We have bragging rights: Google has answered some of the strategic issues that have been debated on this platform since 21 April. Now do not be surprised if it decided to continue to move away from social, while strengthening its partnership with Twitter.
Google+
On the face of it, Google is implementing small changes in Streams, Photos and Hangouts — the three pillars of its social platform Google+.
Google+ is not being dismantled, but is clearly being transformed into a new product that presents alternative combinations of existing features, layers and modules.
Investment In Social
A Pinterest-like product, Google’s Collections — “a new way to group your posts by topic” — is essentially a mix of Photos and Streams, with no additional features.
Elsewhere, from Hangouts to Fi, a new service that was launched last month, Google signals the intention to abandon social, the way we know it, and enter more aggressively in the mobile and cloud networks by exploiting 4G and wi-fi data.
As a result, new partnerships in the mobile/cloud-land will be sought — Amazon, Verizon and AT&T anybody?
Investment In Twitter
Here is where the business gets serious: consider that deeper cooperation between Twitter and Google is the obvious way forward for the two.
- The deal between Google and Twitter allows the
former
to get its hands on important data that will enhance the performance of its real-time search algorithm.
- Twitter gains exposure in the SERPs and its sponsored ads could be easier to monetise with this strategy.
Image source: MARKETINGLAND.COM
What this means, quite simply, is the chance to chase real-time SEO projects.