Facebook, Amazon.com versus Google - Social Media Brands Get Ready To Rumble

Late last week all over the net there were news stories of how Facebook and Amazon.com were partnering for a showdown that has been brewing for sometime now. This showdown is with Google. These giant social media brands have been playing a fantastically complicated game of chess to see who will survive or get left behind.

Caroline McCarthy, of CNET.com put it this way,"Facebook dominates the social web, and Google dominates everything else. Google wants to wrest a bit of control of social media from Facebook." In the high stakes of social media, staying in control of your niche is crucial to you being top of mind. If you lose that edge and your brand awareness you lose everything. It doesn't get any more serious than this.

Google has been trying to grab a piece of the social networking space for many years, but last week they were arming themselves for a showdown. Google has released information about the acquisition of Slide. This company was started by PayPal veteran Max Levchin. What is so interesting about this is Max Levchin was responsible for designing some of the earliest breakout hits on the Facebook platform. This in its self would lead me to think that Google is getting ready to succeed this time with its movement into social networks. Their failures before have allowed them to learn and observe the strengths and weaknesses of Facebook.

At Facebook, it was reported by venturebeat.com , that Chief Executive, Mark Zuckerberg was in "Lockdown" preparing for battle with Google.



I personally, believe that products and industries change, modify and develop into new things. In social media and web 2.0, we have reached a point where the very large brands are changing and moving forward. This push by Google might be exactly what Facebook needs to become even better. Be careful what you wish for Google. You might not like what happens.

What do you think will happen next? Will Google succeed or Facebook?

Big Brands and Social Media - Ford Explorer Facebook Reveal

2011 Ford Explorer exclusively on Facebook. This is really the first big ticket item that has been revealed on a social media site. Ford has taken a proactive approach to creating interest and a buzz among new customers.

If you head to the Ford website the first thing you notice is the usage of social media within the traditional two dimensional website. They have incorporated streaming video from You Tube connections to Facebook. The new Ford strategy seems to be "embrace the new and don't be afraid to take new approaches to marketing your products."

The mind behind the usage of social media marketing in an integrated marketing strategy is Ford's Scott Monty. Scott is the Global Digital & Multimedia Communications Manager for Ford. Scott and his team of social marketing specialists are like college students in second year chemistry. They understand what social media elements can do, but can't tell you what the outcome will be if you mix them together. Yet.

Given enough time to experiment with ways to brand digitally, companies such as Ford will undoubtedly emerge to the forefront of digital branding and social media marketing.



Scott Monty and the Ford Motor Company are a fantastic example of the pioneering spirit. Trying new marketing strategies on big ticket products will allow companies the chance to see that the new digital media can have a very powerful influence on branding and sales of products.

Like any large company finding its way into the new world of digital and social media marketing, Ford made sure it integrated the marketing strategy to include the traditional print, radio and television along with the digital. I believe this will allow Ford to contact both return clients and attract a new and younger clientele.