How Facebook can beat Google
Almost everyone recognizes Google as the king of the internet. But, as far as I see it, there is someone that is challenging Google for the crown; even if they don’t know it yet. In my opinion, Facebook has positioned itself to become that go-to website; the one that everyone uses as their homepage. You may think I am crazy, but it would not even take that much to accomplish this.
What does Facebook have that Google doesn’t?
Maybe the more appropriate question is, “what does Google have that Facebook doesn’t?” Well, from a business perspective, Facebook is missing a lot. Namely, the whole suite of Google Apps. But let’s put aside the business perspective and focus on the personal one. Because this is where I can see Google being replaced. On Facebook, you can send and receive messages from your friends, schedule events and post your photos. Now that sounds a lot like Gmail, Calendar and Picasa Web Albums. So getting back to my original question, it seems that Facebook has the social networking advantage.
“But wait,” you scream. There is Orkut! Well, you have a point. That is a social networking site that is owned by Google. But it is not integrated with the rest of the Google programs. In fact, the Google programs are barely integrated at all, save for a link bar at the top and a few odd features. With Facebook though, everything is tightly integrated and can be easily consumed on one unifying page. When your friend sends you a message, you can see who it is from, and click through to their profile. You can be tagged in a photograph and be notified about that. If you are invited to a party, you can see if some of your other friends are going too.
The Profile is the Key
The Facebook profile is what allows it to go beyond emailing and scheduling. It facilitates a more intimate connection with your contacts; in fact, they are not contacts, but friends. You don’t have a dull address book, but a vibrant collection of those friends. And speaking of friends, connecting to people is easier too. You don’t have to know some cryptic address; just their name. It is a simple but refreshing concept.
Even within your profile, you are connected to like minded people. All of your interests become links that you can click on. You are then presented a list of people with similar interests who you can in turn, ask to be your friends. With a profile, socializing on the internet becomes more intertwined.
How Facebook can challenge for the Crown
The UI design is already fantastic (as has been discussed on this site), but they just need to add some functionality. By my estimation, the focus should be on the messaging feature. By enhancing this aspect, Facebook would be taking leaps and bounds. It should be able to accept and send emails from off of the network and basically function like any other good email app. As it stands now, you need a separate email address where you receive these redundant messages telling you that you have a new message.
The photo uploads could also stand an improvement in the resolution, but other than that, it is already one of the best photo sharing services (thanks again to that profile connectedness). They also need to expand the calendar’s functionality, to include private and public calendars. And now with Applications, Facebook may have moved over that tipping point.
Will this really happen?
These changes are not that overwhelming. The features are already there in Facebook; they just need to be exploited. Now whether they would do this or not is another question. Would it be wise to challenge Google? If any company can transform itself to meet new competition it is Google. My point here is that Facebook does have a chance; it can move beyond the MySpace social network classification and become a new all encompassing service.
This post was written by J David Macor.
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By I am a new Author for Wisdump | J David Macor.com on July 21, 2007 5:11 pm
Hi J,
don’t forget there are many regular people who simply don’t want Facebook to be a next king. The people are who crown you, not service itself.
By Ivan on July 22, 2007 12:59 am
FaceBook can beat anyone and anything, even YouTube. But the only one who can beat Google is Google… and the FTC.
As long as Google stays free and delivers good results, they will stay on top of search. Most internet users aren’t that bothered by ‘don’t be evil’ and Google comes with many computers nowadays, that helps too.
By Franky on July 22, 2007 3:46 am
Very interesting J. Thanks for dropping by my place :) and, once again, good luck here…
Do you think Facebook will ever be able to do what Google did in the last couple of days to promote the openness of the Internet for consumers? I think Goog’s is standing up to the FCC rather well and that, to me, is a very personal issue.
By Mark on July 22, 2007 6:59 am
[...] How Facebook can beat Google (tags: O-RLY?) [...]
By links for 2007-07-21 at Will write for food on July 22, 2007 9:19 am
It seems that it’s more probable that the emperor will eat the ascending sudit when it really happens to be an inconvenience. You must get down from your “english language/culture” point of view and remember than, in Japan, Yahoo seems to have the Crown. In Brazil, medium people never heard of Facebook, but everyone uses Google and Orkut. So…
By Rafael Reinehr on July 22, 2007 11:12 am
Actually, I hate Orkut. The only reason I use gmail is because no social networking site gives you a basic email account to have everything sent to (for instace school notices for me, and things of that sort). For all of seeming collaberative abilities, Google services always fall short. In fact Helio has used google maps to a greater extent than Google itself has. I’m not saying facebook could compete on a grand scale, but as far as it being able to compete on a greater level of not just bringing together in the sense of a social network ala myspace, and not just to have a random public diary like GJ or LJ, but to have an all encompassing site where all of this can be accomplished, and much more. I’d love to see a google maps where if there is something happening, and my friends will be there, I’ll know about it even if it was just spur of the moment. A quick note drop on google or facebook with a location copied in and a pin appears on a map. Quickly hover over and find out who else is going, click a check box to say you’ll be heading there too. The only thing I think holding facebook back now actually is it’s decision to go more public, possibly turning into another myspace. There’s so much more I could say on this subject, but I’m just too tired so I’ll leave it at that.
By Jason on July 22, 2007 6:20 pm
Ivan, you make a good point. We the people are the ones who determine it, but if one product is better than another, shouldn’t we gravitate, eventually, towards the better one?
Franky, I think people are really starting to question this whole Google not being evil thing.
Mark, thanks for coming by to my article! I also like the fact that Google is fighting the FTC, but like I said to Franky, people are worried about privacy issues in conjunction with advertising. It is a little too “big brother” for my taste…
And Rafael, you may be right; Google might snatch up Facebook (if the Zuck ever bites at a price), but that assumes that they see them as a threat. As for internationalism, you are absolutely right. I mean, I lived in Switzerland for 4 years, but have since moved back to the States and my perspective has again shifted. Then again, Facebook hasn’t had the chance to spread internationally beyond English speaking countries; but if I am not mistaken, Facebook is sweeping England by storm after its recent release there.
By J David on July 22, 2007 6:43 pm
Welcome to Wisdump, J David. Now there are two J’s here at Splashpress–two people who use their second names and just use the initial J.
I look forward to reading more of your writings here on Wisdump.
By J. Angelo Racoma on July 23, 2007 6:16 pm
Thanks J ;)
By J David Macor on July 24, 2007 3:58 pm
IMO this post should be titled as how facebook can beat orkut ;-)
By blogshowoff on July 31, 2007 12:30 am