The Google+ Ghost Town talk is finally beginning to come to a screeching halt thanks to a new report by Global Web Index. The numbers gathered now show that Google+ has surpassed Twitter in active users and is second only to Facebook.
From now on, whenever somebody even hints at Google+ being a failure all you can do is tilt your head slightly and look at them funny.
This quick graphic I created only shows the numbers for Facebook, Google+, and Twitter, although Technically YouTube was considered #3 and Twitter came in at #4 by the numbers. Although it is good to note that Twitter is actually the fastest growing of them all, with 40% growth in the last quarter.
As advertisers, businesses and brands continue to see a decline in the effectiveness of their Facebook efforts, Google+ continues to gain ground with it’s innovative features. Users are just becoming numb to the same old stuff on Facebook. It’s no surprise– when things aren’t evolving, they are inevitably going to lose their effectiveness.
If anyone has yet to see the value in Google+ as a platform to build an audience for their business or brand, they seriously need to re-think some things. There are plenty of businesses and brands using the platform to their advantage with great results! It’s still relatively new though and for that reason the opportunity to capitalize will never be better.
In the social media game, the early adopters see the greatest return. Don’t wait until the masses have already bought in and the market is saturated– go in now and be an innovator.
And if you’re a blogger– you have all the more reason to jump on Google+ immediately! The SEO benefits, though still a bit ambiguous, are no joke. Not to mention the ability to network through Communities of other bloggers who are actively sharing helpful tips and even forming blogging armies to help one another succeed.
Bottom line, this infographic I created is coming true– maybe even sooner than I thought!
Have you been seeing some benefits to Google+? Or are you still not taking it seriously? Feel free to add to the conversation– you can leave a comment by clicking here.
I’m confused by one thing — if Twitter was the fastest growing last quarter how did Google+ pass it?
As in, Twitter was ahead of Google+ last quarter, grew faster than Google+ last quarter, yet Google+ is now larger? What did I miss?
You know, I thought about that too Mickey. I’m sure there’s a scenario in which that makes sense– I’m no expert in market research or calculating those types of numbers. It might have to do with the size of the member base relative to the number of active users.
Good question though.
Simple. Look at the pace Gmail has been growing.
Google is #2 because it has linked Youtube & other Google products activity to Google+. Since Google is forcing people to sign up for Google+ the number of so called active users has increased. Google is fluffing up its number to get recognition. What is an active user? I would be considered an active user on Google+ because I have been on there one time this week. I have been on Facebook 100 times this week. Google has a long way to go to catch Facebook. This is all a bunch of number fixing. Google fanatics will get all excited but advertisers(the people who matter) will not care. Nobody is on Google+ like they are on Facebook.
Hey Bill, I’m guessing you didn’t actually read the report. You would do well to to read into it before making such conclusions. It was done by a market research company that has no vested interest in any social network over another.
Number of A
“Active users” is completely misleading. Google+ forces gmail users to sign up and sign in but people do not use it nearly to the degree of FB or Twitter. Google+ is still a Ghost Town and still has a long way to go to prove otherwise.
Mike, you’d benefit to read this post. Anyone still touting “Google+ ghost town” is about as relevant as saying the earth is flat.
I was thinking the same thing. I’m sure over half of those G+ “active users” aren’t so active. It definitely has potential to grow though. Personally, I was a twitter fanatic when I first found out about it around four years ago, and got over 5000 followers pretty quickly. I rarely use it now though except to interact with others during an event. I probably use twitter and G+ about the same…but I’m still on facebook daily.
How’s that working for you from a business perspective? Are you getting a good ROI on your Facebook activity? I see you’ve got an active blog so you should be able to measure that at least.
Google+ has benefited me in connecting with other like minded folks, quicker, and easier than that of both twitter and facebook… I do not find facebook all too appealing, as the foundation of facebook was that of classmates or friends and family… where as a networking place such as Google+ or even LinkedIn has given myself more ways to interact on a daily basis with those that have similar interests and not necessarily out to make ‘it work’ or money hungry either… it really is about community and not just being social.
Great infographic Dustin!
Ray
Thank you Ray! I have had the same experience with Google+ in comparison to the other social networks. While Facebook is still great for family and close friends, Google+ has thrown metaphorical napalm on my personal network and business– spreading it like wild fire!
Hi Dustin:
From the moment I received my “beta” invite on G+, I understood the ramifications of this new project. I understood the plan. And I was more than happy to be a part of the project.
As I’ve mentioned here before, G+ has been an amazing platform for me. But then I believe I’m using Social Media in a way to enhance my profile online. I only post topics to draw people in; whether to my two blogs or my photography business. Which is not to say I don’t post other useful infirmation as well. I use Social Media as as way to move myself forward.
Don’t post personal photos (often)
Don’t give people my minutiae.
It’s important for me to post relevant useful info because that’s what I want to see here. I think that’s what is causing FB to lose its luster; the fact that there is too much minutiae there, too much useless content. Hopefully, G+ can hold onto what it differentiates itself. G+ is the next evolution in Social Media and we as it the content developers can see that it stays above the echo chamber.
–
Chris
I’m with you Chris– I saw the plan immediately! Even before I scrounged up a beta invite! Haha!
Oh, and thanks for teaching me a new word today– minutiae. That’s fun to say!
minutiae:
Glad to be of service, Dustin. Always aiming to improve myself and others. LoL.
With minimal effort, I have been circled by almost as many people on Google+ in six months as have friended me on Facebook in over four years of regular use. Everyone I have circled on Google+ produces or shares quality content, whereas on Facebook they either don’t post any content, I can’t see it (thanks to EdgeRank), or the majority is useless rubbish I will probably ignore. I have barely scratched the surface of Google+ features available to me as a blogger and already the results are near overwhelming! It is by far the superior platform for networking content providers.
Shawn said:
…circled by almost as many people on Google+
That was my initial reaction here too. In the entire four or five years I was on FB I only accumulated approximately 300 followers to my PERSONAL page. Here on G+ I’m cracking 5000. What ghost town? And like you, Shawn, my content here is amazing, all mostly relevant and on topic.
Agreed Shawn!
I am on Google+. I think it has the potential to be a great network; however, it still needs to develop more API functions. I like twitter because it is so easy, and I can schedule tweets. Plus, the majority of people my age seems to be on it. Google+ seems to be more for businesses and individuals trying to launch businesses right now. I do think it has potential, but in order to reach the younger audience, it must have a better interface.
The interface is superior on all levels except minimalism. It’s advanced in ways that Twitter and Facebook can only hope to accomplish over the next year or so. I think what you really mean is it’s not as simple as Twitter. With Twitter, all you have to do is Read and Post. That’s it. It was what attracted me to Twitter in the first place. I love the simplicity!
And to an extent you’re right about the general audience– it’s mostly tech savvy networking-minded people who have a desire to grow their online network and/or influence. Most people your age (as if I’m so much older lol) wouldn’t describe themselves in that way. But the ones who do will be leading the way for their peers when they are all having their quarter-life crisis trying to figure out what to do with their lives. Ha! Be an innovator and lead the charge Brandon!
Mind you, not sure if you heard this, but there is a new social network that everyone buzzing around these days. It’s called caiganworld.com and i think it has a huge potential to be successful and big social network!
I took a look at that site you suggested Luke– not impressed. I was gone in less than 10 seconds (and that’s pretty generous). It sounds like a cheap 90′s video game and doesn’t look much better. Newsletter powered by MailChimp doesn’t say much for a professional network.
Like some of the other posters mentioned, my only connection to Google plus was because I had a gmail and YouTube account. After browsing mykillertribes I came across Dustin.TV and started reconsidering it. I really hate how arrogant facebook has become. Anyway, I’m giving Google plus another look.
You really should! There is no other network out there that can impact you digital reach. Period.