AfterDawn: Tech news

Interest in Google+ plummets after promising start

Written by Rich Fiscus @ 11 Oct 2011 9:50 User comments (12)

Interest in Google+ plummets after promising start Google+ may end up being just another failed experiment in social networking if recent traffic figures are any indication.
Even before the beta of Google+ opened to the public last month, there were signs of trouble. Traffic had already been stagnant since July for the invitation-only version of the service.

There was a traffic spike of more than 1000 percent after Google+ opened to the public, but it wasn't clear whether that would last.

It's one thing to generate interest for a new product. It's another entirely to truly compete with a market leader like Facebook. Even with their September gains, Google+ wasn't even a blip on Facebook's radar.

According to Chitika, an advertising analytics firm, that spike was short lived. In fact, it appears the influx of new users had absolutely no long term affect on traffic, which later returned to a level similar to the private beta phase.





With Google's resources behind it, Google+ will no doubt get more attention and additional development. It's not done yet by any means.

But it also isn't the Facebook killer Google executives envisioned, at least not yet.

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12 user comments

111.10.2011 10:39
bsldfncjnasdiogfn
Unverified new user

ill admit, i was part of that influx of new open beta users. truth is, i havent logged in once since i created my account. the g+ service seems interesting, but did nothing - i mean absolutely nothing - to maintain my continued interest. well see how things play out i guess.

211.10.2011 10:43

I still haven't used it...google knows too much about me as it is...they know my hobbies, they know my email address and contents, they know what my voice sounds like, they know where I travel to, and they even know what kind of porn I like...it is downright scary, and I certainly don't want them to know any more.

311.10.2011 12:18

I am a Google apps user and they still will not let me use Google+ with Google apps account so I have yet to see it.

I am interested, though I doubt I would use it any more then I use Facebook now. About once or twice a year I use Facebook to log onto some site I do not want to make a new account for.

411.10.2011 13:02

None of my friends really even know about Google+. I think that says enough lol

511.10.2011 14:47

G+ is not a "Facebook" replacement. It is much more like Twitter, but as a service is unique.
It may or may not make it, but the tech world seems to love it.

If you don't see all of your friends posting... "My baby burped all over my dress today." then most would say that it is a good thing.

I don't think it will ever be as widely used as FB or even Twitter, but what it does, it does well and those that use it find it to be invaluable.

G+ isn't going anywhere. :D

611.10.2011 14:52

Quote:
I still haven't used it...google knows too much about me as it is...they know my hobbies, they know my email address and contents, they know what my voice sounds like, they know where I travel to, and they even know what kind of porn I like...it is downright scary, and I certainly don't want them to know any more.
I agree completely, haven't even bothered to look into it myself. Hell I get irritated when gmail ask me for my cell #.

711.10.2011 15:51

I made an account. Have logged in on purpose two times, and on accident once since I joined in the beta. It's interesting, I just don't have the time to play with it like I did Facebook years ago. I've already used it more this year than I do FB though >.>

I certainly hope it doesn't crash as it still seems a good way of organizing and keeping up with contacts, but I just absolutely cannot devote enough time to even fully learn to use it

811.10.2011 15:53

if anyone wants to beat facebook, the ONLY way, is to offer MORE than what facebook offers, and let the users be able to do more customizing. hell, myspace allowed more than what facebook does.

thats the only, way. If you create a social networking site. that is , - more or less- just like facebook, then yes you will fail.
remember all of us users are different we want to show it!!!
not just with pathetic backgrounds, but MORE "Customize, Customize, Customize"!!!

911.10.2011 18:14

Originally posted by 1nsan3:
if anyone wants to beat facebook, the ONLY way, is to offer MORE than what facebook offers, and let the users be able to do more customizing. hell, myspace allowed more than what facebook does.

thats the only, way. If you create a social networking site. that is , - more or less- just like facebook, then yes you will fail.
remember all of us users are different we want to show it!!!
not just with pathetic backgrounds, but MORE "Customize, Customize, Customize"!!!
And offering more then face book isn't easy either. The recent changes to facebook actually make it work a lot like Google +, "If you can't beat them ste...er borrow from them!"


1012.10.2011 04:26

Originally posted by lamain:
I am a Google apps user and they still will not let me use Google+ with Google apps account so I have yet to see it.

I am interested, though I doubt I would use it any more then I use Facebook now. About once or twice a year I use Facebook to log onto some site I do not want to make a new account for.
it's a separate user account again.

so to use it you need to do another register account thing with google+.



Overall though, G+ is pretty much pointless currently you can on do very minor things with it, the pictures side is ok but really how many really fuss about the pictures side and the circles are completely useless as there's hardly anyone on there.

And the people who do use it heaps and say it's busy, are subbed to tech bloggers who post up their blog and use G+ to post up about the blog, so even those users don't have close friends as such on G+ more simply using people to say it's busy.

1112.10.2011 12:14

Originally posted by xtago:
Originally posted by lamain:
as there's hardly anyone on there.

There are people on there, but now one checks to see or even bothers to post as they are all probably to busy with FaceBook to even bother with this site.

1221.10.2011 11:13

A buddy of mine sent me an invite, I signed up and never looked at it again. All this new crap coming out, all I need is twitter and fb and I do not need them really except for weekly listings of specials on my site...no need for new inclusions.

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