Compete Says Google+ Is...

No matter how you feel about Google, Plus 1′s and Google + or how you think they should or should not influence search results you have to admit that Google has created some positive social waves for the first time in its history. So just how big is this impact? Compete calls it enormous It is now safe to say that Google+ is becoming an enormous success, with nearly half of the unique visitors of Twitter (40,411,065 unique visitors in December). With a steep upward trend and knowledge of the power behind a Google product, expect continued growth from the unequaled search engine’s social platform known for ingenuity, creativity, and revolutionary product offerings. Compete uses the following numbers as the support for this claim. Now comes the question as to whether visitors are what defines success or, especially in the case of a social network, is that the key performance indicator (KPI) that you use to claim success? I say that it can certainly be one element but it is not enough to make the claim that Compete does. Social is about interaction and that is something that is much more difficult to put in a measurable fashion. We like numbers like visitors because it is something we can all agree on and can get our hands on much easier. The trouble is that it falls far short of being a true measure of success in the social media world. So do you think that this metric is enough to say that Google+ is an enormous success? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments! Marketing Pilgrim’s Social Channel is proudly sponsored by Full Sail University, where you can earn your Masters of Science Degree in Internet Marketing in less than 2 years. Visit FullSail.edu for more information.

Foursquare Rolls Out Ne...

This morning, Foursquare launched an updated version of its “Explore” feature for both its iPhone and Android applications. The new version brings over several of the features already available through Foursquare on the web , including filters, photos in search results and the ability to change your location. After updating your mobile app, you’ll see the improvements in the “Explore,” section, Foursquare’s local guide which is augmented by your friends’ recommendations and visits as well as other Foursquare users’ tips and comments. Like a mini local search engine, you can search for venues by category (“coffee,” “nightlife”), name, or even something very specific, like what  food you’re in the mood for (“tuna,” “burgers”). You can also tap “Specials” to see just those venues offering check-in or mayor discounts. Starting today, you’ll now be able to use the new filter button (at the top right on iOS or bottom right on Android) to narrow your search results by options like “New to me,” places you’ve already been, “Both,” or, alternatively, you can choose to see those places your friends have tried. You can also use Explore to find recommended places in areas outside your current location, as determined by your phone’s GPS. You can either type in a location or drag the map around, then pinch or tap to zoom into new neighborhoods. Although still sometimes overlooked by those who just use Foursquare as a checkin service/social network, Explore represents a key new direction for the location-based startup. The idea, as Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley explained last month when Explore arrived on the web, is to try to “make local search much smarter…it’s based off what you and your friends actually do, where you go and when you go.” And, for obvious reasons, local search is much smarter when you can actually use it while on the go. The new Foursquare apps are out now, check the appropriate app store for the update.

Google Offers To Pay Pe...

Some people might say that there’s no way Google could be more aware of your browsing habits. Not true! There is much they don’t know. But it’s not because they don’t want to know. Last night Google rolled out two programs aimed at increasing their awareness of how people use their browsers — what sites they visit, for how long, for what purpose, etc. They’ll pay you for the privilege, a bit like being a Nielsen family. They even give you a little box! The “lightweight” option (first noted at Search Engine Land ) is simply a Chrome browser extension that “will share with Google the sites you visit and how you use them.” You’ll be given a $5 Amazon gift card when you sign up, and then another one every three months. Not exactly frontier gold but some people will no doubt find it enticing. There’s a maximum of $25 stated, but they’ll evaluate later how to compensate people in the program for more than a year. The other option, not publicly accessible, was pointed out by a tipster to Ars Technica . Knowledge Networks, with whom Google is partnering in this endeavor, is a company that organizes surveys and such for companies that want to know about their visitors or customers. “Fill out this quick survey and you’ll be entered to win an iPad!” — that sort of thing. Some Knowledge Networks users have received offers to be part of the first 2500 households in the study, which would pay $100 up front and $20 per month. Interestingly, the latter study involves sending out a “high-end router” from Cisco that will need to be installed. It presumably has firmware on it that records relevant data traffic from the household’s “web access,” though that term is not defined. Does it include Netflix? Torrents? Game traffic? Most likely it just means data you would normally send and receive via the browser, though for many that is still maddeningly vague. Obviously they are not likely to volunteer for this service. All data will be recorded, including what goes on in those Incognito mode tabs, though that data “will not be tied to or associated with any personally identifiable information”. Reassuring to some, terrifying to others. And anonymized individual data will be shared with “academic institutions, advertisers, publishers, and programming networks.” It’s fairly standard data-collection stuff, but it’s fun to see them taking the route of in-home hardware to monitor on a bit level. While many would consider this level of recording a monumental invasion of privacy, just as many (likely far more) don’t see much of a difference between this and how much they’re tracked already. The extra cash would certainly be welcome in many homes. Naturally the habits observed among the “people who don’t care too much about privacy and are willing to sell their browsing habits for not a lot of money” group will be different from those at large, but it’s still valuable. Right now there isn’t much more info than this on the programs, but you can sign up for updates and registration at Google’s Screenwise page .

Google Screenwise: Goog...

While the Internet cynics are looking at the Google Screenwise project as something curious in light of recent Google moves, I find the general idea a bit refreshing and something that has been sorely missing from the equation for a very long time. The page at Google which describes this service offering says the following Google is building a new panel to learn more about how everyday people use the Internet. The new project is called Screenwise. As a panelist, you’ll add a browser extension that will share with Google the sites you visit and how you use them. What we learn from you, and others like you, will help us improve Google products and services and make a better online experience for everyone. Wait, did I read that correctly? Google wants to learn more about how everyday people use the Internet? Wait, you mean Google is not interested in the prevailing wisdom that everyone is some Internet power user and sits around all day long wondering what kind of sinister change Google will next thrust upon the poor self-important Silicon Valley hipster “regular” Internet user? It’s about time Google acts like it is interested in the vast majority of those who use the Internet. We are constantly focusing on the uber-user of search engines and the Internet in general and, let’s face it, that’s not how most people use the search engine or the Internet in general at all. Heck, if everyone was a Scoble or (insert Internet pseudo celebrity name here) then all of these cries of “Foul!” around Google would actually make sense in the big picture. The truth is that most people are not super users. They do not know the ins and outs of search. They are not thinking about privacy. They are simply interested in getting answers to questions. They don’t freak out every time Google makes a change. In fact, they are oblivious to the business of Google and quite happy to stay that way. It’s about time Google offers an olive branch (although it feels the need to use Amazon gift cards as bait, which is just silly) to the Internet commoner. The online world has a concentration of power users that has unfair influence and sway in saying how it should all work. Google should be studying the regular Joe’s of the Internet so they can be better served in their mere mortal user of the Internet. Why? Because that’s a big number of people! I know I am laying it on thick here but the Internet industry should do everyone a service and get over itself. There are many more people out there who are getting great benefit from the Internet as a whole without having a kitten every time Google, or any other company for that matter, does something that could further their business or, better yet, the experience of users. In the end, marketers are trying to reach those who might end up buying their stuff as a result of their online interactions. That includes large numbers of “everyday” people. In a way, just the fact that Google uses that terminology shows just how disconnected the whole Internet business is from reality. I hope this chasm closes sooner than later. Your take?

Thiel, Zuck, Conway To ...

The TechFellow Awards is the Oscars of high-tech entrepreneurship. As selection committee member Sean Parker puts it “We’re shining a spotlight on individuals who are on the cusp of bringing us something revolutionary.” On February 22nd at the SFMOMA, 20 innovators will be presented with $100,000 grants to invest in startups of their choice. Nominations are open through February 17th at the  TechFellows website . Today, the TechFellow Awards announced that Emmy-winning nerd hero Jim Parsons, star of hit tv show The Bing Bang Theory, will host the awards ceremony. Marissa Mayer, Dave McClure, and Terry Semel will also join the all-star selection committee, which includes Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, Ron Conway. The TechFellow Awards are presented by Founders Fund , TechCrunch, and  New Enterprise Associates (NEA)  to honor visionary technology leaders with the opportunity to support the next generation of innovators. 5 winners will be selected in each category –  Engineering Leadership ,  Product Design and Marketing ,  General Management , and  Disruptive Innovation . Along with the $100,000 grant , the winners will join an elite technology community think tank of past winners including Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter; Maria Thomas, former CEO of Etsy, Adam D’Angelo, co-founder of Quora and former CTO of Facebook, and Paul Graham, co-founder and Partner at Y Combinator. They’ll attend quarterly dinners, livestream events, and Q&A sessions where they’ll receive expertise and insight to help them shape the future through investment and their own projects. Visit the TechFellows website now to nominate who you think are the most disruptive figures in tech, and check back on February 22nd for live coverage and interviews from the awards ceremony. Here’s the full list of selection committee members for this year’s awards: Marc Andreessen (Co-Founder, Andreeseen Horowitz, Netscape) Michael Arrington (Founder, TechCrunch) John Battelle (Founder/Chairman/CEO, Federated Media) Ron Conway (Managing Partner, SV Angel) Chris DeWolfe (Co-Founder, Myspace) Esther Dyson (Chairman, EDventure) Caterina Fake (Co-Founder, Flickr, Hunch) Shawn Fanning (Founder, Napster, SNOCAP, Rupture, Airtime) Reid Hoffman (Co-Founder, LinkedIn) Joi Ito (Director, MIT Media Lab; Chairman of the board, Creative Commons) Max Levchin (Founder/CEO, Slide; Co-Founder, PayPal) Marisa Mayer (VP Location & Local Services, Google) Dave McClure (Founder, 500 Startups & Partner, Founders Fund) John McKinley (Founder/CEO, OurParents) Jonathan Miller (CEO Digital Media, News Corp) Tim O’Reilly (Founder, O’Reilly Media) Sean Parker (Co-Founder, Napster, Plaxo, Causes, Airtime; Founding President, Facebook; Managing Partner, Founders Fund) Geoff Ralston (Former Chief Product Officer, Yahoo!; Former CEO, Lala) Terry Semel (Chairman/CEO, Windsor Media; Former Chairman/CEO, Yahoo!) Danny Sullivan (Founder, Search Engine Land) Peter Thiel (Managing Partner, Founders Fund; Chairman & Co-Founder, Palantir Technologies; Former Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder, PayPal) Jeff Weiner (CEO, LinkedIn) Michael Yanover (Business Development, Creative Artists Agency) Mark Zuckerberg (Founder/CEO, Facebook)