I feel like all I talk/write about is Google anymore, but the fact is they keep doing important stuff.
The latest development happened yesterday with the introduction of Google Buzz, which is the company’s official step into formal social networking.
I’ve long called Google the “secret social network”, so I’ve felt a move like this was inevitable – just wondered how they would do it.
All signs look like it’s going to be an amazing tool, both for individuals and businesses. It’s tied into Gmail, Personal Profiles, Business Place Pages, Google Maps, and basically everything else they do.
Looks pretty seamless and extremely smooth to use, and they’ve “borrowed” some of the emerging location-based “check-in” applications that Foursquare and Yelp have been working.
There are lots of question still – a main one for business clients is going to be how this ties into both Google’s regular and Social Search results.
For my personal branding people, you’re pretty much going to be set up already if what I’m seeing is right – this should naturally appear and integrate with your Google Profile. The question will be who/what/when/where/why/how you want or need to use this as a social network in combination with Twitter, Facebook, etc.
Buzz is being rolled out to everyone with Google accounts over the next 2-3 days. I don’t have it in mine just yet, but as soon as I do, I plan to get to work on how it’s best integrated with an overall social media strategy/presence. (UPDATE: I have it now!)
Of course, we’ll also be revising (enhancing?) our Google Everything program to include Buzz. I’ll let you know what I know when I know it…!
Here’s Google’s own vid explaining Buzz:
