Where Google+ Failed & What We Can Learn

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I opened my email and clicked the link as soon as my Google plus invite appeared in my inbox. I jumped on, began to check stuff out, and began to invite other people almost immediately.

For the next few days, I spent a chunk of time reading, responding to updates, and connecting with people on Google plus. And then, I stopped.

I really wanted to NEED google plus.
I really wanted to like it.

But in the end, what appeared so fast, grew so quickly, and caused such a stir quietly escaped into the corner of my internet.

Why?

I’m sure there are a lot of reasons. I’m not even saying the Google plus is dead.

However, I can’t help but believe that Google plus failed to meet needs.
Sure, people jumped on it and loved it for a little while, but in the end, they didn’t really use it to do anything they couldn’t do with what they already had…. I didn’t.

What’s the point?

Meet needs to stay relevant.

No matter what you do or what your goal is… Meet needs.

Meet the needs of the people you are trying to reach, touch, sell to, or teach.
It’ll keep them around and help you accomplish your real goal.

How do you meet needs?


Comments

20 responses to “Where Google+ Failed & What We Can Learn”

  1. Thanks for reminding me to keep my focus. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, praying, researching, etc about where I want my blog to go. Meeting needs has to be number one in all of it.

    And I did the same with Google+, but it’s lost in my corner of the internet as well. For me, Facebook makes more sense and everybody is on it.

    1. Yeah. I just haven’t found that it deserves my attention like the other networks I’m already on. I’m not sure it’s dead, but it’s gotta find a place. Glad to help, Kathy!

  2. The need has to be the catalyst for everything else we do. If we aren’t meeting needs, we’re just building monuments instead of impacting lives. Great post, JP!

  3. I’m glad I’m not the only person to feel that way about G+, although it has put me in contact with some new people that I follow on Twitter. But, none of my friends are on G+, so I still need to go back and connect with them there. I think Google has tried to redefine relevant, but perhaps we’re not ready for it yet.

    1. Great point, Sandy! Haven’t thought about it that way.

  4. That makes a lot of sense. I like Google+ but it really doesn’t meet a need I was lacking. I never thought about it this way.

    1. Yeah. I hadn’t either til yesterday. Think it explains it well! Thanks, Tony

  5. Good stuff Jonathan! I have felt this way about Google+ even after a friend of mine in the industry seem to think it would be the next “Facebook” for adults. In my opinion it’s just one more “thing” which adds to the complication of trying to keep up.

    Keep it simple. Apple did. Google did. The church should!

    1. Yep. Especially without the API and being able to use it from Hootsuite/Tweetdeck. I’m sure it’ll get there, but right now, it’s something else to have to update. Thanks, Tony!

  6. I’m certainly not ready to say that G+ has failed to meet needs. I think it’s just going to take a little time for all of them to be met.

    The majority of my friends aren’t on G+ yet, either. So it’s harder going in because you feel like you’re walking into a party of strangers.

    But I’ve already started following — or make that “encircling” — people by niche. I’ve built, for example, a large circle of Christian members like pastors and worship leaders who I have never connected with elsewhere. Most of them are quick to connect with me, too, so I look at G+ as a chance to broaden opportunities to hear from fellow Christians and make new connections.

    I haven’t had any bad experiences there, so I’m willing to be a little more patient with it while more people come to the party. :)

    1. Yeah. I don’t have much patience. I think you’re onto something though. More and more people will create the need. Great insight bro.

  7. I had a similar experience with Google+, and am considering just deleting my account. I guess I just didn’t need another platform to connect with the same people or, as it continued to grow, people I didn’t know.

  8. I tend to agree. I rarely use my G+, mostly because I have so many contacts on Facebook & Twitter. Nearly impossible to encourage them all to move to a new social media. I wonder, if G+ doesn’t take off, is there ever going to be a need for a social media other than Facebook or Twitter? They are going to rule the world, especially if they team with Apple. =)

    1. I agree. I think there is room for something new, but definitely teaming with apple will help both of those.

  9. Maybe you wrote this too soon?

    http://digitizor.com/2011/09/24/google-plus-new-users/

    I’m not saying you’re wrong, but we have yet to see what the latest surge will result in and if it will continue to grow long term, what its new users will do to contribute to the conversation, etc…

    Blessings

    1. That’s true. Good point. Thanks man!

  10. You’ve put into words what I’ve been feeling about G+. A bit of a shame perhaps, but it is yet another thing to have to figure out, then to do things with, then to check… and I’ve got enough on my plate, as others have said, don’t need something new that doesn’t provide me with anything new.

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