Google Management Doesn't Use Google+

by Gavin O'Malley , Staff Writer, October 5, 2011

Still not using Google+? Then consider yourself in good company, as it appears Google management hardly uses the social network itself. According to calculations by blogger Michael DeGusta, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have posted publicly on Google+ just 22 times, while executive Chairman Eric Schmidt doesn't even have a Google+ account.

"Management caring deeply about their company's products and using them every day is almost always a prerequisite of making great products," DeGusta writes. Problem is that "only 3 of the 12 people listed on the Google Management Team page have ever made a single public post on Google+, totaling just 29 posts ever and only 6 in September."

"The results aren't pretty," writes Mashable, and "nothing short of an embarrassment when company bonuses are tied to social media success."

"What does this say about Google's commitment to Google+?" Marketing Pilgrim asks. "It's like the stockbroker who sells a stock to his ‘clients' all day long then tells his buddies at the bar after work ‘I wouldn't buy that piece of junk with your money!'"

What does DeGusta's revelation say about Google+'s prospects? "Arguably, a combination of wooing developers and dropping the invite-only entry to Google+ will help the site grow," The Register writes. "But a lack of interest from Google's top brass suggests false advertising about the firm's true desire to ‘go social.' "

"Strong management support would seem to be key for a new product's success," CNet writes. "After all, if the company behind it doesn't demonstrate an interest or confidence in the product, why should anyone else?"

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5 comments about "Google Management Doesn't Use Google+".

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Phil G from independent, October 5, 2011 at 1:15 p.m.
The headline is misleading and potentially false.
Just because they haven't posted publicly doesn't mean they aren't using Google+, it just means they haven't posted publicly.
Zuckerberg's public posts on Facebook aren't exactly regular either... https://www.facebook.com/zuck but as shown elsewhere that doesn't mean he doesn't use Facebook.
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Daniel Laury from Geary LSF , October 5, 2011 at 1:24 p.m.

This is a very interesting finding. The reality is that busy people simply can't spend hours on social networks, even if they wanted to... What does this mean for the future of social networks, not in the short term, but in the long run when the initial excitement is over? My guess is that social networks may have to evolve to become tools that fulfill people's specific needs (like LinkedIn to look for jobs or people's resumes).

Anita Baker from Baker Consulting, October 5, 2011 at 6:42 p.m.

I think he's trying to make a story out of very thin "evidence". 22 postings in a month or so seems like theyre using the service. Not all circles are for a broad audience and not all postings are made public. They very likely are using this extensively for other purposes, eg internal business discussions, or post when they have something to say for commenting. With 50 million or so users, I'm sure there are many google employees and senior execs who are using this to stimulate discussion.

Paula Lynn from Who Else Unlimited, October 5, 2011 at 9:18 p.m.

It was designed to get the your information, not to give out their own.

Mike Valentine from RealitySEO, October 7, 2011 at 1:21 a.m.

I've worked in-house at three major internet companies and have consulted for a dozen more substantial internet based businesses. I have always been surprised that a large number of management staff are not actively involved in their own company activities online, nor are they engaged in social media on a personal level. Many don't have a blog or even use basic online services like PayPal, Ebay and Amazon. Based on what I've seen elsewhere, the lack of participation in Google Plus by executives of Google is not that surprising.