The Problem With Google +1

The web is a social place now … when we find something interesting online, we share it with our friends and hope it sparks some sort of conversation. Sharing content online either as a content publisher, content consumer, or the Tumblr consum-isher hybrid has become what the web is all about. It’s about information yes, but it’s more about connecting with each other and learning from one another.

We depend on each others’ recommendations and trust each other when it comes to reviews (Yelp), videos, articles, products, services, and humor.

This is what Google currently has it’s sights set on (no pun intended) … becoming more involved and relevant in regard to the social experience of the web. Just as Facebook and Twitter positioned themselves as platforms where people could share and recommend content with their friends, Google is hoping to create a way for people to share and recommend content.

They’re introducing Google +1 … a way for people to recommend content.

The Big Problem

Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Google doesn’t have the social network. They have an awesome audience constantly using their service to find content, but they don’t have what makes social sharing work … a platform where people socialize.

The reason why publishers have implemented the Facebook Like button and the Tweet or Retweet button from Twitter is because it enables people to share content with their friends … something which has become extremely important to our culture. The more interesting content you share with people, the more likely you are to spark conversation and connect.

Instant Interaction = Instant Gratification

Imagine yourself at a party … you just finished telling an amazing story about how you got lost in the jungles of Tanzajarakow, because imprisoned by the natives for trespassing, and then managed to ride a wild alpaca to safety.

With a story like this, you can expect to have some sort of reaction from those listening as soon as you reveal the ending. That’s what Facebook and Twitter provide people in terms of social sharing. You share a piece of content, and your friends respond with some sort of reaction.

It’s fun. It’s social.

Google +1 falls short of this because of the lack of social network. Instead, imagine telling that same story to your personal recorder, then playing it on repeat in a busy hallway … eventually you might get some sort of reaction from someone, but there’s no telling when.

Recommend Interesting Content with Friends Google

The fundamental reason that will hold Google +1 back from reaching the scale of Twitter and Facebook buttons is due to the lack of a solid social network foundation, which is where the sharing should take place. By enabling users interaction on their own profile or on their friends profiles, users have a reason to share and recommend content — it keeps them present in the party and relevant and fun.

Recommending something using the Google +1 button will result in your “vote” appearing in the Google index. If a friend happens to search for something relevant to the piece of content you recommended, Google will let them know that you recommended it by revealing your “vote” to them. There’s a big IF in front of that sentence.

What do you think about Google +1 and how it will fit with Facebook and Twitter buttons across the web once rolled out? Will you implement the +1 button and will you make use of it when searching the web?

Will this flop just as Google Wave and Google Buzz did?

And finally, do you think this will spark the launch of the forever-rumored, Facebook-killer,Google powered social network … and no, I’m talking about Orkut

by: Christopher Rice(fuelyourblogging[dot]com)