Google+ Traffic Slips by 70 Per Cent; Will it Have the Same Fate as Orkut?

According to reports on Chitika Insights,Google+ has constantly failed to please its users; statistics show that the traffic on the social networking site has dipped by 70 per cent of its original numbers, since its launch a month back.

Google+ was officially opened to the public on Sept. 20 after a few weeks of trial. It drew millions of users from other social networking sites during the trial but now reports say that its traffic is dropping steadily.

It is believed that most people migrated to Google+ in search of a networking platform which is actually social in nature, unlike most others. However, the problem seems to be that it has failed to retain its users. Earlier this week it dropped down to 60 per cent and now the recent statistics shows it to be 70 per cent.

Chitika Insights, after studying traffic patterns on the Web site, suggested that after a brief blip in Google+'s traffic surrounding the site going public, a prolonged and sustained downward trend in overall activity is coming from the site. The gap between peak and trough measured over a 70% decline in traffic.

Google recently announced that it had successfully drawn 40 million users as a result of its latest foray in social networking, following its failed Buzz attempt. The company say a sharp rise in traffic in the first few weeks of Google+'s launch, with users interested by the circles and plus features.

One possible reason for Google+'s failure could be its inability integrate innovative features and applications. There are already so many social networking outlets (most of which have absorbed the entire traffic) that people, it seems, do not really need a copy of the same network formula.

There are more than 30 social networking sites that have a user base in excess of a million users and unique visitors per day. It is no surprise that Google+ has to play the game correctly if it wants to stay here permanently. The drop in traffic might be the early alarm that Google needs, in order to revise, alter or transform its strategies and features; and, importantly, to avoid the same fate as Orkut.

Orkut, a social networking site prior to Facebook, had a million users. However, after Facebook came into the picture, the Web site lost its charm and a majority of users flocked to either Facebook or Twitter.

It will take a lot of convincing for the already active 40 million users to remain with Google+. As it stands now, it seems that the Web site needs a good deal of work in order to make it a real social experience for its users.