Orkut Facebook and now Google+ : the changing social media landscape

Social Media? What is that?

This was a common question when Orkut made its first entry into the social landscape. Soon it took to the popular imagination by storm. With its scraps and fans, Orkut brought back memories of that childhood friend we had forgotten somewhere in the process of growing up. Only the best pictures of yours would qualify as the ‘Orkut Pic’. That was then…

Facebook took social media to the next level. For the user who was adapted to Orkut, figuring out things did take some time but once he got the hang of it, he got addicted. Many hours in office which could have otherwise been productive were spent on Facebook. The new lexicon comprising of ‘Likes’, ‘Share’, etc. soon became colloquial. An entire ecosystem started building around it. It was instrumental in creating an entire new set of professionals- the Social Media Marketer. Businesses gradually realized the latent potential of such a social platform and all mid- level marketing resources were redirected to it.

A few days back the much- awaited social site of Google was launched. A quintessential Web 3.0 product, Google + promises to be a revolution in itself. Personalized yet social, Google + tries to fill in all the gaps which the social media user was not even conscious of.

While industry is now rife with discussions about the possible chances of Google+ sounding the death knell for Facebook, it is perhaps too early to predict such a thing. Will a comfortable Facebook user easily switch to Google+? Will the whole set of Social Media Marketers who had mastered the art of Facebook Marketing need to upgrade their skills to include Google+ ? These are questions which only time can answer.

For the time being though one thing is for sure, Google+ will herald an era of a more competitive social media marketing with fierce battles being fought by brands to capture the customer’s attention.