Facebook’s recent launch of Like feature can pretty much give them web domination. Unlike Google, Facebook has a great handle on your friends, what you like etc and its known that sharing happens at Facebook (and not Twitter).
Stacounter, analytics tool has published reports on Internet traffic and here are some interesting findings.
Fall of Digg, Rise of Facebook
Its a worldwide phenomena that Digg is losing relevance [and will go the 2X route with the launch of Facebook ‘Like’ button] – what is interesting is the rise of Facebook sharing over other social networks.
After Facebook and Digg, whats matter in India is StumpledUpon, Twitter and Delicious (though ‘other’ category is also important, which might include Orkut?). Globally, Twitter generates almost one in ten Social Media global hits to website [read: Facebook Driving More Traffic to Yahoo than Google)
What this means is that integrating Facebook into your website is as important as optimizing your site for Google. And for Google, this is a red flag.
No one can imagine the shape in which a competitor can come out and beat you. “Social-links” vs. “hyperlinks” it is full-on!
In the long horizon, however I do see that machine-based technologies (aka Google type business model) would end up beating social-links too. That’s one edge over which semantic web will grow.
Cheers,
Arvind
Except facebook and digg i haven’t seen any other source bringing a significant indian traffic to sites i have managed, unless it is a blog where twitter also provides some traffic
This information is wonderful and it can be read in such many ways.
For sure the Social Bookmaring sites(Digg etc.) will have to look out. I think this is good for Google as an eye-opener but I have complete confidence that Google have some aces left when it comes to traffic(Android, Chrome, Buzz and other stuff will evolve).
When it comes to Twitter….I wonder if we fool ourselfs when we measure traffic from Twitter? I mean from people “searching” for a topic you want traffic since that means they found an answer in your content. But on Twitter you want something else….. I wonder what an appropriate and valid “currency” would be?
Thank you for an inspiration topic and some rising some interesting questions.