Request Media Kit

Does Google+ Threaten Twitter More Than Facebook?

Since Google+ appeared on the social media stage, it has suffered comparisons to the already-well-established giants of the game: Twitter and Facebook. And in a way, these comparisons are justified. G...
Does Google+ Threaten Twitter More Than Facebook?
Written by Josh Wolford
  • Since Google+ appeared on the social media stage, it has suffered comparisons to the already-well-established giants of the game: Twitter and Facebook. And in a way, these comparisons are justified. Google+ definitely takes elements of both Facebook and Twitter, but it puts its own spin on them.

    Some people’s first impulse was to compare Google+ to Facebook and ask whether or not the burgeoning social network could compete with the big guy on the block.

    But should Twitter worry about the impact of Google+ more than Facebook should?

    At the BlogWorld Expo in L.A., Alltop’s Guy Kawasaki and Human Business Works President Chris Brogan sat down to talk about Google+‘s future impact on business, and how the new social network could change everything.

    During that session, Kawasaki said that he would “be more worried about [Google+]” as the CEO of Twitter as opposed to Facebook.

    “Twitter is much more threatened by Google+ than Facebook.”

    “I think Google+ is to Facebook what Mac is to Windows. Think about that for a second.”

    What can we take from that? Google+ and Facebook = different strokes for different folks? Can the two peacefully coexist and each serve their purpose?

    Kawasaki went on to describe the difference between Google+ and Facebook:

    All my friends and family are on facebook, and Google+ is a ghost town for a lot of people. For me, Facebook is for friends/family, and Google+ is for people who share your passions, who you don’t know yet.

    It’s true that many detractors of Google+ have mentioned that nobody they know has made the jump, therefore it doesn’t serve them a purpose. If everyone you know is already on Facebook, why bother with another social network?

    According to Kawasaki, it’s for the “common passions” that Google+ allows you to connect with others.

    As far as the connections with strangers aspect, that is where Google+ steps onto Twitter’s turf. Google+, with it’s system of circles, allows users to follow people in a way similar to Twitter. If Facebook is for family and friends and Google+/Twitter is more the rest – you see how the battle then shifts to Google+ vs. Twitter.

    For Kawasaki, Google+ has replaced Twitter when it comes to “manual engagement.”

    “As soon as I discovered Google+, I have so much less manual engagement with Twitter. I have almost no human engagement on Twitter – every single post on Google+ is manual and “only me” – no ghost writing on Google+.”

    When asked why, he said:

    “System notifications are so much better [on Google+]. On Twitter, if I do an @ mention, I doubt they’re going to see it. When someone @ mentions me on Twitter, I most likely won’t see it. On Google+, I’m notified every time anyone mentions me and shares with me. I get hundreds of emails a day, and I follow through on all of those.”

    Just systematically, [Google+] leads towards much greater engagement. If I’m making the effort to do something, I want to know someone is getting it.”

    Do you think that Google+ challenges Facebook or Twitter? Let us know in the comments.

    For 5 years, WebProNews has partnered with BlogWorld and New Media Expo, the world’s first and largest new media conference, in an effort to broadcast how new media can grow your business, brand, and audience. Stay tuned to WebProNews for much more exclusive coverage.

    Get the WebProNews newsletter
    delivered to your inbox

    Get the free daily newsletter read by decision makers

    Subscribe
    Advertise with Us

    Ready to get started?

    Get our media kit