Google+ traffic drops 60% after public launch

October 10, 2011 By Mike Dunn

Google+ traffic dips 60 percent after huge usage surge after public launch on September 20. Traffic is back down to pre-launch numbers as the service seems unable to keep users coming back for more.

The Google+ roller coaster has decided to take yet another plunge in traffic. Reports from data analytics company Chitika are saying that Google+ traffic has dropped 60 percent after its public launch on September 20. Traffic for the site has settled back down to its pre-launch level, and makes us wonder if traffic will ever really increase.

As soon as Google+ was open to the public on September 20 traffic skyrocketed, on September 26 we reported that traffic was up1269 percent. Unfortunately for Google+ this was the start of the decline for the sites traffic, as it has been in a steady decline since September 22.

It is clear that Google was able to attract people to the service, but why aren’t people continuing to use the service? Chitika believes that one of the reasons traffic dropped so drastically is because of the fact that Google+ really doesn’t offer users anything that Facebook doesn’t, and because everyone already uses Facebook. Google+ has not done anything to really distance its service from Facebook’s, and that is why it is able to attract people to the service, but can’t keep them coming back.

Google is trying to lure users to keep coming back by offering some of Facebook’s top games like CityVille, but it appears that even games aren’t helping. Facebook users only spend about 10 percent of their time in apps so even if games catch on at Google+ it might not have as big an impact as Google would like.

It seems as though the huge spike in Google+ traffic was a perfect storm. Not only was the private service finally opened to the public, but it came out right as Facebook users were unhappy with the new design, and that most likely caused the huge rush of traffic. Google will have to find a way to drive people to the site between Facebook redesigns if it wants the service to be successful.

Showing 12 comments

Lee Maxwell at 10:16am 11th October 2011 I enjoy Android, and most Google products. Still, I deleted my G+ account last week without hesitation. Not allowing people to use whatever name they want is a bit too much.
Gilad Steinberger at 6:05am 11th October 2011 WOW..Total surprise! ;)
Michael Hookano at 5:36am 11th October 2011 google will announce the end of google+. just wait for it.
Jim Forde at 2:26am 11th October 2011 fail +1
Rhys Lloyd at 1:56am 11th October 2011 Facebook took away from MySpace because it was clearly a much, much better platform. Whilst Google+ is arguably "better", it seems to really only be the early-adopter types which really like it. There's not enough differentiation between it and Facebook, and without enough reason to change, people simply won't.People freak out whenever Facebook makes a change. Can you imagine these people going to an entirely new platform? Most people hate change. It's going to be a huge uphill battle for Google+.
Teeli Lateef at 1:20am 11th October 2011 Add me in g+ Lateef Teeli
Damon Schmitt at 1:16am 11th October 2011 Seems to me, FaceBook wasn't an overnight success either. It took some time to drag people away from MySpace, because it's what people were used to.I don't know anyone who really 'Like's FB, we just use it because everyone else does, so it at least performs a function. It will be the people who simultaneously use both services, who slowly drag people over until the tipping point.
James Phillips at 12:38am 11th October 2011 What did I say. WHAT DID I SAY.
John Wood at 12:20am 11th October 2011 That's cuz google bites Wang.
Tonio Johnson at 12:17am 11th October 2011 It will, give it time. Google is focusing more on ice cream sandwich at the moment since thats the next big OS upgrade for their mobile platform.
Mohi Abro at 12:14am 11th October 2011 I want Google plus to progress : (
Timothy Dale Smith at 12:12am 11th October 2011 Everyone knew it was going to happen.