Just over a year ago, Twitter acquired a small startup, Summize, a search engine for tweets. Once the deal was done, Twitter launched Twitter Search, and the real-time search revolution began.
Because of that acquisition, real-time search has exploded. Twitter Search and trending topics have become a staple of the Twitterverse. It has also become one of the top tools for tracking major world events (i.e. the #IranElection crisis).
For the last year, Twitter has had no major rival in real-time search. But last week, that all changed when Facebook launched its real-time search engine. Not only can it search status updates, but it also tracks photos, notes, videos, and more. Can Facebook, with its larger userbase and recent talent acquisition, make Twitter Search irrelevant? Or does Twitter’s open platform and first-mover advantage give it the edge?
The Case for Twitter
It’s tough to believe, but Twitter Search has only been around for a year. Still, that year has provided it with its position as the current leader in real-time search. When you want to see how people are reacting to Tiger Woods’s stunning loss or the protests in Iran, you turn to Twitter.
Here are three of Twitter’s biggest advantages over Facebook when it comes to real-time search:
First mover advantage: Twitter was first, and that has made it an established leader in this realm. Millions of people know and use Twitter search regularly.
More experience: Twitter has a full year’s worth of experience with real-time search. It has had to time to figure out what works, what does not, and adjust accordingly. It can respond lightning fast to anything Facebook may put out.
Open platform: Perhaps Twitter’s biggest advantage over Facebook search is that almost every Twitter user has a public account, meaning that his or her tweets are indexable. This provides for a great deal of information while searching. Twitter Search is why Twitter is quickly becoming the world’s water cooler.
The Case for Facebook
While the new Facebook Search only launched this week, the new real-time search platform can search far more than status updates. With access to 250+ million users, the world’s largest social network can tap into photos, links, events, apps, and more for its new search engine.
Facebook’s got several things going for it in the battle for real-time search. Here are three of the top ones:
Larger userbase: Size does matter. Facebook has over 250 million users, over 90 million U.S. visits a month and even larger reach overseas. Twitter has just above 25 million U.S. visits a month and nowhere near the amount of users. With more people to draw on, Facebook can provide a more accurate representation of what people are talking about. Plus most likely you have more close friends on Facebook than you do on Twitter.
More diverse search: Facebook Search is richer in scope. There’s something to be said for being able to find videos and photos related to your real-time search, and you can filter your results as well.
The other strength is that you can search the posts of both your friends and all public profiles. Facebook allows you to find out what your friends are buzzing about as well as what the entire world is discussing. A lack of public profiles on Facebook hinders its effectiveness for now, though.
FriendFeed: Did you know that FriendFeed has a real-time search engine, and that it’s really good to boot? FriendFeed is filled with talented people and real-time technology. The former head of Google Maps and the creator of Gmail are both co-founders of the startup and are now top members of the Facebook team. They know how to build a real-time engine, and they will bring that expertise to Facebook Search.
Who Do You Think Will Win?
You can argue compellingly that either company will eventually win out in real-time search, or even that the market’s big enough for both companies. Heck, Google could launch a real-time search engine and sweep away both Facebook and Twitter Search, or a start-up could make a big impact.
That’s why we want to hear from you. Who do you think will win the real-time search war? Will it be Twitter, with its tremendous growth and open platform, or will it be Facebook, with its enormous user base and rich technology? Cast your vote, and then leave your reasoning in the comments:
The search landscape has dramatically shifted in the last three months, and it’s all because of Microsoft. First, Microsoft revealed Bing, its new and rebranded search engine. The tech giant then went on an advertising and promotion spree. Still, that was nothing to the blockbuster Microsoft-Yahoo search deal that now gives Microsoft huge ammunition in its war with Google.
Recently, I had the chance to chat with members of the Microsoft team and learn more about the challenges they believe they face in the search market as well as their plan to overcome and dominate the search engine landscape. A few interesting tidbits were revealed, like who they are targeting, how they intend to reach them, and what has to be done for Bing to have any chance in its uphill battle.
Bing’s Holy Trinity
While most people think that search is essentially a numbers game (the more people you have using your search engine, the better), Microsoft actually divides its target audience for Bing into three main categories. They are as follows:
Consumers: This the largest and most obvious target. Microsoft need more eyeballs and more searches. What’s interesting is who they are targeting and how they are reaching them. I discuss that in the next section.
Advertisers: Advertisers are just as important as the users of Bing because, let’s face it: they pay the bills. Microsoft has stated on multiple occasions that they believe they have a better return for their advertisers and better qualified traffic. I was told specifically that the conversion rate for Bing is also higher than it was for Live, a very good sign.
Developers/Webmasters: Microsoft is really learning from the success of the Facebook and Twitter platforms. On both, 3rd party developers drove new apps and big innovations for both by using application programming interfaces (APIs). Bing looks to do the same. So far, they have over 14,500 developers signed up for the API, with the two biggest examples probably being Careerbuilder and, of course, Facebook.
People underestimate the power of the third party developer. Twitter has received significant press and users due to apps like TweetDeck and Summize, the search app that Twitter acquired and transformed into Twitter Search. It’s those kinds of apps and acquisitions that can really change the game.
Microsoft knows who it’s targeting. The question is how to reach them.
The Strategy, Part 1: Change Perception
One of the most difficult things to do in business is to change consumer behavior. Getting people to switch brands just doesn’t come easy, and Microsoft is well aware of the uphill battle it faces.
The search engine market is, for the most part, mature. That’s not to say that search engines have reached their apex in terms of functionality (the Bing team strongly feels that search can do far more), but that you’re not going to find many customers who’ve never used a search engine. Instead, it’s about taking market share. In the case of search, that would be Google.
To win the search war, Microsoft is implementing a two-part strategy focused on changing consumer behavior. The first part of that plan is to change perceptions. Users see Google as the best search engine around, or perhaps just the only one that they need. The challenge is overcoming the “if it works, why switch?” mentality (something highlighted in a Catalyst usability study last month). Microsoft is attacking those perceptions on two fronts:
Microsoft isn’t just spending ad money randomly though; they do have a target audience: heavy Internet users. Specifically they are targeting early adopters, more advanced searchers, and users more willing to try out new things and potentially switch. According to the Bing team, heavy Internet users make up about 39% of the search market and over half of all searches, so it absolutely makes sense. These people also tend to be thought leaders, and the Bing team realizes that personal referrals are best way to get people to switch.
So why are Bing ads on Hulu, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and The Daily Show? Because they are all used by the heavy Internet user demographic. This is the current Bing advertising strategy.
Community: Advertising is a top-down approach to reaching the consumer, but Microsoft wants to reach thought leaders and get them on Bing. This is why it also has a bottom-up community-oriented strategy to changing user perception. This is where Bing’s social media initiatives come into play. Everything from Bing jingle contests to @Bing on Twitter is being used to build an active community that will evangelize Bing to others.
Microsoft also monitors social media buzz for the major search engines. While buzz in the past generally reflected the search engine market (aka Google dominating the buzz), Microsoft’s gained in buzz since it launched Bing. The question of whether that elevated chatter continues long after Bing becomes novel has yet to be answered.
The Strategy, Part 2: Drive Trial
Part 2 of the Microsoft search strategy is straightforward: drive trial. The more people use it, the more inclined they should be to use Bing as their preferred search engine. Microsoft believes that Bing speaks for itself, plain and simple. You’d expect that from most companies and their products.
The Microsoft plan for driving trial is also divided into two primary approaches:
Distribution: Microsoft has a huge asset in its bid to upstage Google, and that is its distribution channels, most of them from Windows. You have a better shot at adoption if you expose consumers to Bing from the start. Become the default on Dell and Lenovo laptops, get on Verizon phones, and get exposure as part of Facebook search. It all helps.
Going to the people: Microsoft realizes that they’re not going to get everyone to Bing.com, so the other part of their plan is to bring Bing to the people. Get search on mobile phones, encourage developers to build 3rd party apps, and encouraging the installation of browser extensions are all part of that initiative. Make it as easy as possible for the user to find and interact with Bing.
The Heat Is On
On the day that the Microsoft-Yahoo deal was announced, we asked whether Google vs. Microsoft would play out any differently. Bing is, after, at least the fourth iteration of Microsoft’s search engine, and each time Microsoft has failed to make a dent in Google’s dominance.
However, it feels like Microsoft’s taking a different approach to the search war, one that has already shown results. While Live Search wasn’t really positioned as anything beyond a Google alternative, Bing’s features and image are targeted towards the heavy Internet user, at least to start.
It’s tough to see any circumstance where Bing overtakes Google in search. However, anything can happen, and Microsoft more than ever is gunning for Google’s stranglehold on search.
NPR News [iTunes link], which just became available for download, offers the same core features of other news apps like AP Mobile [iTunes link], primarily that you can browse the day’s big stories and read news articles in multiple categories. However, no other news app is linked to 1000+ NPR radio stations, news programs, and live streams, meaning you can listen to your news anywhere, anytime.
The App adds a strong audio later to the news reading experience. While it’s simple enough to read the day’s top stories, you can also listen to most of the day’s top stories as well. A speaker icon next to most articles allows you to listen in on stories, and the playlist feature lets you queue up the stories you want to listen to if you’re busy, on-the-go, or just need to keep occupied.
The other key aspect of NPR News is that you can listen to any NPR program and any NPR station, including both live radio and past shows and podcasts. There has to be thousands upon thousands of hours of archived content available, not including the live radio. You can even pick out your station with GPS.
Is your phone set to replace your in-car GPS unit? Perhaps.
The TomTom for iPhone GPS navigation app has turned up in the New Zealand app store for a price of $81 to $125 USD, reports MacRumors today. Four versions of the app are available: U.S. & Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Separately, a UK seller recently began accepting pre-orders on an in-car iPhone kit for a combined price of $195 (the kit includes the TomTom iPhone app, a receiver, mount, in-car charger, microphone and speakers).
Did you catch that? In-car GPS providers are essentially dropping the hardware part and accepting that buyers already have most of the hardware required…it’s called a smartphone. Some may oppose the convergence and keep separate devices for as long as possible, but as our music players fold into our phones, how long until the GPS unit does the same?
Last month we brought you the Top 5 Twitter Songs on YouTube…but it’s not just the microblogging site that has earned musical tributes. With Facebook’s global audience and mainstream popularity, dozens of odes have been penned; we’ve narrowed them down to just 10 of the best.
From rap to musical theatre, we bring you the best Facebook songs on YouTube.
The Facebook Song (RhettandLink)
An Internet comedy duo put Facebook to music, with hilarious results. Best verse: “Before the Internet, friendship was so tough / you actually had to be in people’s presence and stuff / who would’ve thought that with a point and a click / I could know that Hope Floats is your favorite flick?”
The Facebook Skit
Enrique Iglesias’ Hero is co-opted by a Facebook stalker.
Honest Graduation Song (College Humor)
College Humor tells the nostalgic story of two high school buddies who take separate paths in life, with Facebook as their only connection. Alas, a change in fortunes necessitates a switch to LinkedIn. (Available on YouTube, embedded from College Humor.)
R U F**king Kidding Me (Kate Miller-Heidke)
Australian singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke performs her humorous and familiar tale about a past love who tries to add her on Facebook. (Warning: strong language.)
Mr. Creepy Facebook Stalker Guy
A short and sweet tribute to Mr Creepy Facebook Stalker Guy and his leery ways.
2005 Miami U. Cheezies a cappella: Facebook Song
From back in 2006, the “Miami U. Cheezies” perform their ode to Facebook. Inspired by the Everly Brothers.
Vince Dyer’s Facebook.com Song
“Won’t you be my friend / I just want some friends / on Facebook”, goes the refrain. Cute.
Facebook Gangsta
A man lives a double-life through Facebook. (Note: strong language on this one too.)
Facebook Anthem
Too many people have turned “We Didn’t Start the Fire” into Internet parodies….so here’s another.
Be My Friend (The Facebook Song)
Edges, a musical by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, famously features the song “Be My Friend”: here’s Penn State’s live performance.
Know of better Facebook songs? Let us know in the comments.
Many of you have likely read about the recent study that revealed that 40% of tweets are "pointless babble." OK, there may be a place for such babble, but 40% is pretty high.
It begets the question, "What then makes a quality tweet?”
The answer to this, in fact, may determine the long-term success of Twitter. As a completely user-generated content website, the quality of its content is, well, up to us users. Sure, Twitter management can add or take away features and keep the site running, but whether a new user signs on to see pointless babble or quality content is solely and completely up to us!
Below are my four categories in which most high quality tweets I read fall under. But we’re most interested in what you think makes for an interesting Tweet: let us know in the comments.
1. Informative
Helps us learn. . .
This generally includes links to articles that help us learn about a subject in which we have interest. This is particularly useful from people who have a great deal of knowledge in a particular subject area, be it democracy, Buddhism, open source technology, or another subject, and who take the time to share what they know and discover.
Instead of needing to surf the web to stay up on all our interest areas, these tweets save us time and we can trust others to inform us of relevant information.
2. Humorous
Makes us smile…
Who doesn't want to sign on to Twitter and be given a reason to smile? I am happy to do so any time, and welcome tweets that bring a little lightness to my day. Such tweets do not need to chide or make fun of anyone in particular, but can simply be in the form of sharing a joke, a new perspective, or a scene from one's life that others may also enjoy.
3. Personal
Tells us something about the person…
This is delicate, and probably the most challenging of all. Few of us likely want to know all the details of a person's life: after all, we have our own life to live. However, we also want to get to know the person behind the tweets. Along with links to articles, tweets that give us insights into a person's personality, interests, and concerns are helpful. When people reveal such information and show us the "backstory" of their life, we feel as if we better know them.
4. Inspiring
Helps us increase quality of our lives…
Most of us seek to live more wisely and effectively, and welcome tweets that provide us insight and inspiration on how to do so. These can include wisdom from that user or quotes the person has come across. These tweets serve both to inspire and to guide us on living with greater purpose and meaning.
Your Turn
Now that we know that roughly 40% of our tweets are meaningless babble, it may be time to up the bar somewhat. After all, the future of Twitter could depend on it.
Please let us know in the comments: What do you think makes a quality tweet?
Just over a year ago, Twitter acquired a small startup, 
The search landscape has dramatically shifted in the last three months, and it’s all because of Microsoft. First, 
On the day that the Microsoft-Yahoo deal was announced, we asked 
NPR finally has an iPhone app, and it is awesome.
Is your phone set to replace your in-car GPS unit? Perhaps.
Last month we brought you the 
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