Google Wave is coming...
It doesn’t matter what business you’re in, you have to put some resources into learning –whether you’re a sole trader or CEO of a major corporation. You and your people have to stay in tune with what’s happening, assess your skills and keep growing.
Right now there are big changes looming on the horizon in terms of how we communicate on the web.
2009 – The Year of Twitter?
Since the start of 2009 there’s been a massive amount of noise about Twitter. A lot of people are asking whether it’s something they need to know about for their business. And the answer has be a resounding “Yes!”.
Like many people working with communications and marketing I’ve strongly advocated getting involved. There’s a learning curve as with any new platform or communication channel that emerges but thankfully there are lots of resources out there to help you get to grips with it.
Changes on the Horizon
With many businesses scrambling to get on Twitter (and get the most out of it), you might be forgiven for thinking that this is the place to be. But don’t forget to keep one eye on the horizon.
As of last week there’s a very big change coming. Google (who sometimes seem to be the internet, rather than just part of it!) has announced it is about to launch a new service called Wave.
Google Wave will combine elements of email, instant messaging, wikis, web chat, social networking, project management and collaboration tools.
In short, it looks like being a real-time communication platform housed in an in-browser communication client.
I’m not going to go into the specifics of Google Wave here – there’s plenty of good coverage like the post at Mashable. But what you have to remember from a business point of view is that the Net is changing so rapidly at present is that you need to spend some time learning and following where things are headed.
Prepare to Jump Platform
Of course we can’t predict exactly what’s happening. This is not about having a crystal ball. But we do have to be cognizant that communication channels are changing and to be ready to embrace and work with what comes our way.
Whilst your people might be learning about Twitter right now, getting to grips with it, the emergence of Wave could literally change the way we communicate (work and sell) online.
Why bother?
Of course you can’t prepare for the Wave yet. It’s still in development. But it’s coming. And when it arrives it will radically change static social sites like Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. It might even render them as obsolete.
With such a paradigm shift on the horizon it’s easy to feel why bother carrying on with Twitter, etc.
Still, I don’t think it’s a case of doom and gloom. The way you’re learning to build connections, to talk to clients and customers in a way that’s personal isn’t going to change just because a Wave comes along.
Social Media have changed business. Business is no longer just business: it is personal. People want to communicate with people, and not brands. And it seems Google is going to give us the tool to take this even further.
Related posts:
- Explaining Google Wave
- Google Showcase Google Wave
- Facebook Wall-to-Wall
- Is Twitter Search Your New Homepage?
- Social Media Doesn’t Get Swine Flu
Jon Buscall - Communications Consultant
I'm an available-for-hire online communications consultant based out of Stockholm, Sweden.
What I do:- Online Marketing and Communications Strategy
- Speaking
- Teaching
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- Write stuff: articles, blogs, brochures, copywriting, presentations, the works!
Contact me today to set up a free consultation to discuss how I can help your business succeed online.
