Waaaaah, I Hate Buzz!
It seems the Twitterati are up in arms because Google went out and created something that didn’t follow their “rules”. Buzz was introduced this week with little fanfare and clearly in Beta mode, but that did not stop many folks on Twitter (several who I respect dearly) from dismissing it out of hand after one quick look.
Funny. I remember signing up for Twitter in December of 2007 and many people laughing at me for the following 24 months because Twitter was:
- Noisy
- Difficult to follow
- Intrusive
- Pointless
- Had an ugly UI
Perhaps it is because I’m in technology, but I feel that innovation does not simply happen in a vacuum. Great products grow when they are used and improved throughout their life. In fact many products completely shift in their original mission and find a new home doing something completely different.
Did it ever occur to the Twits out there that perhaps Buzz wasn’t meant for them. Perhaps Buzz is an extension of Gmail for people who don’t want to be on Twitter? That when combined with improvements to Wave, Buzz will provide a more complete way of communicating with the people you actually want to talk with on a daily basis? Are people just afraid because they don’t want to try something else after finally succumbing to Twitter? Or are we just in a time when it is easier to rip something down than help build it up?
The point is, take a breath before you start hating on Buzz and rather than typing #epicfail in your 140 characters, try and produce some feedback that might help a company develop a product you will want to use. That is what being a part of a community is all about.
February 12th, 2010 at 8:10 am
Good thoughts here, Kyle, and right on. I’ve mentioned out loud that I had to filter Buzz updates out of my inbox, because the volume was way too much. I stand by that, and like that I can just click on the “Buzz” link to go and see the messages when I went to. Far less overwhelming that way!
I *absolutely* have in mind that Buzz wasn’t created for me … or at least not the current me, who’s hitched his wagon to Twitter and Facebook. But that *doesn’t* mean I won’t revisit it, won’t consider how it can be a major disruption, and how it might be an effective communications channel for brands and B2B companies.
Declaring something as a failure within days (or minutes or seconds) of its release is really just a case of the I’m-an-early-adopter-and-I-have-to-give-my-opinion-NOW! mentality.
February 12th, 2010 at 8:16 am
Excellent stuff. Agree. WAY too many folks have disabled buzz without really giving it a chance…people who should know better. They will be the first ones to come running back if and when Google improves it and Buzz becomes important (and I believe it will…buzz it buttons are already appearing on big time blogs like mashable!)
February 12th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Nicely said sir.
My mind is racing with ideas on how to use Buzz. I think the secret is in your Groups. Sure, there are some minor annoyances, but this is truly a beta product that needs use and feedback to make it better.
Don’t see it as a Twitter substitute, consider it a place where more in-depth conversation take place. Something might start on Twitter, but it’s better suited for Buzz’s multimedia and threading.
I’m glad Google is creating an alternative to Facebook/FriendFeed. It’s critical these guys continue to compete if we (individuals) was them to keep innovating.
Jim | @jimstorer
http://www.google.com/profiles/jstorerj
February 12th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
@bryanperson–Thanks, I think you and I talked a bit about this during the day and glad that you jumped in. I’m not against people not liking Buzz, but not liking is simply because it is buggy or “not Twitter” is not helpful for me. You are dead on!
@jimstorer–BTW, when are we doing Salt Lick during SXSWi? But onto Buzz, I think you may be right, it might be a compliment to Twitter. I could see one day saying to someone, “hey, I need to write too much for 140 characters, lets Buzz this conversation”.
@paisano–Right on, it will be fun to see folks running back to the Buzz