Clash of the Titans-The Social Network Wars

By Parashar Bhatt

Just a couple of weeks ago, Google launched its 4th attempt to enter the social networking space with Google Plus. Do you Remember Orkut, Wave, and Buzz? Not surprised you don’t because Google failed to grab a successful stake on the social network platform with these first 3 attempts. But this is the first social launch since Larry Page took over as CEO and declared that social was a major battleground.

Google+ is based around the idea of circles. A circle is group of friends. Circles can upload and share content, update each other, even participate in a little group texting. On Google Plus, you can engage in spontaneous video chat by announcing to your circle of friends, acquaintances and followers that you are virtually hanging out. This "hangout" feature gives Google a crucial early advantage over Facebook, where video calling is a one-on-one, PC-to-PC affair.

So just when you think that Google+ has an advantage offering features that Facebook lacks, the world’s largest social network introduces video calling made possible through a partnership with Skype. Not even ten days have lapsed since Google announced its social networking product, and Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg played the master strategy of killing two birds with one stone by announcing the Facebook Skype tie-up. The first one is pretty obvious, which is getting close to Google's worst enemy Microsoft. How you ask? Microsoft bought Skype last month for $8.5 Billion! *insert dramatic music* The second is for Facebook, who is not to be underestimated, to play the role of the kingmaker in the clash of the titans.

Let's face it. Facebook can never really be what Microsoft or Google really is. Social networking has its limitations and a peak beyond which it just cannot go. But in this battle, the Yahoos, Twitters and Facebooks of the world play a very crucial role, that of deciding who wins and who loses or who gets on top and who remains the underdog.

Google versus Microsoft is a saga that can be compared to none in the history of enterprise. While in the earlier times corporate battles were fought over years or even decades, this is probably the first time a startup, Google, challenged the then mightiest company on earth, Microsoft and in less than 5 years of its launch Google became enemy no. 1 for Microsoft. Not many companies have enjoyed the success Google got so easily. It wasn't competing just on products, Google shook the very foundation on which the software enterprise model was based on. It changed the rules of the game. Facebook did the same for social networking, something Google and Microsoft tried many times but couldn't succeed.

Facebook holds power for its mass appeal and is the real thorn for Google. No one even came close to Google in terms of advertising. Google has literally become an advertising mogul. Google's growth is fueled by advertising. Its war ammunition is supplied by the advertisers to fight Microsoft. Problem now is that Facebook is a far superior platform for advertising. Reason for this is the profiling of users. Based on Geography, Interests, Demographics and the minutest detail no one comes even close to Facebook. They have the masses and the absolutely stunning profiling of its users.

In simple words, Facebook has the masses and the stickiness to attract the advertisers. What can hurt Google the most is the advertisers leaving Google for Facebook. The Facebook and Skype association is probably the best missile Microsoft has so far. It's time Google did some overhauling and rewired its thinking, which did work at one time, if its wants to survive. For now Facebook and Microsoft have the lead and a huge one at that. Touché, Zuckerberg, touché.

What do you think of the Google Plus? Who will come out on top? Share your thoughts.

More than 30 Social Media Stats on Video - Transformed All our Lives

From Erik Qualman's Blog

I AM AN EARLY LINKEDIN ADOPTER

I earned my bragging rights today for being an early adopter to LinkedIn. After announcing earlier this week that it passed the 100 million user mark, professional networking site LinkedIn sent emails to its early users on Saturday, March 26, 2011 thanking them and telling them exactly when they joined.

I received my e-mail from LinkedIn Co-Founder and Chairman, Reid Hoffman on Saturday and although I was one of 1 million recipients I realized once again how dead on I was in predicting the social media phenomena. I happened to be member number 530915 in fact!* The email, signed by LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman himself says “In any technology adoption lifecycle, there are the innovators, those who help lead the way. That was you.” This email also served as a reminder of how quickly social media spreads – in just a few years you can go from 1,000,000 followers to more than 100,000,000.

Four Ways To Get Your Legal Department On Your Side When Implementing Social Media Strategies

1. It always helps to approach your legal department with a written document that outlines a social media plan that will already have accounted for any concerns they might have as to the risk of being active in the social media space.
2. Even slow industries are getting their feet wet in the social media space. Subtle remind your legal department that being slow to adopt gives your competitors the edge – but DO NOT forget that once you turn on the social media facet you can’t just turn off the tap!
3. Work with your legal department to come up with a plan for dealing with the risks that might come to pass. Don’t just avoid social media – having a plan always works.
4. Help your legal team understand that using social media can help protect your company in many ways, from the risk of your brand eroding in the public’s eyes as well as being misunderstood.

Six Most-Viewed Ads of 2010 on You Tube

Starbucks beats all consumer brands on social media

Starbucks’ huge Facebook audience makes it the highest-ranking brand on social media, according to a ratings study done by London-based Famecount, a media measurement service that aggregates popularity across social media channels.

Coca-Cola pulled in second, but Famecount ranks it well behind Starbucks. Whole Foods came in at No. 3, based almost entirely on its 1.7 million followers on Twitter.

Ford Goes Zero to 60 on Social Media

Zero to 60: Ford’s Social Media Story, by Scott Monty; presented by GasPedal and the Social Media Business Council from GasPedal on Vimeo.