Marketing Director

Google+ Copies Facebook: Or is it Us?





Besides having the heads positioned in an opposing fashion there is little to nothing that's different about these two profiles.

Similarities

  • The new 'banner' image is fully replicated.
  • Vitals directly below the profile pic.
  • The tabbed options look and function similarly but there are different.
  • Timeline style profile - industry standard.
  • Positioning of the top right settings and account menu - industry standard.
  • Position of logo on the top left - industry standard.
  • Position of search field: this is an industry standard.

Differences

  • Where Facebook has ads; Google+ has ominous white space.
  • Google+ has profile style tabs; Facebook integrates that into an extra row on the profile.
  • Google+ clearly displays the nav bar on the left hand side - industry standard.

Are we as humans that predictable that everything on the top of a web page should obey a certain order? Maybe, yes. Are we heading to a face off between these platforms? Yes. May other platforms out there be different and present differently? Yes. You be the judge of the majors by telling me - @kempedu - if you believe LinkedIn or Twitter are operating on the same user design principles for profile pages.


 



For me the most interesting contrast between all of these profiles is how they attempt to get new users to sign up. When I captured these shots I logged out. Facebook doesn't allow non-users to see my profile unless they login or sign-up. It's not hard to tell who understand that users are at the core of almost everywhere iteration of computing technology. The bottom line is...

Users Rule




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Research: Building on Shared Experience

Hand talking
Learning about your audience before you meet them and before you speak with them is key. Whether meeting your new girlfriend's parents for the first time; spending eight figure marketing budgets or beginning work for a new company this is where research becomes so important. Consider researching the past and the future of an organization, new in-laws or your next employer.

If you are delivering a presentation to a group it's best that you take the time to learn about them and learn as much as you can. Tailor your message for that group and understand them enough so that you can make the experience special for them and yourself. Also keep in mind that your assumptions may not be accurate. Gauge your audience before you begin. This can be done by tracking a #hashtag at an event, sitting in the audience listening to the chatter or meeting and mingling with people when possible.

I watched one of the internet's top speakers give a talk in Vancouver last year. It was sad to watch as they fell on their face with a poorly planned talk that meandered aimlessly and talked down to the audience. At one point the speaker said that it was best to dress like your audience. If you are under-dressed it looks like you don't respect your audience while if you are over dressed it can look as if you are superior to them. The funny part was that this speaker was under-dressed therefore insinuating that they didn't respect us. This speaker has one of the most powerful voices in the social web; yet misses connecting genuinely with their audience in real life.

For me connecting with your audience, understanding them and being able to change your presentation on the fly to move with them help guide presenters to effective public speaking. Recently I had the opportunity to present one of my main talks to students at Kwantlen University. This is an evolving talk that I've given three or four times now. When using material that's been presented before customization is essential.


Getting on the Bus: A Social Media Story (Student Edition)
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Online Marketing: Social Media in Higher Education
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I recently spoke with a higher educational institute in a particularly unusual position. They are a satellite of a much larger entity that is based in another country. They cater to a large number of students from outside of Canada and they have an amazing location with a solid educational programs.

The opportunity to give guidance and advice to organizations especially in education is something I enjoy. Social Media's disruptive power doesn't always blend well with the realities of 20th century  organizational structures. Researching what others are doing and what works in your vertical/industry is  key to understanding how social media campaigns and tactics can work for you. Change them, morph them and customize them to your organization to find the success that can only be found when turning our world upside down and enlisting our users to tell the stories we so desperately want prospective customers to hear. Wow them.

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Speaking: The greatest audience is the toughest crowd

I love speaking. To any audience. Whether they love what I am saying or don't get it I learn an amazing amount about myself and about other people everytime I have the opportunity to speak in front of more than a few people. When different groups ask me to speak I am quick to accept which often makes for challenging times; both in regards to the availability of time and the time to prep for your audience.
This summer I was lucky enough to speak to a variety of different groups. Two audiences really stuck out for me this Summer. One was possibly the toughest audience I've spoken to and the other may have been the audience I was most nervous to speak with.

Nufloors and Social Media
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The first was a talk on a Sunday morning at the end of Nufloors Canada's Conference in Courtney on a Golf Course. Perfect setting smart event. I was treated to arguable the most authentic stand up routine in all of Canada. The audience was franchisees of NuFloors flooring stores across Canada.
Technology and Enablement in the Social Age
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When I went into speak at the Disability Resources Network BC Conference at the Planetarium I was more nervous because I didn't know what to expect. The group was a bit of mystery to me, but through a few quick questions and a broad, diverse engaging presentation, I was able to deliver a great session. Attendees were given a chance to share their successes and best practices I only wish I had more facilitation power to ensure that everyone got a number of takeaways tailored to the session and not my prep(the presentation).
This is being published late, but I am fired up to deliver Fall highlights in a post soon. Leave me your feedback or queries always up for a good thought.
Let's link up on Twitter @kempedmonds

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