Facebook the new Google? How about the new Yahoo?
September 28, 2011 7 Comments
Enrique Dans, whose blog I read regularly and who was one of my best professors during my MBA at IE Business School, has recently published an interesting column where he indicates how Facebook is setting the foundations to be the new Google. The article (in Spanish) is quite interesting, but in my opinion has a slightly misleading title. I am going to contradict Enrique this one time and advocate for a similar yet different idea: Facebook is on the path of turning into the new Yahoo (and we all know how that ended – or is still ending).
The most important reason for the success of Google (let aside the algorithm), is the simplicity of its homepage. It is a site with no circumlocutions; it loads fast (unless you are in China), and it is not overcharged with unnecessary banners. It is just what we expect from a search engine, nothing more and nothing less. Google is even willing to lose money with the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button, which facilitates user experience (for those who actually use it, I guess). The alternative offered by portals like Yahoo was too overwhelming. There were way too many things going on the same page, and users were not so excited about that. We all know the market share numbers today.
Now, enter Facebook. What started as a beautifully designed social network has be reinventing itself and is recently trying to be something else. Don’t get me wrong; I appreciate companies that understand that the environment is not a status quo and that they need to keep up with the changes in consumer trends. And Facebook is feeling the Google threat. However it does seem that Facebook is trying to do too many things at the same time.
Facebook defenders will say: look at Google, it’s not just the simple search page any more. It is true, the current Google universe is indeed complex: Android, Gmail, Docs, YouTube, Google+, and so on. But it is equally true that Google’s expansion has been more natural and internally driven. Facebook seems to operate in sudden bursts of changes motivated just to counteract competitors’ actions, not to bring new concepts into the market. And also let’s not forget that Google has also failed plenty of times; Google Wave is a very good example of something really cool that didn’t work out. But Google has been able to keep new initiatives separated from the core driver of the company: the search engine, and all the money it gets from SEM. Facebook however is bundled up as one single product, and messing up with your only product with all these disruptions is not necessarily the best strategy to follow. Especially when each new change seems to contribute to harm Facebook’s already weak reputation.
Hi Jacobo! The title is not mine (neither is the article, I’m just quoted on it). If you check my blog, you’ll see the full exchange of questions I had with the journalist, Marimar Jiménez, and you’ll see my position on the Facebook issue
And stay tuned to my next post… I’m comparing the evolution of my Facebook page with the number of followers in my Google+ page, pretty amazing!
Hi Enrique! Facebook vs. Google+ is an interesting dispute… so looking forward to that article!
Don’t you have the impression that despite the impressive numbers G+ is not getting a lot of momentum in terms of participation? I find that interesting. I must admit that in spite of my confessed preference for Google+, the first place I go to is Facebook. I wonder how long it takes to change digital habits. It is easy in cases like changing from Yahoo to Google, but in this case, you need your whole network to move to the new place for the change to make sense….
I had a Facebook account for about two years or so before I started using it regularly – I needed for enough people to have shifted over from MySpace. I think the same could happen to Facebook – change isn’t easy or fast for a lot of people but Facebook seems like they are trying really hard to drive away users.
I really need to start reading Enrique’s articles more often … I’m so lazy with my Spanish the last couple months
Not only that Tony, you also need to keep up with your own blog!!
I’m about as motivated to do that as I am to exercise lately
It won’t work. Google is nice but will not win the average users. IMO it could only be done by a new company with a new product and not Just copying it.
Google is simple? Have you tried to do some advertising there as compared to facebook?
And the results? At least for startups like us who are looking forward on building real relationships with customers, facebook is doing way a better deal and is simplier (payment, insights, settings) and has design & style!!. We don’t get clicks we get motivated fans with facebook and we are loving it more and more. It will crash google. No wonder there will not be google in the future, but only google
Google slept this one away and even if facebook ist getting messier (I most accept), I have to say that facebook has the potential to be the new Apple and not Yahoo Jacobo!!!!
PS: I know how Enrique’s numbers are going to be, but Enrique Does not have average users.
Google I meant. There will not be Google in the future but only Google (they will name it “G “)