Stating this Tuesday, we will be taking a look at a specific trend on every Tuesday. Google trends, if you haven’t used it, will compare 2 similar topics and give many views on how the two compete with each other by using insights into broad search patterns to complete organic trends.
I thought the easiest way to get this started would be to compare 2 things that most people know well, Facebook and Myspace.
Both Facebook and Myspace are social networking tools, both can be used for good SEO and SEM practices, both of them have applications and games. Why is it that one of them is blowing the other right out of the water?
As you can see in the trend analysis above, Myspace was the only game in town in 2005. In 2006 Facebook slowly entered the picture, and in 2007 started its climb right over Myspace. Why is this happening?
I can only guess based on my own personal knowledge and background. Facebook offers a wider range of benefits to the younger generation as a start. The fan pages and interactions like the “like” buttons drew in a larger base. The games were much more fun and interactive.
Safety is an issue to all parents, and the ability to have high school children network within their schools, and the safety precautions placed on that allowed many parents the ability to let their children join and network, thus showing the parents the program and gaining interest.
Where Facebook took off and left Myspace behind follows right behind this surge.
As the parents of these kids, most of them tech savvy themselves became away of Facebook and how it works they too became members and started networking back through their own high schools, contacts, affiliations and such. Bringing forth a BOOM in Internet hits and a huge boost to SEO and SEM.
Between 2007 and 2008 the average age of a person signing up for Facebook was 18-30, after 2008 there was a huge sway in the trend. The average age of someone signing up for Facebook now…40+. This is the first time that the above 40 age group has taken an interest in a new age technology and joined it in such force. I can honestly say, even my own technology challenged mother has a Facebook page now, to communicate with my brother in another state.
The ease of use, ability to upload pictures and videos quickly, fun factor with games and applications and networking capabilities makes Facebook the run away winner over Myspace.
That’s my trend report for this week come back next week when we look at Chrome, Firefox, Explorer.
© 2010, Claws and Paws By Kymber. All rights reserved.
