Google+ vs. Facebook

G+ has a lot of buzz. Facebook is scared for good reason. My advice to Mark Zuckerberg is to IPO as fast as possible and move on to another project. There are so many lessons here that I have to explore them and share them.

1. There are no survivorship trends on the internet.

Before Facebook, there was MySpace. Before MySpace, there was AOL. These companies think they are like Levi's and Coke. They aren't. They are more like Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. They are the flavor of the moment, and these web companies last about as long as a decent sitcom. This is because they are fundamentally entertainment. Products and services like Amazon and Google last a bit longer but not entertainment.

2. It pays to sell at the first opportunity.

If you have a hot start up, sell it and walk away. The only assets a company like Facebook has are the eyeballs of its users who are a fickle herd. Mark Cuban sold his shit early, and this was a wise move. The fact is that most internet start ups are not going to last over the long haul. Exit at the first opportunity or when they started using the B-word--"billions." None of these companies are worth billions. This is because they are a trademark and an idea. That's it. The ideas are easily duplicated, and the rest is just marketing. Facebook is the internet equivalent of Tommy Hilfiger.

3. Offer something unique that can't be duplicated.

This is a general business rule and not necessarily an internet rule. G+ is essentially a Facebook clone that is less annoying to use. Companies try to use copyright and patent to prevent duplication, but I find this to be a worthless strategy though it works for the time being. But as a blogger, I find that people follow trends and make copies. Right now, this would be the minimalist bloggers who make virtually identical websites with the same advice. What I do is make something unique with my blog. No one can copy what I do here. Granted, being part of a bigger movement is more lucrative as a business, but the lifespan is way shorter. Unique businesses aren't as big, but they last a long time.

4. Have faith that you can create something new.

People want to rest on their laurels. They invent something, and then they ride that innovation into the ground. It pays to move on to the next project instead of dwelling on the old project. Apple has learned this lesson which is why they are always innovating. Google knows this lesson as well. Companies like Microsoft have forgotten this. Zuckerberg was a one-trick pony which is the kiss of death in tech. Ideas have a shelf life, and you need to always be looking to the next project. Leave the old projects to the managers to tend to as they wither and die.

For the time being, I am on Facebook. I was on MySpace before this, and I am on Google+ as it begins to take off. If I could change one thing on Facebook, it would be the 5000 friend limit. I chafe against that limit. That limit doesn't seem to exist on G+, so I can't wait for the new service to come into its own. Right now, it is just populated by tech geeks, but I see the world catching this wave.

Fuck Mark Zuckerberg. I hope you end up detailing cars somewhere you stupid dorky fuck.

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