Google+ Reaches 25 Million Users | The Digital Clicks Blog
Google+ has now become the fastest social network to hit 25 million users, at a much faster rate than both Twitter and Facebook. It took Twitter 2 and a half years and Facebook 3, but Google has hit this milestone within 1 month. Does this mean that it is destined to take over? First of all, it is important to consider that the times in which these different sites have launched are completely different. When Facebook launched in 2004, the global viral nature of the web was definitely in full flow, but this has no doubt dramatically increased by 2011, with users now fluent in social media practices and experts on all the innovative features that have been introduced over the years on all platforms. It's not just tech geeks knowing everything either; social networking is as part of our culture as watching TV. So Google+ arrives in a time where it's almost second nature to adopt another user name and profile, let alone sign up for a social network that has similar features to the ones we use for hours each day. Taken into context, it appears that Google's attempt at a social network and its incredible growth may not be as amazing as it seems. What is important for the user, though, is integration. Using Google as a search engine has been part of our culture for even longer than social networking, and with YouTube a part of this as well, along with many other Google features, it is clear to see that Google has a strong position in the market. Something that will be very important to the future of both SEO and SMO. So is this the real reason behind the numbers? Time will tell as the early adopters begin to optimise the network in terms of business, and we see how online marketing will develop within the new structure. What is clear though is that although Google+ is just another attempt to challenge the social networking sites (not even the first by Google), it has established itself as a major player. The sentence 'find us on Facebook and Twitter' will gradually include 'and Google+' but it probably won't wipe them out together, will it?