1. What is a social network.
Most people think that what Facebook, as it is today, is synonmous with a social network. That is, a social network is nothing more than a place where you post your pictures, update statuses, and communicate with your personal friends.
This is a very narrow and limiting definition of a social network. Any business that tried to build a 'social network' as defined by these terms would certainly loose to Facebook. If Facebook is the definition of a social network, you can't out Facebook Facebook. To win you have to change the definition. (Or better yet, go back to the definition)
A social network is comprised of two parts.
1. Social - Who are all these people? What do they care about? What do they do?What do they enjoy? What do they like to tell other people?
2. Network - How are these people connected together? How can they share things important to them to their network?
This definition doesn't inherently necessitate having a 'wall', or photos, or a profile page. Google won't win by just pumping our a Facebook clone. It'll take adding things inherit in the definition of a social network, that don't exist today.
The first step is to 'socialize' all of Google's products. Here are the products I think have the lowest hanging fruit. (Each of these could make a really interesting post)
- Android
- Google TV
- Gmail
- Google Music
- Youtube
- Google Calendar
- Google Automobile (I this doesn't exist yet, but it should and will)
- Finally Search
Meanwhile Google could also start socializing the rest of the web. Imagine if Amazon or Netflix was able to make suggests based on who your friends are.
