Google may have found another way to one-up Facebook, this time with musicians and their fans.
Bands and musicians are basically committing suicide if they aren’t on Facebook. But Facebook is now seriously limiting access to the very fans that want to hear from their favorite artists. Sometimes they get the message, and most of the time, they don’t.
That’s where Google comes in. They’ve devised a new feature that allows artists to directly message their fans.
A new page on Google’s website will allow quick and easy access for fans. Dubbed ‘Posts,’ verified people and locations can update content for people who are searching for them.
Here’s how Google describes the upcoming service:
“Posting on Google is a new way to share relevant, fresh content with the people who are searching for you. Use images, videos and even animated GIFs to engage your audience, and add inline links to drive traffic to specific content.
This enhanced format allows searchers to hear directly from the primary source — you — and complements existing results from across the web.
People are searching for you. Keep them in the know.”
This is already getting started. In the US, Google is now taking applications for museums, sports teams, sports leagues, and movies. In a sign of things soon to come, Google is also opening up Posts to musicians in Brazil.
After those tests, things will broaden to other countries. But here’s a quick preview.
Once in, you can post text, images, videos, and events. These posts appear instantaneously on search results across both desktop and mobile . You can also schedule the timing and duration of a post.
The web giant will also keep you updated on how many see and interact with your content. Cool!
However, to start, you’ll first have to request access.
Posts also comes during a time that Google is (quietly) working on a new social app. Although the project doesn’t have a name yet, it may compete directly with Apple Clips. The social app would allow small groups to work together to edit photos and then share them.
We’ll keep you ‘posted’ as Posts rolls out. Looks like it could offer a really nice solution to Facebook’s issues.
I wonder if Google will allow artists to drive their fans to music services other than YouTube via Posts?
Bandtraq.com is another way for musicians to keep fans in the loop. It aggregates your posts from social networks into a simple feed and notifies fans every time there’s a new album or video. It’s free to join and easy to use.
Seems like a really fantastic feature. Because anyone searching on ‘your band’ is a highly targeted person.
OK, this does seem interesting!
It’s a little early in the morning for me and I’m not really sure I get this, but I do know the sound of disruption when I hear it.
So, I begin to understand a bit more. 🙂 F*ck, this could seriously hurt Twitter, Insta and FB.
But in the end, it also might hurt Google Search; i.e. making it less reliable and more prone to spam.
In fact, it sounds like it could be the end of SEO as we know it.
The unfortunate problem, I believe, is that Facebook IS efficient, but most artists do not know how to use it correctly. It is a free platform, and by releasing quality content that drives fans to interact with posts, you can reach your audience and/or gain many more fans with a knowledgeable use of Ads Manager. That being said, this Google search will definitely have the potential to surge in use and popularity in no time if executed correctly.
I agree