Why I like Google Buzz….

An unusual two post week for me but I didn’t want to post just this because there isn’t enough “value” in it.  Unless you have been living under a rock for the past week, you probably have seen google implement their new social tool, google buzz into your gmail account.  And given the criticism about privacy, I felt like it would be a good time to say why I like Google Buzz.  I actually agree with Thomas Hawkhere.  Google Buzz is In fact, I think I will like it more than twitter.

I know it is unusual for me to jump on the bandwagon of social media, but this is a bit different as it combines convenience with information…a pair that I have to say I can appreciate….

The thing about privacy is way overblown by the way.  Unless you are cheating on your wife/husband or doing something shady, I personally don’t think that there are many worries.  Besides, you can always turn off the ability for the world to see your contacts (something I have done more out of respect for those I email than myself).

Google Buzz is integrated with Gmail which means it is more convenient for me

I have heard someone complaining that buzz would be better if it wasn’t integrated into their mail account.  I am on the other end of the spectrum.  Unlike twitter or friend feed, which you have to open and launch another application to view, for someone like me that tends to stay busy throughout the day, google buzz allows me the freedom to see what is going on in the same format that I would if I was to check my email.

And unlike twitter, which will have things that I may have missed simply because I wasn’t online at the time, I can view streams of information quickly after the fact.  This is highly convenient for those of us who don’t “tweet” and don’t spend hours trying to stay tuned in to our niches.

I can connect more with people via buzz than direct messages..

Because it is set up more like friendfeed, I am able to comment on stories and make myself visible in circles within my niche and therefore have the ability to increase my sphere of influence, connecting with people that are interested in the same things I am interested in.  And because the integration with gmail is there, there is a higher likelihood of connectivity simply because buzz is right there in your face, making it oh, so easy for anyone to check it out and see what’s going on.

Direct messaging via twitter is okay but having the ability to join in on conversations directly with people that I follow (and who follow me) was part of the appeal for friendfeed.  But once again, the fact that I check my email 1-4 times a day, the chances of me buzzing is a lot higher.

Google Buzz should be Less Spammy

I say should because I imagine that within the end of next week, some marketer marketing to marketers will want to sell his “secrets” to cashing in on buzz and suddenly I will be inundated with people in my market suddenly following me for no good reason.

Which is the primary reason whyI don’t use twitter anymore.  I have to say that marketers have pretty much ruined twitter for me.  The “I follow you, You follow me” and the race to have the most followers (forget the fact that they are following you so you will follow them) has cheapened the social network.  In fact, these days, if I want to keep up with twitter, I simply use topsy.com for a better view of what my peers are talking about (beats trying to sift through a crap load of information.)

Google Buzz should be different though in the fact that most people will take more care in who they are following (who wants 100+ buzzes in their email account?…who wants to sift through the messages in conversations that they have made through buzz?).  I also don’t think that it becomes more of a “who has the most followers/friends?” either.

In essence, I think that the potential that Google Buzz has should trump the twitter sphere.  But then again, it is a little too early in the game to make such a bold statement.

How Should You Use Google Buzz?

First of all, forget about the idea that you are going to make money with Google Buzz, at least directly (unless you are the one creating the product on how to get rich using google buzz).  This platform should be used in the same way as you would with friends.  You know…connecting, commenting, informing and being informed.  The integration into email makes it way to intimate for a marketer to overtly market (besides, it doesn’t work well on twitter…why would you think it would work on Buzz?)

Personally, I am going to use it to create a bigger connection between the people I like and respect.  I don’t think it will be good for anything else although I feel that just THAT is enough.

So, tell me what you think about google buzz…..Are You Buzzing?

Other links that may interest you about Google Buzz….

• Google Buzz Misconceptions
• 5 Reasons why Google Buzz Privacy isn’t all that bad
• How to Turn off Google Buzz or at least turn off some of its privacy issues
• Are you Buzzing?