Facebook and Google: Social Media Beats Search

Earlier this year, Facebook beat out Google as the most visited site on the Internet. This was the first time Google lost the No. 1 spot it had achieved in 2007. Facebook also beat out Yahoo! in July. What does this mean to you?

Don’t confuse Facebook and Google. Facebook has become the largest social media site on the Internet. More than 500 million users visit Facebook regularly to share information with their friends. The motivation for users is to maintain their social relationships.

Google is the predominant search engine on the Internet providing more than 70 percent of the world’s searches. Yahoo! is second behind Google in terms of search and news.

Consider the power of social media. Americans spend a lot of time with social media. Other social media platforms include Twitter and LinkedIn. Every social media platform appeals to its own demographic (Twitter for online business, LinkedIn for business professionals). Apparently, Facebook appeals to more people than any other platform.

The numbers say three things:

First, our patients spend a ton of time with social media.

Second, advertising money will follow.

Third, social media is here to stay.

What's in the power of social media for you? Don’t use social media and Facebook the same way you use Google. Google will get your Web pages ranked and market your practice. Social media will help people get to know you.

I keep up to date with some of my friends and school chums on Facebook. It started with a remake of our 30th reunion. The originally planned reunion was a flop. The second attempt found its way to Facebook. We got half the class to show up. Most of us remain active on Facebook.

Most of my classmates didn’t know I had become a doctor, and even fewer knew I am a retinal specialist. Now they know. I didn’t spam them with “I am a doctor” all over my Facebook page, but it is listed as my occupation, as is my Web site and my fan page. My classmates were first interested in my life (kids, marriage(s), dogs, where I live, etc.), then they learned about what I do.

It wouldn’t be surprising, now, if someone developed a retinal detachment, that they might call me.

The same will true for you. Most of us don’t advertise directly to our friends and family about what we do. Social media is a great way for you share who you are and what you do. People have a real interest (as proven by the numbers participating in social media) in finding information about who we are and are eager to build or sustain relationships.

By sharing who you are, people naturally become more interested in what you do.