For a long time now, Facebook has been the guru when it comes to social networking. It’s considered one of the biggest social media networks on the planet- but this is about to change.
Google has finally released a social media network to rival Facebook, and the competition has been noted by other networking socialites. TechnoBombs goes into a lot of detail about the have’s and have not’s of both Google+ and Facebook.
I found the comparisons helpful, but if you’re like me- the only question that matters is this one: “Which one will get my product/idea (in my case a book) out there faster?”
To answer that question, I decided to track the rate of my personal connection development through my personal Google+ page as compared to my Facebook page .
Facebook:
Day 1= 1 friend
Day 2= 5 friends
Day 3= 15 friends
Day 4= 21 friends
Google+ :
Day 1= 3 connections
Day 2= 11 connections
Day 3= 23 connections
Day 4= 85 connections
As you can see, the rate of connection development is astronomically faster with Google+ than with Facebook. Part of this is because anyone is able to share circles of their friends with anyone else in their circles. These connections in Google+ are people that followed first or followed back. Currently, I have more friends on Facebook, because I’ve had that account much longer- but I’m certain with the rate of connections I’m developing with Google+ that I will far outstrip my Facebook account within a month.
Google+ might just be starting off, but it is destined to be bigger than Facebook. Google already has a handle on major areas of the web: internet search, email, and its connections with youtube.com, blogger, and klout.com make it the next social media networking site to help you kick @$$ on the internet.
Hmmm I might have to join Google+. I really need to extend my reach for people who need book editing!
Yes- Google+ is a definite must if you want to connect. I've found tons of circles for reviewers and authors on there already!
But how many of those connections will result in sales? I don't use Facebook for marketing, though I might create a page next year for a series of nonfiction books. Right now most of my sales seem to spring from my blog or Twitter.I love Google services, but I think Google+ placed itself in an already over-saturated market and it's facing an uphill battle. Major brands seem to have stopped using them according to this site: http://www.simplyzesty.com/google/evidence-that-google-plus-business-pages-are-dying-a-slow-death-already/
Good question. I suppose the thing to do will just be to keep an eye on how businesses and (more importantly) the public reacts to Google+