Yesterday, Google announced a new service, Buzz, a service for users of its Gmail service to share updates, photos and videos. The service will compete with sites like Facebook and Twitter, which capture a significant percentage of the time people spend online. Buzz is built into Gmail, which already has 176 million users, according to comScore, Like recent changes to Facebook, Buzz allows users to post status updates that include text; photos from services like Google’s Picasa and Yahoo’s Flickr; videos from YouTube; and messages from Twitter.
The changes to the Gmail interface that include Buzz will be rolled out to users over the coming weeks.
For Google, Buzz is intended to encourage users to spend more time in their Gmail email site. Already, Google Chat, Google Calendar and Google Docs and Google Tasks succeed in making an open email window standard operating procedure for Gmail users, but these tools are generally used as a work platform. I can access the tools on my computer or phone and it’s the place I get work done!
Will Users see Buzz in their Email as spam?
By connecting social activities of users and making unsolicited suggestions of content for users, some from unknown sources, (friends of friends) Google risks upsetting users who will see such social interjections as spam. Especially when they land in users inboxes. Many folks perceive email to be the place where work gets done. For its part, Google unhesitatingly says that bringing Buzz personal social networking to the work space is a good thing.
I disagree.
There is certainly a lot of social spam in social networks like Facebook and Twitter and when I log in, (whether for work or play), I know what I can safely ignore and what I need to pay attention to. I also know how status updates, sharing links fits in the ecosystem of social networks. For now, I can always step away from these sites and go back to email to focus on getting some work done.
Will Buzz generate more bling for Google?
Google has a problem. Google is not Facebook. Facebook with 400 Million users as it celebrated just it’s 6th birthday is still growing. Social Media platforms are a growing source of revenue as users spend more and more time networking and Google wants a piece of that economic pie. If all goes according to Google’s plan the new interface may make it easier to generate revenue by keeping Gmail users in their account, where adsense revenue can be generated from those ubiquitous ads that most Gmail users are already blind to.
Fine, so long as the new Buzz doesn’t upset a loyal user base and have us reaching for the Spam button.
What do you think? Do you want social networking in your email?
Links:
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Definitely just another reason *not* to rely on Gmail as your (sole) email provider and keep on downloading them via pop/imap rather than using their web app! It's moves like this that will keep people from using Google docs imo. Google is trying to be too many things at once, and that is seldom a good strategy.
I received a Tweet from @TwighlightEarth today…Here is his first reaction..”Wow, woke up this morning to over 100 Google Buzz messages. Is this going to add value to my life, or is it more noise?”
For me, as both an advocate of social media and finding balance in my life, less is more.
There is something very simple about Twitter and Tweetdeck that I am loving. It works seamlessly with Facebook and other social media mechanisms. I like it – it's kind of the Apple thing for me – simple, effective, I get it. I don't want more. I want less, but the right kind of less. It has to work to help me share, communicate, educate, inform.
I like that these various social media mechanisms are offering us tools to communicate. But, hopefully, in the end they will help me to be fulfilled and satisfied. By that, I mean that I will be connected to a meaningful community to be able to write and share things that are important and meaningful in my life like the post I did yesterday about our school principal being one of 32 Outstanding Principals in Canada. For my business, I want to be able to find the right guests, for them to know clearly why they are coming. Will Google Buzz help me do that? Not sure. My immediate reaction to “the buzz” is to stay away from “the buzz”. We'll see how long that lasts. Now, as to “the buzz” for the iPad, I am drawn like a moth to fire…Sheesh!
Oh, the last thing that I am discovering is that email is not a good way to prioritize work. I am now using Action Method Online, a project management software that is so simple, that I actually get work done. The key is that they have removed email as the means for getting work done. Instead, it is simple action steps. I love it.
Hey Celes,
Groaning under the weight of additional social media platforms won't serve anyone. My sense is that dashboard tools that bring all social into one place are the solution. Some will appreciate Google Buzz, but if I'm to use it at all, it has to be integrated with my other social actions.
For me, Getting Things done is a priority. Google's tasks and calendar work. I think it important for each to find tools that simplify their work.
Thanks for sharing.