Google+ Tackles Facebook with Circles & Sparks!

Google has launched a new platform called 'Google+' which takes Facebook head-on (again). But this time Google may have got it right.

• By addressing privacy issues with its innovative 'Circles', Google+ lets you control which of your friends see your photos, posts, etc.
• The Sparks feature lets you stay up to date on any topic, pulling search results from Google like a news reader.
• And Hangouts is basically video-conferencing, allowing up to 10 people connect.
• Android phone users get an added bonus with Huddles (group-chatting within your Circles).

Google+ is still considered a 'project' and you have to be invited to join by someone who is already a member.

Keep an eye on the Google+ website to see when they open registration.

Read more about the pros and cons of Google+ in David Pogue's NY Times article Google+ Gets a Leg Up on Facebook.

Social Networks, Still Rising

Social Networks are here to stay, no doubt about it. Savvy business owners know this and make an effort to get their businesses on FaceBook, MySpace, and other Social Networking sites.

The graph below (by HitWise) shows the market share of social networks (blue line ) versus search engines (red line).

HitWise.com

So get networking before your business gets left behind!