In many ways, Google is known as the social networking failure. Orkut is hardly a name that comes to mind when you think “social network”.

Hardly anyone surfed Google’s Wave while the company’s next offering also caused a negative Buzz about privacy around the internet.

For Google+ to be successful, it must come across as a very diverse network, not just one for the techies.

With Facebook rising to prominence, Google really needed a competing system to supplement its search engine algorithms with the human factor of social recommendations.

Enter Google+.

After prodding around the system, I defined it as

Google+ is an “open friend” system. There is no need to “add a friend” … we are all friends … just in different circles. I love the concept. :)

Google+ is what Facebook is not.

I see Facebook as a great way to keep in touch with your existing friends. You tag pictures of your drunken adventures, share the joys and sorrows all with your “friends”.

Google+ on the other hand, is a great social networking tool.

I see it forming on a basis that we are all “friends” coming to a networking event. At the networking event, we meet some people, become friends with most people and form focused circles of friends with specific interests.

At times, you wish to shout something to all within “earshot” in your social network and not just your friends. Other times, you’d like to keep things private within certain circles.

Yes, this does allow you to mistakenly provide information to someone who should not have access.

Privacy is better achieved through education and awareness rather than enforcement.

I had a now former “friend” who attended my house party. He took pictures, not of me, but of pictures he found in albums and picture frames of what were not some of my finest moments. A couple of years later, he attempted to use them against me.

This was a pretty closed system. It wasn’t an open invitation to my house. I had complete control over who my guests were. It is analogous to having a private account with very tight security measures. Yet this situation occurred.

Being aware of where each post is going is more beneficial than simply assuming it can’t fall into the wrong hands. Know which circle of friends you are sending information to and who’s in your circle of friends.

For children, educate them and make them aware about what can be posted and where these things can be posted rather than assume privacy because a system is tightly controlled.

Besides, a system too choked down with privacy safeguards prevents a flow of thought. I feel a good social networking system allows for the exchange of ideas which is what Google+ allows.

A social networking system can be defined by the content in the system.

Google+ is currently mostly a free-flowing network about … Google+. Along with some things Android.

This is understandable as the early adopters try to figure out the system and provide technical support and ideas for the system. These early adopters also happen to be somewhat of the tech-savy variety.

For Google+ to be successful, it must come across as a very diverse network, not just one for the techies.

I already see a move to diversify this content as a few Googlers I follow attempt to divert attention away from the technical aspects of Google and post pictures of their personal lives, events and art.

Even Google CEO Larry Page’s posts aren’t about the efficiency of the system and its features. Or anything Google for that matter. Aside from an initial post acknowledging the work of his Google+ team, his posts are about his fun day kiteboarding in Alaska.

Google+ has to be marketed as a network for the masses, not as a playground for “nerds and geeks” to achieve success.

There is always room for improvement

There are a few feature requests that currently come to mind for usability.

First, provide Buzz like integration with Gmail, or email in general. Hopefully, that could reach people not using a Gmail account and allow them to interact with the Google+ system purely through email. It also makes replying to anything more convenient for those receiving email notifications about interactions.

Second, have an authority delegation system for Google+ circles. Currently, if you have created a circle, you can post a thread of information for anyone in that circle. Someone else cannot start a thread.

It would be helpful if Google+ can allow users to delegate authority to others who can also start a thread with that circle, as well as invite new members to the circle.

Third, have a way to allow users to request to join a circle. This allows me to post a link to my circle on my web site, and users that visit will be able to request to join my news, travel or photography circle.

If you already are a Google+ user, feel free to network with me! Visit my profile and add me to a circle. I will do the same!