Got some sad news this week…

As of August 2019, Google is officially pulling the plug on it’s biggest social networking platform to date, Google+.
Now, it’s fair to say, Google+ has NOT been a popular platform. While Google claims 2.2 billion Google+ profiles, only roughly 3.5 million users have posted more than 50 updates. Meanwhile, Facebook claims 2 billion active users, Twitter 336 million, and LinkedIn 250 million. Certainly no match for Google+ paltry numbers.
Additionally, a bug in Googl+’s coding potentially exposed user information to a data breach. Google, however, fixed the bug prior to any such catastrophe (or so they claim).
But regardless, with its combo of poor user stats and potential exposure to malicious hackers, Google has chosen to bid Google+ farewell.
And I, for one, am calling this a bummer. A UUUUUUGE bummer.
And here’s why:

A More Business-Focused “Social Networking” Platform

From a business perspective, Google+ is second only to LinkedIn as a professional networking and connection tool. And with the addition of Google+ Business pages and Google My Business, which integrates with your Business Google+ page, Google+ successfully ramped up business-focused communication and engagement.

Preferential Treatment For Google+ Content in Search Ranking

Google+ is a Google product. And as has long been the case with Google products, Google gives preferential treatment in search results to content published on their platforms.
In other words, if you post content on your Google+ page your ideal clients are searching for, Google pushes search results for that content closer to the top in overall search results.

More Focused Engagement

Facebook + Twitter have obviously won the overall user tally battle. But with such a flood of users, those platforms both tend to be overrun with loads of useless blather. There are tons and tons of pointless posts, comments, reactions, and the like overwhelming user-feeds. It’s incredibly tough to be heard, foster engagement, or make a definitive impact.
Google+ may have far fewer active users, it’s user-base is much more focused and involved. Posts, shares, comments, and the overall discourse is 1,000x more meaningful and productive than either Facebook or Twitter.

Algorithms Don’t Dominate Your Feed

None of the popular social networks employ true organic feed any longer. Twitter and Instagram were still operating in this space as recently as a few years ago. But both have since shifted to serving content their algorithmic profiles of your viewing and search habits indicate would “most interest” you.
Google+ certain tracks your posts, follows, likes, and shares. but it doesn’t stock your feed with content its algorithm says you want to see. And this means your followers see your content as it organically appears in their feed. No paid promotion or other manipulations required.
All of This Said, Google+ Has it’s Down Side, Too…

Small User-Base

With only 3 million active users, the odds that your ideal clients are active on Google+ is exponentially lower in comparison to Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. So, even though Google+ users are more engaged, and more likely to see your content if they’re on the platform, the right person is far less likely to be a user.

No Paid Ad Options

In the beginning, Facebook’s paid ad options allowed you to jump to the top of the content feed. And at certain times, this was a useful promotional tool, particularly for running focused marketing campaigns.
Unfortunately, Google+ never develop paid ad options. And this move limited the platforms overall promotional opportunities.

Google Has Long Neglected Google+

When Google+ failed to take off and challenge Facebook and Twitter as a legitimate player in the social networking space, Google lost interest and stopped developing the platform. And when that happened, Google+ began its steady march toward its now impending death.

Google+’s Death Leaves Me at a Crossroads…

Blog commenting, especially on personal branding and business blogs, has plummeted over the last few years. Engaged commentators seem to prefer to react and interact on social medias these day.
That’s why a couple of years back I removed the comments section from my blog and re-directed readers to comment on my Google+ page.
But with Google+ disappearing into that long goodnight, this platform is no longer a viable option. So, which social media platform should relocate my comment to?
Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn?
For one of the last times in the history of this blog, swing by my Google+ page and cast your vote.