Try this exercise: when I say “three social networks,” which come to mind? Facebook? Twitter? Pinterest? Maybe LinkedIn or YouTube?  Those were the sites that came to mind for me.  What is more important for purposes of this conversation is a site that may not have come to mind: Google+.  In June 2011, Google launched their response to Facebook, and fan reception was somewhat underwhelming.  Even despite a re-design in April 2012 that allowed for better page navigation, Google+ has remained an afterthought to many of its users.  Or has it?

According to the Global Web Index (managed by UK market research firm Trendstream), Google+ actually ranks second among all social networks in Number of Active Users & Monthly Active Usage, beating out Twitter and every other network with the exception of Facebook.  Their findings indicate that Google+ grew to over 343 million Active Users in 2012 (a 27% increase from 2011), and over 25% of those fans visit the site at least once per month.

The findings certainly surprise users who feel that Google+ fell by the wayside shortly after its release.  I personally created a profile on the network but have failed to update it in months.  However, it is important to consider the two main areas that drive Google+’s growth:

1. Google’s integration between products

When I signed up for YouTube, Google required that I use my Gmail account to do so versus any other.  When I signed up for my Google+ page, I was required to use the same Gmail account.  And just like that, all 3 platforms became linked to one another on purpose.  Now, when I access YouTube, my feed looks like this:

What’s important to note is that I do not connect with these users on YouTube; I connect through Google+.  Also, these videos appear on my YouTube feed as a result of my friends’ actions on Google+ (not on YouTube).  Therefore, I engage with friends’ content from Google+ without accessing the site at all.

Now I did not opt-in to this “feature,” but I indirectly help drive the active user count on Google+ without even knowing it!  This type of functionality will certainly affect other Google offerings, with search results featuring recommended results based on your Google+ network.

2. Growth outside of the U.S.

By looking at the below graph, the evidence is clear: growth among a number of global markets helps Google+ dramatically.

Although the U.S. presence grew moderately by about 75%, markets outside of North America have driven much of the growth for the social network.  This can be attributed to Google’s global reach (which trumps the usage stateside) and the continued dominance of Android phones in the global market.

With numbers like this, the message is clear: do not ignore Google+, ESPECIALLY if you’re a Global brand.  I am not saying that brands need to customize campaigns to Google+ just yet (Facebook will suffice for that), but much of the content brands create for Facebook & Twitter posts can also be easily broadcast on a branded Google+ channel.  Will your number of fans rise meteorically?  Not necessarily.  However, those posts will help brands appear in Google search results and YouTube pages (among other products), so the reach of your custom branded content already increases by at least 300%.  A brand will take that type of performance any day!

(Continued reading here and here)

Do you have a friend/know someone in a relationship on Facebook?  Do they remind you of that fact in every-other Facebook status update they post?  Fortunately (or unfortunately), you’re not alone in the “Obnoxious Facebook PDA” department.  The wonderful people at Buzzfeed have compiled a list of reasons why this group is…well…the worst.  Some of our favorites are below:

There are plenty more, so be sure to check them out here.  And for your sake, we hope that your EdgeRank does not place their posts within visible range of your Newsfeed.

It’s December 21st, and we’re still here! Check out our weekly round-up of favorite stories from the past week below:

Every week we’ll be bringing you some of our favorite trends, stories, memes and more from the world of Digital and Social. One of this week’s picks include a story written by none other than RocketXL’s CEO, Anson Sowby. Take a peek and read through, and share your favorite stories with us on Twitter @RocketXL!

• Managing a business and being a young entrepreneur is a challenge in-and-of itself. Throw a baby into the mix and it’s “…like you’re like a freshman driving the lane against LeBron James.” Wonder how you can do it all and thrive? Read on for some personal insights from Rocket’s head honcho here.
• We’d like to place some money on this 2013 prediction on the direction that Social Media is heading. Engaging with brands who produce great added-value content which is seeded at the right time in the right channels is an all around engagement win.
• And because we love a good infographic: 3 Tech Companies That Changed the World, Then Went Bankrupt.

Earlier this week, Red Bull released a new video of a Rube Golberg machine featuring a number of athletes in extreme sports (and golf).  You can view the video below:

Between this video and the Coca Cola video we featured previously, we are seeing that brands are using these types of devices more and more to feature their products in a fun, entertaining way.  Furthermore, by creating an elaborate series of steps to create a simple task, the video will hold your attention for an extended period of time and allow them to expose you to multiple levels of branding.  This is particularly important as users often tune out of a video within the first minute, leaving a slim window for brand exposure.

Take the Red Bull video above, for example.  In the six-minute long video, I counted 37 different moments involving the Red Bull logo or colors, whether it was on the screen for a moment or a few seconds (not including the fact that the whole device had the colors themselves).  More importantly, did you think about clicking away?  Because I didn’t.  And I’d watch it again, which allows 37 more opportunities to reinforce their messaging.  Not to mention that by aligning with extreme athletes and using their skills as essential elements in the machine, they reinforce their overall brand positioning as an extreme brand.

Overall, I think they did a great job with the video, which kept my attention the entire time.

What do you think? Did you watch the whole video?