Watch as GooglePlus becomes the place for Brands.

In the early days, there is no shortage of conjecture. Remember how Facebook, Twitter and MySpace started? They were very different early on. Some say Google+ is more of a threat to Twitter than Facebook....and maybe Tumblr too. Given the power of the Google brand Google+ has had an astounding rate of adoption - but those that are joining are the early adopters, the media...the tech savvy...and believe it or not, Brands too.

This never happened at Facebook. Brands tip-toed in. Damned if they did, damned if they did not. With Google+ they have marched in the door from day 1 and Google is bending over backwards to make a place for them. It took both Facebook and Twitter forever (web-time) to make a plan for Brands. At it's core, Google's revenue stream is from Brand advertisers. Google has little interest in privacy and has always been an advocate of openness.

But you still need community - and lots of it. With 10MM users to date, Google is well on it's way and the influencers and news organizations whom have flooded this early on will draw the average consumer...who doesn't have a gmail account?!

Google+ also has the feature set that will appeal to Brands:

No 140 character post limit! Perfect for brands, with the type of engagement features that Twitter lacks.

Hangouts are also the perfect place for Brands to engage with members of the media and consumer influencers. The perfect focus group - a virtual test kitchen at practically no cost.

Not to mention Sparks, the perfect place for folks to list the things they like...and the perfect place for Google to serve up Brand related to our interests.

But Google+ is deafening. Not a place I feel like I want to collect my friends. Even the power of carefully curated circles cannot drown out the noise and focus the conversation. I'm exhausted already!

Google+ won't kill Twitter, nor will it kill Facebook or Tumblr, but it may just become the primary home for Brands, News Organizations and Publishers. The place to kickoff each press release and the definitive place to engage.

Posted via email from Jared Hendler

What's the Gap's real story behind their new logo?

In case you have not seen it, Gap's debut of a new logo created much controversy over the past few days, with Gap coming out to say that not only are they open to suggestions but that this is a part of a new crowdsourcing project. I don't buy it. It feels more like an ill-conceived excuse to not stand by their marketing partner and their own convictions in the face of controversy.

By not standing behind their newly created mark, the company shows their weakness in direction. Gap needs to get back to delivering an innovative product and simple American storytelling. Something American Apparel and their CEO Dov Charney (a Canadian to boot!) stole right out from under their noses.

What do you think?

See the FastCompany story, poorly conceived PR stunt along with logo samples.

Posted via email from Jared Hendler