Google rolls out social network

Firms planning a social media marketing strategy in order to boost their online presence may be interested to learn Google has trolled out its own networking utility entitled Buzz.

Features of the new service include status updates, public and private content sharing and comments - and it will be integrated into the search engine firm's email service Gmail.

It is also integrated into Google Maps and mobile phone services in order to allow users' posts to also record their location.

However, according to one sector commentator, Buzz is unlikely to be in competition with Facebook.

Indeed, Jason Fells, social media consultant and founder of Social Media Explorer, said he would not even call Buzz a social network, but stated it more a socialisation tool used through Google-specific services.

"It certainly has the potential to rival Facebook in terms of number of users, but keep in mind Google and Facebook are at present two very different animals," he added.

According to research by Hitwise, Facebook was responsible for 3.52 per cent of visits to news websites in January 2010, while Google News was responsible for 1.39 per cent.

Contact the experts at home james for Social Media services.