10 things Facebook can do to rule the world
10) Buy a search engine.Web search from a social network is an idea championed by MySpace. Facebook can introduce a search bar in a number of places or they can expand their current search functionality to include web search. One thing that holds true is the current Facebook Search is inadequate. Facebook's staying power depends on its ability to evolve into a portal from a walled garden. Web search would be a bold, giant step.
9) Go after e-mail.Yet another way to front Yahoo, Microsoft and Google. E-mail. Facebook messages are archaic when compared with Gmail or Yahoo, and are even inferior to Hotmail and Outlook. If Facebook transforms its messaging feature into an e-mail service and lets users choose a Facebook e-mail address, we're looking at e-mail 2.0. A back door to
Xobni's back door.
8) AdSense killer.Stop pushing Beacon and hire an ARMY of salespeople monetize Facebook's pageviews. Advertising on Facebook is already superior to the rest of the Internet because you can target users by age, gender, region, interests, fears, hopes, dreams... etc. And when Facebook runs out of pageviews they can open up their ad network to app developers and web publishers.
7) Fix the news feed.Right now as is, the news feed stories and friend selection seems arbitrary. Facebook has introduced a new thumbs up feature to help 'train' the news feed its purpose and operation are vague. The news feed needs to be scrapped and re-introduced... PROPERLY this time. Emphasize it as a tool, not a motion sensor.
6) Fix Privacy settings.They are convoluted. Take a look look at
ClutterMe.com and pull some hints.
5) Go after personal websites.I'd love it if I could have a public www.myname.com and attach it to my publically indexable Facebook profile. This is one of big advantages of MySpace and something we are trying to do with
ClutterMe.
Facebook, tear down these walls !!.
4) Fix the layout and format.Facebook should make the search bar more prominent by giving the header a big makeover. The left sidebar has an annoying habit of hiding my apps. This could be fixed by putting the ads ABOVE the links to the apps and by significantly shortening the ads to around 240px or the size of the old Facebook flyers. This would not only increase ad CTR but would also give users faster access to their apps.
3) Hire me.I'll consult for Facebook for the cost of a plane ticket to Palo Alto. Seriously.
2) IPO.Everything on this list needs financing. Facebook can either fill its own coffers or raise funds. I think that an IPO of $15 billion isn't a crazy starting point. Add $5 billion every 6 months and $15 billion every 18 months starting
now.
1) Mature the platform.Right, let's not forget about the developers. The Facebook Platform changed things. A lot of things. The future of the Web is going to be full of platforms. Facebook was first. The Goliaths that innovate are Davids in disguise.
