What Facebook Should Do Against Google Plus

In the middle of the arrival of Google Plus, here are some questions (and answers) that may predict the future of Facebook.

Question 1: Will Facebook Face the Same Future as Myspace?

For those who do remember, Myspace used to be the next big thing after the era of AOL. But ever since Facebook expanded to high school levels (and below), work places, and even television shows and political campaigns, Facebook became the strongest network media in the world. The important thing is, Facebook is utilized all over the world with possible exception of China, which blocks Facebook usages and encourages members to register on Renren. In practice, however, people get on distinct proxy server and access Facebook.

So, the determining factor will not be the 750 million active users that Facebook proudly states. It will be the number of future users '" that's right, the students who are in junior high and below '" who will utilize the social network. If Google Plus can approach them before Facebook, Facebook will be long forgotten. That's what happened to Myspace. Myspace is still used in much smaller number only by people who have used it for a long time.

Question 2: Is Google Going to Take Over Everything?

This is related to Facebook because Facebook is now battling against not another social media network, but a conglomerate of email, search engine, video, newspaper, books, journal search, etc -- You name it, Google provides it. So, Facebook should not try to ignore Google because just like it has done for everything, Google can take over Facebook very quickly.

So, the solution (besides attracting future users) is to make new changes. Yes, this means adding a "dislike button" and removing provocative advertisements. It also means that Facebook needs to provide incentives why people need to keep using Facebook. Google Plus's new arrival gives people more than enough reasons to try it out. Facebook needs to offer compelling reasons as to why people need to stick around more:

- Work out details with popular TV shows and have people interact directly with the stars on Facebook. No, I don't mean a fake fan page that kids look up for Justin Bieber. A real network link that combines something of Yahoo's omg! and MTV but an interactive version of it.

- Make Facebook more a closed network. In other words, go back to the original idea that Facebook belonged to something of a closed circle that only selected people can join. It's the same idea why Linkedin works, but here it would be between normal people and making them feel "special."

Question 3: Can Facebook and Google Plus Co-exist?

The last question is something that people who have seen the social networks may realize. It is very possible that all these fuss and talks are actually helping both Facebook and Google Plus. Furthermore, sometime down the road, Facebook and Google Plus may coexist, but for a different way. Some people may choose to remain Facebook for simplicity while others will use Google Plus for many qualities it offers.

It's like when a new phone with camera function came out. Many people still stayed with an old phone because they knew that a phone's camera had fewer abilities than a regular camera did. So, why bother learning a new device when the old one works better? Similarly, Facebook users have tons of photos and wall posts that it would be hard to simply move on. In other words, they would keep Facebook but may find themselves in Google Plus to connect in another manner.

We can also see this from why Amazon and Ebay both exist. They do the same things, but some people swear by Amazon, others for Ebay, and remaining number of people use both. But Amazon and Ebay are very similar (except auctioning), so why didn't one disappear? Because each one offered something different that another one did not.

It's all about finding your niche. Whether it's Facebook or Google Plus, there will always be the next new thing. The challenge is to maintain your niche and exist long enough to keep the users from going away.