Google imitates Facebook.
Rumors have been flying about Google’s Facebook copycat product: Google Me . The company has already tried and failed to foray into social networking by their own means (e.g. Google Buzz, Okrut). But I, personally, wouldn’t mind a Facebook clone ‘ encouraging fragmentation in the market and a check on Facebook’s power.
Because of Facebook’s privacy negligence, consumers are now looking for an open alternative. It’s feasible that Google Me could be the right solution, at the right time – capturing Facebook drop outs who are fed up with the network’s omnipotence. Google can now attempt to persuade their 900M loyal users to follow them to a more secure and democratic social scene.
I see this resulting in one of two scenarios. Facebook is approaching saturation. Consumers may become sick of Facebook and try Google’s clone out of rebellion’?¬¶ or Facebook may listen to our complaints, adapt, and maybe even expand their search functionality as an added crack at Google.
And, Google should feel threatened. In March, for the first time ever, Facebook had a larger weekly market share than Google, making them the most popular website in the country (at least for that week). Facebook is increasingly web users’ portal of choice.
From a consumer’s perspective, I want to see competition in this space. Facebook, right now, doesn’t need to fight for my loyalty (with clear and simple privacy settings, for example). If I want to socialize online, they’re the easiest option; I’m stuck with them. In the end, though, we only want to participate on a single social portal. Would you make the switch?
Google challenges Microsoft.
This week, Google acquired major travel search company ITA Software ‘ as well as revised their business strategy. The search engine giant now aims to focus on vertical search, which is (not coincidently) their rival Bing’s main differentiating feature. For those who know the information they’re searching for, and want to find it fast, Google is their go-to engine. Alternatively, Bing is promoted as a discovery tool. It’s the difference between needing neutral results or filtered, customized outputs.
Many consumers rely on the Internet to make their travel plans (about 90M Americans in the past year), making travel search a huge opportunity with a huge audience. Google obviously wants to remain king of this vertical and sees Bing as a contender. But, Bing’s 3% travel search market share seems very insignificant next to Google’s 30%.
The buy makes strategic sense. Purchase-orientated search is just another opportunity for Google to monetize ‘ potentially charging airlines and travel aggregators on a cost-per-action basis. And ITA Software, the company they’ve chosen to partner with, powers a part of Bing’s search.
