Google+, We Hardly Knew (What To Do With) Ye
That disturbance in the Force you felt last week was the sound of thousands (millions?) of dormant Google+ accounts crying out, then falling forever silent. Google+, as of April 2, is no more.
Yes, some of us mocked Google+ on its launch, but we tried it out anyway. Speaking for myself, my skepticism was based on part on the over-enthusiastic response by some consultants in the industry to a brand-new platform that nobody was yet using (or in the case of Google+ for Business, an extension of the platform that was not yet live when some of the over-exuberant promotion kicked off). You might say I was…
…wait for it…
non-Plussed.
My skepticism was also of the “wait and see” variety, as I wondered if enough people, even people with Google accounts, would bolt firmly-entrenched social networks like Facebook for this “upstart.” Remember, G+ launched before the worries about Facebook’s data privacy policies and manipulation by “fake news” farmers got to an orange (if not red) alert status.
In its favor, Google+ was easier to use (especially compared to other tools like Google Wave), better looking (in my opinion), and did, indeed, integrate with my already-busy Google accounts. Our industry did have a fun time in the land rush to branded accounts as well, but people, outside of some dedicated communities, never rushed to take part. Perhaps more people would have been looking for an alternative now versus several years ago. Instead, Google+ has been swept into the dustbin of no-longer-prioritized Google side projects, so we’ll never know.
Fit Small Business Influencer List
Yes, I like to mock or at least ignore “influencer” lists, as they are often shameless linkbait back-slapping the same old people that we are really sick of seeing in lists.
Yes, I do my best not to seek out such “honors,” as I expect like-minded colleagues to carry the same attitude.
However, when an organization I trust – in this case, Fit Small Business – puts me on a list of PR Influencers I never asked to be on, alongside a group of people who are far from the usual suspects (for the most part, and the people I do know- like Lee Odden – are people I respect, which only makes me feel better about the company I find myself keeping), I accept it.
As to the above-mentioned “trust” – Fits Small Business is a site I have known about and read for years, and had forged a content relationship with them through my content marketing teams at Stone Temple Consulting. They would know my team members, but were unlikely to have dealt with me by name- all the more reason to be surprised and pleased.
Thank you to Fit Small Business for an honor. I will continue to fail at submitting myself for recognition, so this stands out.
How Not to Be A Spokesperson
In a time where nascent marijuana legalization, and how it should roll out, has been on the minds of many communities – certainly here in Massachusetts – I found this story amusing, in a horrifying way. As a PR person, I need to be mindful of image, message, but most importantly, truth. If I’m promoting a recreational marijuana business, then I probably think it’s great, and want everyone else to as well. What I would not do, as the shop in Toronto in the above-linked story apparently did, is have aPR spokesperson pose as the “first customer.” It’s hard enough to gain the trust of the community in such a business. I guess this PR method is called…astroweeding?
Just three this time…