In case you hadn’t heard, Google+ is going the way of the dodo bird. Although it will still be available to the (relatively few) users to access in the coming months, the company is phasing out the platform completely.
Although it was a well-publicized data breach that ultimately did Google+ in, there were a number of problems that resulted in low adoption rates long before the hack was ever discovered. While the loss of Google+ might have some immediate impacts for certain companies that were promoting their products and services on the social hub, we suspect the impact of its exit from the market will be pretty minimal.
The more interesting question is what marketers can learn from the demise of Google + as an entity. Here are a few conclusions smart business owners and executives will key in on.
The Online Marketing Landscape is Constantly Shifting
It’s cliché at this point to say that things are always changing on the internet, but it’s worth reminding readers that Google + was still considered to be a major up-and-coming social platform as recently as a year or two ago.
The moral of the story here is that you can’t live in the past if you want to dominate the present and the future. Design your online marketing goals and campaigns based on what’s happening now, not what worked before.
You Shouldn’t Try to Be All Things to All People
One of the criticisms continually hurled at Google + was that it didn’t seem to have a defined place in the market. Twitter might be a poor place for serious discussion, and LinkedIn is less-than-exciting, but both cater to specific audiences with their own wants and needs.
How does your business fit into the market you serve? Who is it perfect for? When you try to be everything to everyone you’re bound to disappoint and end up failing.
Money Can’t Buy Attention by Itself
Google + might have had a lot of problems, but a lack of resources wasn’t amongst them. Backed by the world’s most valuable corporation, the designers and decision-makers involved had every advantage you could want (at least on paper).
That they couldn’t make G+ fly with all those big budgets and consultants speaks to the creative nature of the internet. People don’t pay attention to you because you paid money to advertise to them; instead, they frequent a website or social platform because it entertains them or helps them in some way.
Data Security Is a Huge Concern for Businesses of All Sizes
As we’ve already mentioned, it seems as if the huge data breach that affected Google + was the final nail in its coffin. That’s not a storyline that’s all that unusual these days.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking your business is too small for hackers to target. Most online thieves are simply looking for a website they can break into easily. If you haven’t been paying enough attention to things like passwords, backups, and encrypted data transfers, now is the time to speak to your creative team about making some improvements.
Are You Ready for the Landscape of Online Marketing in 2019?
Feeling overwhelmed about the future of online marketing, especially with all the changes that are on the horizon for web design, search engine optimization, and social media? We can help.
The first step to getting ahead of the digital curve is having a smart strategy. That’s where our team of experts comes in. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation, so we can put our minds to work for you. The affordable and intuitive plan you’ve been looking for isn’t as far away as you think.
