Google+ Drops The Ball With No Verification Plan
Posted on Thursday, November 17th, 2011 | No Comments »
By Steve Kabelowsky
Recently, the developers at Google turned on the feature for businesses and organizations to join Google+. The emerging social media platform from the search engine giant is going head-to-head in a battle for relevance with Facebook.
There was one major flaw with Google’s latest rollout – there is no verification system in place. If I wanted to, I can create a Google+ page for the gas station I go to, or the dry cleaners I use, or something more high-profile, say a certain multi-billion dollar operation.
On Nov. 8, someone else had the idea and “Brandjacked” the largest bank in the land. The Google+ page for the Bank of America featured a clear satire with a colorful twist on a few perceptions of the organization following the Wall Street bailout and recent fee issue. The page was taken down on Nov. 15, but not before 342 people “+1′d” it (Google’s version of a Thumbs Up), according to comments on the report here.
Google+ asked individuals to refrain from using single-user pages for businesses when it launched the platform earlier this year. The company then worked on developing the pages for celebrities, charities and other organizations. They had time to put a verification system in place. They simply didn’t do it.
I have to question if it was a lack of time, feeling the pressure to get the new tools out there, or if it was greed and not wanting to hire personnel to wade through the electronic applications. Or, simply all of the above.
When an organization goes into the development of a simple website, we usually suggest taking the time to outline what the main functions and offerings the site will have. We take the time to identify the audience and what their needs are. If one just studied Facebook for let’s say, an hour, you could see what kind of information people like to share and respond to. Does Google have the blinders on so tight, that they wouldn’t take the time to simply look at what their competition is doing?
The ball has been dropped and is just sitting there, live on the field. It remains to be seen who will scoop up the ball and run with it. Facebook is clearly winning this game.
The Battle For Businesses And Organizations Has Begun
Posted on Thursday, November 10th, 2011 | No Comments »
By Steve Kabelowsky The latest volleys between Google and Facebook are showing a number of strengths and weaknesses in each of the social media platforms. Google+ launched business pages on Tuesday, allowing firms and organizations the opportunity to better connect and have conversations with potential customers. A number of high-profile businesses were first adopters, launching [...]
It Is All In Your Hands
Posted on Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 | No Comments »
By Steve Kabelowsky At this point in time, it is doubtful that anyone truly questions if technology moves quickly. Digital evolutions have happened in short years, relative to most cultural changes that have taken generations. The latest word on the street is that Barnes & Noble is preparing a major announcement next week. As the [...]
Government, NASA Could Use Some PR Help
Posted on Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 | No Comments »
By Steve Kabelowsky Space, the final frontier. For years the U.S. government’s move into space and exploring what lies beyond our blue skies has captured media attention and the amazement and wonderment of millions. When NASA sent the first astronauts into orbit, or to the moon, these were moments locked into the collective consciousness of [...]
