Google+ Answers – A New Business Platform

Only 3 days ago I received a Google+ invitation. All I can say is WOW. How did Google keep this tidy little platform so "under wraps".  No it's not another edition of Buzz or Wave- it certainly has outshone any new Social Media Connection network since … well … facebook! And you just have to love the competition heating up between the Google and Facebook!

So I started playing with Google+ and intended to write a post about my findings- the good, the useful and the ridiculous…. after reading  Chris Brogans post titled "Google+ 50"; I seriously couldn't not share his findings. His blog is one I read religiously!

Google have raised the bar with Google+ and I fully believe it has amazing capabilities for Business users. Yet I do firmly believe that Facebook will stand as the Personal sharing and Connecting platform. Here are the first 10 points from Chris Brogans Post and a link to the complete post (that is 80% ad free)

If you're curious about Google+, the new social network platform from Google, you're not alone. I've logged several hours already on the platform, experimenting, testing, and observing. It sparks my attention from several angles: marketing, technology, community, media, mobile, advertising, and more. To that end, I wrote down 50 things to think about with regards to Google+, in no particular order:

The purpose of this list is to get you thinking about a bunch of different possibilities. You're welcome to dispute them all, but that really wouldn't be the point. Instead, make your own similar post and link back. People can compare.

THE GOOGLE+ 50

1. Google+ is built to take you away from either Facebook or Twitter (or both), and it could do it, in time.
2. If it seems like FriendFeed, and thus you worry it might burn out, know that Newt Gingrich has already joined.
3. With a Google+ account, you get unlimited photo storage on Picasa. (Flickr feel threatened? FB photos?)
4. With Circles (how one groups people), you control privacy in a way that makes clear and obvious sense.
5. Your "about" section is rich, robust, allows links, photos, QR codes, and more. Marketers rejoice.
6. If Google+ starts influencing Page Rank (meaning, if a link shared on G+ is weighted more than others), it's game on for SEO/SEM.
7. If Google Music integrates into this platform the way YouTube is now, it's a powerful entertainment media platform instantly.
8. The Android integration for G+ is strong already in these early days. If the platform does take off in a big way, this could shift mobile OS choices, and spending. (very speculative, I admit)
9. You don't need Quora, if you can ask detailed questions in Google+ and share them with specific Circles, etc.
10. The live video chat feature is a powerful addition to collaboration and workshifting scenarios.

"A QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF IS, 'SHOULD I GET IN EARLY, BEFORE ANYONE'S THERE TO BOTHER WITH? IF I DON'T LOOK AT IT FOR A YEAR, WILL I LOSE GROUND? IF IT'S STILL EARLY DAYS, WHY SHOULD I BOTHER WITH GOOGLE PLUS YET?'" Read The Full Artic

Whats you thoughts on Google+ ?