Buzzin’ man!

February 12, 2010 · Posted in social media  · Posted by IIA

Okay no prizes for original titles for me when writing about Google’s new service Buzz. I’m now seeing it in my Gmail from my PC but so far I have checked it out more often on the iPhone. I fear Google may be a little late to the party on this one but the promised open-ness (“Connect sites you already use. Import your stuff from Twitter, Picasa, Flickr, and Google Reader.”) should allow people already familiar with other Google services to tap into it. I already use Friendfeed in a very lacklustre manner admittedly but it fills my lifestreaming void (Bet you didn’t even know you could have one of them eh?) Increasingly many social networks do allow this cross pollination through RSS feeds and APIs. The amount of replication as a result can be overwhelming and irritating. I know one of the things I’ll be doing next week while waiting for the arrival of Nipper 3.0 will be sorting out all my feeds, where they’re going and who’s seeing them. I know, the excitement!

However not everyone is enthralled by Buzz. Laurent Francois of Social Media Today feels that the assumption that Google make that you automatically want to be visible or see all your Gmail contacts is a big assumption and a questionable attitude to privacy.

But what’s the buzz for business? The mobile version is location specific (although it’s been having a fine time pinpointing my location so far) allowing users to “view buzz near your location” or “Post buzz tagged with your location”. This could be a great boon to businesses using Buzz and Google Maps as one of the functions allows the user to see Buzz “Nearby” and add in locations not unlike that other new-ish kid on the Irish block, Foursquare. Businesses could buzz about special offers, events, opening hours etc. and pick up passing buzzers. Despite Laurent’s fears above it will still be up to customers whether they follow the buzz on businesses or not. For customers however it’s nice to know that you can click on the nearby button when you’re thinking of a purchase and seeing if any nearby businesses are offering any specials, whether they are open and what your options are.

Connect sites you already use

Import your stuff from Twitter, Picasa, Flickr, and Google Reader.

Tags: , , ,

Comments

7 Responses to “Buzzin’ man!”

  1. John on February 15th, 2010 5:23 pm

    I’m with Laurent on Google buzz. The idea of having a list already “set up” for you obviously is quite interesting as it helps Google Buzz to “kickstart” its service. However, there is quite a lack of privacy options which Facebook also had to change due to massive user requests. As for business: Why should I set up a “buzz” account if my users have already become a fan of my product on Facebook? Not everyone is on Gmail, but nearly everyone on Facebook. In this case Facebook wins.

  2. Brian Whelan on February 16th, 2010 12:13 pm

    Agreed, if it’s made a little more user friendly it could be a great new service especially for tourists using the business locater.

  3. Andi on February 16th, 2010 8:37 pm

    Buzz seems to be a very needful little program. I also think that customers still can decide themselves if they want to follow the buzz. But if many pubs and restaurants would use it, it would be much easier to get around in a foreign town and find a nice place to eat or have some drinks. Who fears about his privacy doesn´t have to use the program, so I don´t see any problem.

  4. Laurent on February 19th, 2010 1:58 pm

    hi !

    glad to read some of your views about Buzz (that I still hate :p ).

    You’re in my Reader now!

  5. Chuck Points on February 28th, 2010 9:24 pm

    OK, I have used Buzz on Googles email page, and unlike most I like it. But, I tried to go to there Buzz “site” and it put me on a waiting list to join. That is the first time I have ever been put on a waiting list to join a site. Maybe the site is doing better than I figured or Google is trying to create its own “buzz” by limiting how many people can join in a certain amount of time.

  6. Tagesgeld Vergleich on March 2nd, 2010 12:01 pm

    Hey guys,

    I wonder if somebody really is using Buzz. I have as well an gmail adress but i did not even clicked once to check it out.

    cheers!

  7. Herbs on March 22nd, 2010 10:00 pm

    Hi and really line your blog. ;)

    Happy to read some of your views about this thing Buzz (that I still hate :p ).

    Keep up the good job and nice posting.

Leave a Reply