Eventually, Google will need to make some decisions regarding the way they let people like things if they want to have any consistency across all of their products and services. For example, on its new Google Plus network you can click the plus one button to “Like” something. See image of G+
However,
Now let’s take a look at Google Buzz, it’s earlier attempt at social networking. You will also see the “Like” button which becomes an Un-like button once you like something so on this platform (like on G+) you can only like something or take it back. You cannot give a negative vote as on youtube.
Eventually, Google should provide the same methodology in its UI across all of their products. They should also make sure that the information all flows back to its flagship social network which will obviously be Google Plus.
Share and Share Alike
The same decisions regarding consistency should also apply to other functions on each service such as sharing and commenting. If you want to share something on Google Plus you don’t have many choices right now. You can only share it inside of Google Plus. You just have to decide to share it on the public stream for all to see or to one of your curated circles.
Note: There is a third party Chrome extension that allows you to share something to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn but I’m addressing built-in features from Google itself.
On YouTube you have many more options to share something. You can email it to anyone you want or share it directly on Twitter or Facebook. You can also get the embed code (in some cases anyway) and embed the video on your website. I give Google a plus one for adding its Plus One button to YouTube. Nice job! Also noteworthy, if you +1 a video on YouTube it will show up in your Google Profile under the +1’s section! However, nothing you +1 inside G+ or in a google search shows up yet. Double boo there.
On Google Buzz you will notice a similarity to Google Plus where you can only share something on Buzz itself. However, they did include the email option which was good.
Adding Your Two Cents Worth
The way Google handles commenting will change for sure too. They must become a model of consistency if they want people to embrace their platform for commenting. Already there are many people who have stated they would be willing to make Google Plus comments their commenting system for their blog. This is a big deal as platforms such as Disqus have spent years integrating with thousands of websites. Facebook comments has slowly replaced Disqus and other commenting systems so it is possible for Google Plus to infiltrate this market if they provide a worthwhile platform.
Google Plus offers a simple and straight forward system for commenting on someone’s post. You enter your comment and post it. Nothing much to do.
An important thing to note here is the fact that Google Plus does not thread comments or conversations. It’s very twitter-like which is hard on the eyes and makes following the flow of conversations very difficult. You will see someone responding to a comment way down on the vertical list and have to do a lot of scrolling up and down if you care to make sense of it all. This must be fixed at some point. You can add the person’s name in your comment which helps a little but not really that much. Seeing the comment and then the reply/response just below it makes the most sense.
On YouTube, well, no one really reads the troll infested comments on there do they? In any event, let’s compare how it handles commenting. As you can see, simple entry form but they do offer the option to leave a video response which makes sense since it’s a video service. They also display the number of characters remaining for comments (500).
Also worth noting, there’s no threading either. Just a series of comments…no context.
Google Buzz offers a similar plain vanilla commenting system like Google Plus. Just post a comment, you can’t reply to a commentator directly either.
It also does not thread comments or conversations.
Note: Google should have a dedicated tab in Google+ that shows all of the comments we’ve made. Right now it only shows posts we’ve shared on G+, not any of the comments. They should follow the examples by Disqus and BackType which Twitter just acquired.
Summation
So there you have it. An examination of the three core functions that Google will need to address at some point across all of its products:
1. How do people like something? They must replace Like with the Plus One button everywhere.
2. How do people share things? They need to offer wider array of choices as they do on YouTube. Yes, even to Twitter and Facebook.
3. How do people comment? They should offer a rich text experience with easy bold/italics formatting and the ability to thread conversations by replying to comments.
Good Read! Very insightful!
Nice post.It allows users to selectively share information with specific groups
within defined circles, rather than sharing it with all their social
connections at once.
I have used Google plus. Its good.Well written article.I feel that this is a very unique and rare information that you have managed to compile.You have done a great job by sharing this post with us.I like this post.Keep sharing with us in future too.
This is
a nice content.The idea is that basic details need to be public so people can
find.The written skill is so good.I appreciate to this one.Keep it up.I will
keep share in future.
I really like the concept of this post and I feel that this is a very unique and rare information that you have managed to compile.You have done a great job by sharing this post with us.I like this post.Keep sharing with us in future too.
Promoting Google+ votes is becoming a very hot business. Using these
types of services could have negative or positive affects on SEO.
We just have to see how Google treats them.
Nice post.Its really a great news.I like your site. Thanks for sharing this information.Keep in touch with us.
Well mate i love google.Thanks for sharing.Keep sharing.
Awesome post!
Interesting info to know.It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this
topic…
I recently started to compile
this kind of information to write a website about the subject and many of
your suggestion will make their way to it. Thanks for the nice website!
Very nice
blog. I love your ideas – simple and
back to basics . Great ideas
High Quality Hip Hop Beats for sale rnb instrumentals buy Hip Hop Beats Rap Beats Club Dirty South and rnb instrumentals You can download free beats and instrumetals with hooks Buy Music Beats free music beats.
This is a nice
content. According to the International Energy Agency, improved energy
efficiency in buildings.Reducing energy use reduces energy costs.I like this
one.This is an amazing.Thanks to share this blog with us.
Very nice
blog. I love your ideas – simple and
back to basics . Great ideas
An interesting
point of view. I like to read your blog post because it is well written and intersting
Thanks for great
index of very useful resources in a single page.
thanks for sharing
this useful information, your blog is interesting.
Sensational info.
I look forward to seeing more.
Every time I
navigate this site like him even more.
You have done a
great work really. A lots of efforts behind this.
Thanks for the
post, This was exactly what I needed to see.Good list, keep up the good work
Thanks to given this social connection by this
post. In this site included many resources and features plus efforts. Its high
quality site but also its publicity site.
Thanks very much, got my timeline
Good initiatives taken by google.Every single video and other stuff which is related in terms of finding the best guidelines for smoother operation as well as guiding someone in a way so that they could find the best options in every possible opportunity this way out makes the options very much worth along with fundamental in all the way. Therefore each topic making the options purposeful.