Why Google+ Was A Complete Flop

Google+ is a high Google bet effort to take Facebook in battle for social media. Despite being one of the more expensive Google businesses, at a cost of around $ 585 million only to build (through Forbes), Google+ is a spectacular failure. Why fails to be a warning for any company who wants to disturb the market.

Google+ was launched in mid-2011, follow-up for the company failed to successfully enter the social media market. Only below eight years later, in April 2019, Google closed services for personal and business accounts.

At the end of the first year, Google+ is believed to have as many as 90 million users (through digital inspiration). Milestone itself seems to describe Google+ potential must provide Facebook for the money. But in reality, the Google platform barely makes a dent. In fact, in 2015 studied it seems to show that less than 10% of the active Google+ account (through perfect). Even more said, when Google announced the shutdown platform, it revealed that 90% of the user session lasted less than five seconds.

There are a number of reasons why Google+ becomes a complete flop.

Why Google+ fails

One of the biggest problems faced by Google is trying to overcome Facebook’s dominance directly. In 2011, Facebook has become an 800 pound gorilla in the social media room. Trying it directly, without the new features of the killer, is a stupid task.

Another big mistake made Google is too forcing in trying to attract users. Like the one who was highlighted by Forbes, the then-CEO Larry page connects Google’s bonus employees for the success of Google+. Employees can see their bonuses up or down by 25% based on the success of the platform. This, in turn, encourages employees to aggressively try to recruit people, according to the description of Mike Elgan about “grandma spamming for cash.” In the end, such behavior often turns off more users than interesting.

The third reason Google+ fails is because of the inconsistent branding and direction of the company. In the early days of the platform, Google will delete the pages of business and brands, only to then do business about the face and welcome (via BBC). Unfortunately, at that time the damage was carried out and many businesses never returned.

The fourth reason the platform failed was because Google approached it was the same as they made previous efforts on social media – not listening to what the user wants. Unfortunately, the most brilliant programmers and engineers in the world often make the worst user experience. The awareness is one reason Apple has been so successful because it allows designers – focus on user experience – contact shots. This is a lesson that Google has never learned, and Google+ is one of the main examples.

The fifth reason for Google’s failure is a bad execution, especially in the realm of protecting its users. In fact, towards the end of the existence of the platform, it came out that around 52.5 million data leaked user for at least three years (through haiium). When a company enters the market where it is underdog, it is unable to make mistakes with execution, especially not an error that endangers the privacy and security of users.