Is Google Plus Out To Engulf Facebook?

Editors Notes: This post was originally published on 2011. As it is now several years old, please be aware that some of the links and references may no longer be active or relevant. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock in the Middle East for the past few weeks, you should have come across Google Plus (G+ for short). It’s the “talk of the town” among all the social giants and technology blogs out there. It’s even hit the Internet Marketing crowd pretty hard. So I figured I don’t have much of a choice but to write this article. So what the heck is Google Plus all about and why should you care?

Well… Google Plus is essentially Google’s own social network. Google’s been referring to plus as just a “project,” yet it’s rapidly becoming the fastest growing social network on the planet! Yep, Google’s finally done it. The guys behind Google have been working on a social network for the past year which has finally been released to the public. It’s pretty groundbreaking news and if you’re marketing your business online, you need to seriously pay attention to what I’m saying.

From what I can tell, Google plus is Google’s “reaction” to Facebook and Twitter. As we all know, Google has been trying to take over the Internet lately. Google also seriously hates Facebook and Twitter, along with all the other social networking sites. If only I had the chart of who’s suing who in the social network world. Seriously, everyone is suing everyone, it’s quite funny.

Anyway, to combat the other social Giants, Google’s launched Plus which definitely stands out from the crowd. Will it stand a chance of defeating the one they call Facebook? I don’t know. However, it has some crazy potential. With already over 10 million users, it’s officially the fastest growing social network ever.

In all honesty, I can’t see Google Plus directly competing with the top dog Facebook. It has some great concepts and all, but the layout & the fact that it’s Google makes me cringe. We all know Google as a search engine and nothing else. So if Google Plus does explode, I’m sure it will take some months to years of transition before the world sees Google as a social network.

Google Plus SEO:

Yeah, without a doubt Google will be incorporating Plus into its search engine algorithm. We all caught on that Google was using social data way before they told us so. The truth is that Google’s been using sites like Twitter and Facebook as “indicators” for a long time. Basically…

The more shares and tweets your content has, the better it will rank in the search engines. That’s one way of putting it, but the social side only accounts for a tiny part of the algorithm. I fear that one day it will account for a lot more! I guess it’s nothing to fear as long as you have quality helpful content that people actually enjoy reading.

For those of you who run crappy websites with content “written in India,” you’ll be the ones tossed into the “social sandbox” in a few years’ time. I can see it happening for sure… But as we all know, Google only changes its algorithm in baby steps. So we’ll all be okay if we stick to the rules and follow the guidelines.

So will Google Plus affect your rankings? Nah, you’ll be fine as long as you have decent content. I can only see Google using Plus as an indicator of the quality of one’s content. It’s common sense really. The more social activity, shares, re-shares, and comments a piece of content gets, the better it must be. It will also be a great step in fighting off black hat marketers. Although I’m sure a tool will be invented to game the future social algorithm.

I can definitely see social factors playing a major role in Google’s search algorithm. Perhaps it will even take over the importance of backlinks… Just kidding, I’ll bet that’ll never happen. Still, you need to be aware that things are getting a little more social. Whether it’s too social for your liking or not, doesn’t matter. If you want to survive online and see your business thrive off of free search engine traffic, play along. Follow every move Google takes. Pay attention to detail and take action on all these little changes.

I am still yet to play around with Google Plus, but I hear it’s awesome. You can check out the Google Plus home page right here. I’d advise you to sign up and take a look around. Just know that Google’s Google and Google will do whatever it takes to be the best. So expect to hear a lot more about the new Google social network. Expect to have your inbox flooded with Google Plus marketing strategies. There’s bound to be hundreds of Google Plus marketing courses in the making as we speak.

In Prosperity,

David Wood

P.S. Please feel free to leave your comments, questions, and thoughts below. I really wanted to get your opinion on this one.

Comments

John Peterson, July 20, 2011, 08:45

I’ve been using Google Plus for a few weeks now, and I have to say, it’s a refreshing change from Facebook. The circles feature is a game changer for me, as it allows better control over who sees what. I’m curious to see how Google will integrate this into their search algorithm.

Samantha Lee, July 20, 2011, 09:15

I’m still skeptical about Google Plus overtaking Facebook. Facebook has such a strong hold on the social media market. However, with Google’s resources, you can never say never. The potential impact on SEO is what really interests me, though. Do you think Google Plus shares will become as important as backlinks?

Michael Turner, July 20, 2011, 10:00

This post made me realize just how much Google is pushing into the social media space. It seems like they’re trying to dominate every aspect of the internet. I’m wondering how small businesses should adapt to these changes. Any tips for leveraging Google Plus for local SEO?

Olivia Martinez, July 20, 2011, 10:45

I’ve seen a lot of buzz about Google Plus, but I’m not convinced it’s going to stick around. Google has had its fair share of failed social projects. Remember Google Buzz? What do you think sets Google Plus apart, and why should businesses invest time in it?

Daniel Roberts, July 20, 2011, 11:30

Interesting take on Google Plus and its potential SEO impact. I’ve been focusing on content quality and backlinks for my site, but it looks like I’ll need to start paying attention to social signals as well. Do you have any strategies for getting more engagement on Google Plus?

Emily Clark, July 20, 2011, 12:15

I appreciate the detailed breakdown of Google Plus’s potential influence on SEO. It’s definitely a platform to watch, especially as Google continues to integrate social signals into their algorithm. I’m curious to see if this will actually level the playing field or just add another layer of complexity for marketers.

Joshua Miller, July 20, 2011, 13:00

I’m excited about the possibilities that Google Plus brings to the table. The integration with other Google services is seamless, which could give it an edge over Facebook. However, I’m still on the fence about its long-term viability. Do you think businesses should go all in on Google Plus, or is it too soon to tell?

Alice Kim, July 20, 2011, 13:45

This article really highlights the importance of staying on top of Google’s changes. As a small business owner, it’s a bit overwhelming to keep up with all these updates. I’d love to hear more about practical steps we can take to make the most of Google Plus without getting lost in the shuffle.