What’s the Big Buzz about Google?
Two days ago, I received an email about the latest Google toy, Google Buzz. I don’t know why I received it, but it looked interesting. So I tucked it away for a rainy day.
Yesterday, I caught a business report on the radio. The host was discussing a new group of Outlook features, collectively titled Outlook Social Connector.
Seems a trend is gearing up, so I thought we’d discuss it.
As I read the email and listened to the radio ad, my first thought was , “How can these tools help time-ravaged copywriters?”
Or can they?
Google Buzz
Google Buzz integrates with gmail, for easier connecting to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. The website states, “Used on a PC or mobile, Buzz reminds us of an RSS combined with all of your social networking—all within the existing Gmail and Google.com infrastructure.”
Google Buzz has 5 main features:
1. Friends you’ve emailed via gmail are automatically added. (Hey! Just like my Droid! Oh, wait. I’m not crazy about that feature.)
2. Integrated full-size photo sharing via “Rich fast sharing”
3. Swaps between friends and family, publicly or privately
4. Dynamic updates, reducing individual notifications
5. An intelligent interface: it connects you to friends of friends, then ‘learns’ your preferences over time
Unfortunately, Google Buzz got off to a rocky start. Inbox spamming and privacy issues smeared the product launch. Despite an apology from Todd Jackson, Buzz product manager, time will tell if Buzz lives up to its name.
Outlook Social Connector
Outlook Social Connector makes it easier to connect to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook via your email inbox, so you can “keep track of your friends and colleagues” while growing your professional network.
I hear an echo.
Rather than interfacing through gmail, though, Social Connector is currently available in Microsoft Office 2010 Beta.
“OSC”, as the tool has officially been dubbed, offer a minimum of 14 features…far too many to list here. Feel free to check them all out.
Interestingly, the website offers a LinkedIn provider to Outlook 2010 users. Now that might be worth looking into.
Apparently, both tools (and who knows how many clones to follow), are engineered to save us time and make our lives ‘easier.’
I’m not yet convinced. I still have days when I want to smash my PC with a big hammer and go back to pen and paper.
What do you think? Are these advancements, or just additional time-suckers to clutter up our overloaded inboxes?
7 Responses to “What’s the Big Buzz about Google?”
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It seems that you, as a writer, can look at the whole social media craze in a couple different lights.
I admit I’m no Facebook/Twitter/outlook pro. Also, I admit that I’ve been sucked into the vortex that goes with actually interacting on these sites. Here’s how I believe these can hurt and harm you…
One way to really screw yourself with “Shiny Bright Objects” like social media is just showing up whenever and letting yourself be pulled in. Yeah, I know your schmoozing there can lead to client relationships…projects…moola but if you show up with no outcome, you end up messing around more than working.
Because I don’t depend on Facebook as a marketing tool, I, when in serious work mode, will only allow myself to go there AFTER I’ve worked on whatever project I’d feel good about working on for the day. Otherwise, I get hopelessly distracted and the more joy I get out of playing the less sexy buckling down for work seems to be. So, I abstain.
Same could be said for diving into the pile of emails I get from the jillion different marketer’s who’s lists I’m on.
With all the mail I get, I could swim all day in sales letter landing pages/blog posts and it would serve a purpose if my outcome was to go there and learn. But most of the time I just dally and peruse which leads to zero productivity.
What I’ve found that really helps me stand out whether in email or on social media sites is my ability to write. Most people are scared to write because they hardly do it so when they do peck out an email, post or comment it ends up being a one word sentence, GREAT!!!, misspelled/awkwardly phrased or sounds like a robot wrote it.
You and I shouldn’t have that problem.
Some days, I don’t do any client work and I find that using a social media site allows me to meet my goal of writing everyday.
When used strategically with your career in mind: with specific outcomes (get clients, nurture relationships, educate the market, etc.), time blocked off for how long you hang there, and actually using your gift of being able to push past the fear of writing something bad… you can make these tools work for you instead of against you.
Mariano, those are some very good insights! It’s true that to be effective on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and so forth, you’ve got to have a plan, or they can be big time wasters. And certainly, an ability to communicate well can have a big impact on results. The important thing for most people is to get moving! I like to say, if LinkedIn is a steak dinner, Facebook is a backyard barbeque
Tailor your message to your audience, but keep your branding consistent. You will attract the audience that works for you, people who are interested in what you have to say and want to follow you.
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Dear Victoria,
Great article! I found it on Linked in and came over her to check out your site.
Was wondering if you allow republishing of articles? Google Buzz would be of great interest to our readers.
You can check out th emagazine at http://www.wemagazineforwomen.com.
thanks for the great find! And information…
Heidi Richards Mooney, Publisher
Heidi, I’d be delighted to allow you to reprint my article. I’m glad to know about your magazine too. Can you tell my readers more about it?
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Mariano has some very good points. I also received Buzz & wondered what to do with it & whether it’s worth spending time on. I’m trying to gain some benefit from Facebook, but the jury’s out on that one too. Most of my Facebook contacts seem to spend their time playing Farmville – there’s very few who are actually connecting with one another! There are some in the groups I belong to – notably Women Who Write Online.
At this stage I’m finding LinkedIn more value than Facebook in terms of connecting with current clients and being visible to possible ones. The one thing I find valuable about Facebook is that I post my Suite101 & Bukisa articles there & get more hits on them, lifts my profile a bit.
Like Mariano, I ration my Facebook time to the very start or the very end of my working day. Otherwise, it’s too easy to have the hours slip by.
Sue, if I get one more FB request to join the Mafia…! I always say if LI is an expensive steak dinner, FB is a backyard BBQ. Knowing your audience and tailoring your message to suit is vital. And disciplining yourself about what you will do and how much time you’ll spend. It ain’t easy on FB! Fortunately, it seems the larger your fan page grows, the less you get hit with all that silly stuff. Or that’s been my experience anyway.
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Hi Heidi– while reviewing blog comments, it appeared my answer to your republishing question did not ‘take’- so in case you didn’t receive it, yes, of course, I would be honored if you reprinted my article in your magazine!
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