Monday, August 08, 2011

Google+ Brand Pages

In a few months Google will be launching "brand pages" on Google+ to rival Facebook's company fan pages. Mashable has summed up some of the possible benefits of using Google+ versus Facebook for a company's brand page:

1. The pages will be easier to find in organic search
2. Better integration with ads
3. More statistics and information about users will be available to businesses

If the predictions in this article prove correct, it might be possible for businesses to drive traffic to Google+. Originally it was assumed that consumers would be the deciding factor as to whether Google would beat Facebook in the social media game. But what if businesses had a say by offering incentives for users to frequent their Google+ brand page instead of their Facebook fan page? If the functionality offered by Google proves to be so much better than that of Facebook this could be a real possibility. On the other hand, Facebook may have the resources to compete at this level.

Do you think Google's ability to integrate its network with all of its other features (search, display, analytical tools etc.) will make it a more attractive offering to marketers than Facebook? And if so, do you think this preference on the part of businesses will drive consumers to the service?

1 comment:

chanda said...

I read this article too and found it quite interesting. The problem you mention is like a chicken and egg situation. Will the advertisers follow the customers or will the customers follow advertisers?

Google has the power of being a constant innovator, while Facebook is lacking in this regard. Google also has the muscle power to establish relationships with supplementary providers such as Zynga if need be. If anybody could topple Facebook's stronghold, it would most likely be Google.

But I think they have a long way to go, at least a few years. Google's strategy seems to be a phased roll out of innovations(like upcoming brand pages) instead of dealing a one-shot blow to topple Facebook at their launch.