Google Plus - why it's possibly the best thing since...
Google Plus, Google+? Both seem to fine, though I expect that the + sign will win the day and G+ will become the norm. Whatever, it's clear when all is considered that G+ will not go the route of Buzz and be an embarrassment to Google. This time, it seems they've got it right. Perfect? No but give it chance, it's still in beta. Even so, over a billion items (such as photos and videos) have already been "shared" and uploaded to this new social network. Considering G+ has been in open beta for little more than three weeks, that's pretty impressive. A cross between Facebook and Twitter — my opinion — once fine-tuning and a refined featureset is in place it's going to explode when it's finally unleashed to the public at large.
Currently there is no business option, like Facebook's Pages but this is only a matter of time and thousands of businesses are already exploring how they can use it with just a standard Google Account. Imagine a more flexible version of Facebook with no 140 limits imposed by Twitter, with the sensible ability to allow people to "follow" you, like Twitter, without the need for a reciprocal "friend" arrangement forced by FB. "Circles" bests Twitter's Lists and facebook's Groups, and the photo gallery feature is first class and, from my persepective, only bettered by that of Posterous. (My own photography portfolio, hosted on Posterous, can be seen here: http://www.portfolio.gregwallis.net )
While there's no need to rush headlong into Plus at the current time, it won't be long before small business needs to, and the best tine to start playing with it and understanding its possibilities is right now. Anyone who requires a G+ invite can email or message me and I'll send one straight out: gregwallis@gregwallis.net
By the end of 2011, the three major social networks will be Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. That's likely to be it (I doubt the market can stand another one) and there's an urgency to not only embrace all three, to maximize marketing potential, but also to actually understand them and why they're different. It only takes a few minutes every day to post short updates on each; time needn't be an issue if you work smart. So G+ is the new kid on the block but don't underestimate it, it'll be bigger than a lot of industry pundits wish to admit.
