An Open Letter To Google



Ah….Google! I had such high hopes for you!

You stole the innovation title from Apple…practicality from Microsoft.

You promised to do no evil (and pretty much kept that promise).

You’re the pride of America, the #1 brand name around the world.

Why…just look at all you’ve done, Google:

  • YouTube
  • Gmail
  • GDrive
  • Maps
  • Android
  • Adwords, Adsense, Analytics, Alerts
  • Chrome
  • Google Earth
  • Hangouts
  • Voice
  • Docs
  • Driverless cars
  • Picasa
  • Fusion Tables

OMG…the list goes on and on. You’re Google!

And yet…the one thing that persistently eludes you is a successful Social Network.

Google Wave, Google Buzz came and went. Then, you launched Google Plus, and integrated it into and out of everything!

LOVE!

Many of us saw G+ as the platform FaceBook SHOULD’VE been…but alas, it’s languishing. The men and the geeks are still there…so are all the circles, and the communities, but it’s starting to feel like a deserted wasteland.

I’ve been telling social media students for years, now, that Google Plus will survive! After all, it’s backed by GOOGLE!

But Google — as innovative as you are — you also show the strength (or the stupidity) to drop the things you don’t think have a future: Google Reader, Google Glass, Motorola, etc.

Now G+ seems teetering on the precipice of a similar fate.

Obviously, Google Plus spawned some ideas that you should keep. Photos. Hangouts. But the glue that holds it all together…all that EFFORT and investment that went into making G+ a player…that’s all gone?

Say it ain’t so!

When will you make your decision? Or should I say when will you announce your decision? Go easy on us. Give us some hope that the future does not all belong to Twitter and Facebook. Show us you have some stick-to-itiveness. You may be one of the most innovative companies on the planet…and you can’t figure this out???

While we wait, have you read what Brad Friedman wrote a few days ago on SocialMedia Today?

I’ll say one thing… you’re the ace at keeping us all on the edge of our seats, Google. We look forward to the word from on-high. Just don’t let me read it on my Twitter stream?…at least send your decision to my Gmail account?

CourVO