The problem is that Google built it to function like Facebook, and once it was released into the wild it was used more like a hybrid of Twitter and forums. Maybe they dogfooded it wrong.
I'm increasingly feeling like the problem with Google+ is that it didn't start with a minimum idea. They went straight for the concept of 'Facebook' and didn't give users enough incentive to make the switch.
Maybe they could have made a "Facebook Export" importer to populate streams with existing posts, friends, and photos. Maybe they could have made it more social and personal.
Or maybe Facebook's momentum prevented people from actually making the switch. Enough people are satisfied by Facebook that they wouldn't abandon it for a couple of friends.
Google just didn't play the cards right, and I feel like Google+ has gotten too complicated for anyone to just jump in and figure it out.
I'm increasingly feeling like the problem with Google+ is that it didn't start with a minimum idea. They went straight for the concept of 'Facebook' and didn't give users enough incentive to make the switch.
Maybe they could have made a "Facebook Export" importer to populate streams with existing posts, friends, and photos. Maybe they could have made it more social and personal.
Or maybe Facebook's momentum prevented people from actually making the switch. Enough people are satisfied by Facebook that they wouldn't abandon it for a couple of friends.
Google just didn't play the cards right, and I feel like Google+ has gotten too complicated for anyone to just jump in and figure it out.