Google Buzz: Is There Really No Room For It?

The recent launch of Google Buzz has created quite a hoopla. Within days the usage of the service skyrocketed, and many websites (especially those focused on social networking) had implemented Google Buzz "share buttons" alongside the now-familiar Facebook and Twitter buttons. The main focus of many Google Buzz-related posts on these and other blogs has been the question, "How useful is Google Buzz in light of the services most of us already use?" It's a question mirrored and discussed by readers of these sites, and anyone else who has a Gmail account. I'm one of the countless people who have been pondering this question, and I'm going to address it now.

I have a Twitter page and a Facebook profile, I share via StumbleUpon, MyLikes, Gdgt, and several other Social Bookmarking/sharing sites. But I also use several Google services, like Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, etc. I could take up the reasoning of those who say, "Aargh! I don't need one more social bookmarking service...I'm not using it." This has the tone of a child petulantly exclaiming, "I'm taking my marbles and going home!" But I'm asking, "Why not?" From my position, what's the big deal with utilizing a service that's already integrated with my Gmail, and connects easily to my Google Reader, and even this very Blogger site? Not that I've actually gotten around to hooking it up yet, but that's a different issue.

It seems to me there's a sense of disappointment that Google didn't come up with Google Buzz earlier in the social bookmarking game, which somehow gets translated (albeit poorly) into viewing the service as less than useful. The fact that the user-adoption of Google Buzz has quickly grown kind of makes that a moot point, in my opinion. If it's really not very useful, someone needs to send the memo to all the people who decided to give it a try, and who apparently enjoy using it.

Maybe you're one of the folks who balked at how Google Buzz launched with its privacy control missing, which allowed your followers to see your Gmail address, and addresses of others you're connected to. Okay, but they've fixed that. Now the only people you're connected to on Google Buzz who can see your Gmail address are the ones who already know it.

Another good reason to get your Google Buzz rolling is visibility (for those of you who like to maintain it and even increase it). There are undoubtedly a few people in your Gmail contacts list who aren't on Twitter or even Facebook. Share with them. For anyone with an interest in using Search Engine Optimization to develop your web presence, adding Google Buzz to your arsenal can only be a plus.

The only other issue I see right now is for the folks who have a Google Profile and/or use Google Reader and wish to disable Google Buzz, since it's opt-in by default. Currently, killing your Google Buzz means deleting your Google Profile and Google Reader. I can see how that would be adding insult to injury, and Google should make it possible to disable Google Buzz without affecting your other Google services.

In the end, you're going to do what you want. I just think that anyone with more than marginal interest in Internet and communication should at least be giving Google Buzz a solid try before dismissing it.

For those who don't have a Gmail account and/or aren't familiar with Google Buzz, here's a helpful info page over at Google.