Flickr, Klout, Godwalla etc. In this new virtual world we live in today, if you don’t accept it and jump on the bandwagon you’re going to be left out of the crowd.

Google took everything they already offer and put it into a different interface to appear as a social media tool. This improves one’s reliance on their search, as well as better monetizes their data and ad exchanges. It makes the platform a significantly better way for others to share and integrate numerous Google online products and services such as Google Docs, offers “plus” recommendations, Google AdWords, and accessibility to Android, etc.

Each day is a new tech trend to follow while some are more useful than others. Companies seek to create more services to monetize social media, stir up competition and figure out how to collect more data to target you. Too many options can be overwhelming and cumbersome for one to juggle in his/her life. The introduction of the fax, mobile phones, internet and other new technologies was a way to make our lives easier, but it also caused in some cases more work to communicate. Things will continue to fall by the wayside and new options will continue to emerge. This new digitization of the world takes commitment and can cause much stress and emotional strain for some. It is also opening up new ways to discover information, reach people across global continents to exchange ideas, as well as learn a new perspective on each others’ lives.

Check out Vincent Wong’s presentation about the new Google site and you decide the pluses and minuses of what it has to offer and what’s ahead next for you and your business.

Google Joins The Pac

Google Joins “The Pac”

Gotta love what Google has on their home page today bringing back Pac-Man and the nostalgia of the 80′s. The famous Atari game brings back memories for a lot of folks for those that enjoyed the game as a kid.

This is one great example of good marketing bridging the gap between the old technologies with the new, while tapping into the memorable experiences of others to create a similar experience for the generations of today. A clever marketing tactic that awakens the kid in all of us by taking something from the past, positioning it in a new environment for others to play the game and relive its simplicity once again.

I’m sure Google’s attempt to celebrate Pac-Man will be publicized to many people around the office, in the home and across the globe in the media today.

It’s those great marketing ideas that tap into your emotions, memories, builds your confidence, or helps one to escape the norm. It’s not the actually product, but maybe something brings you back to a certain time in your life, attracts your attention because it’s communicated in a unique fashion, or makes you stand up proud. Take a step back to recall the products, services, or other experiences you had growing up because history repeats itself. Something that was a great memory for you will awaken a new audience today.

Needless to say, “Everything Old Is New Again,” a mixture of the things learned from the past, presented slightly different in the future, and being marketed in a way a new audience can appreciate it once again.