Google’s Social Web

Over the past year Google has been covertly making strides, to move towards and complete social web. Below is a list I wanted to point out to give you a heads up of what is happening.

Social Search: This allows you to see relevant information about your search parameters within your own social circle. For example, what are your friends saying about a particular restaurant in San Diego.

Twitter Search: Google is now working with Twitter to allow relevant Tweets to be indexed for particular search parameters.

Sidewiki: In one fell swoop, Google has made every web page social to Google Toolbar Users. This component allows users to comment on any webpage anywhere and allow anyone who visits that site to see their comments. Everything is now social.

Wave: Real time communication with a robust conversation platform is the backbone of Google Wave. This beta technology will turn online communication as we know it on it’s side.

OpenSocial: With OpenSocial, Google is allowing users to create one login and persona for the entire web allowing for easier cross channel communication and proliferation.

As you can see, Google is making strides to achieve a social web. Everyday we are moving closer to this realization and uncertainty. What will these new technologies and communication strategies do to and for your business? How will your brand react and adapt? Will you embrace this shift or sit aside and try to ride it out?

The Social Web is coming (faster than you might think). Will you be ready?

The Social Web - Quick Thoughts

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been delving deeply into certain aspects of the corporate web as we know it. I have a couple thoughts that I “tweeted” last weekand wanted to get your feedback on. I am working on an in-depth look at the future of the corporate social web. Feel free to comment your thoughts on the braindumps below. I greatly appreciate your feedback:

The corporate web presence will transition to a network of “conversation-specific” microsites based on niche demographic or need.

The networked “Conversation-Specific” web will provide the platform for a social web - connected through all communication paths

“The New Web” is in our pockets, in our cars, at our desks; networked throughout our lives. Integrated into our lifestyles…

W/ semantics and analytics, each person will have their own experience on the web; Catered to their individual needs.

Each person will be socially connected to the people, brands, products that define them as an individual…

Should “Social Media” Drop the Social?

Every day, I have over 300 blogs fed to my Google Reader with topics ranging from Cycling to Kansas City events; from mobile technologies to Social Media, and every day, I find value in certain blog posts which I “share” with my followers, friends, and colleagues. But every once in awhile I see a blog post that I have to write about. Yesterday was one of those days.

One of my most consistent blogs that I read is David Armano. Yesterday he had a great interview posted with Bruce Nussbaum, contributing editor of BusinessWeek, discussing design, disruption and innovation. The discussion regarding Social Media really caught my eye.

David: “Social media” for the lack of a better phrase seems to be on everyone’s mind. What’s your take on the current state of matters related to this? Where specifically do you see opportunities and what should we as both citizens and members of the workforce be mindful of?

Bruce: “Social media” has evolved to the point where we should drop the word “social.” Most media is now networked, engaged, participatory, looped. It’s the norm. Social media is where Gen Y live and social media is where aging Baby Boomers are gravitating toward. We are still sorting out the technologies and rules of the game for social media. There are different cultures for different platforms. You have to study these cultures as if they were different villages in different continents.

I see virtually all corporate consumer business, retail, media, education and health moving onto the social media platform. Think Mint vs. Intuit (which just bought Mint). I believe hybrid social media models will develop that integrate the personal with the network. I think one of the next big things will be in cheap, portable video conference systems that link to social media systems that make them much more personal. Let’s face it, Skype sucks, especially compared to HP’s Halo system but Skype is free and Halo is expensive. So far. A disruptive technology in video conference could make a huge difference in both social media and social business platforms.

I encourage you to read the entire interview. I think we are all still thinking of social media as a thing, when it truly is a cultural and communication change. We are all gathering around the new shiny social media platform to chat and not understanding what is going on to create the popularity of this type of change or understand the meaning behind the conversations. However, conversations (people to people, people to computer, computer to computer) are happening everywhere, not just on these social platforms.

We need to think beyond the social platforms and understand how we can create a web presence to facilitate these conversations. The web is slowly becoming a complete social platform. If we don’t understand why this is happening, we’ll never successful in this space. What are your thoughts?