Why I stopped using FaceBook Events

Facebook events seem to pale in comparison to Google+ events. I’ve planned countless events in both, and the Google+ events have better results.

For example, if you look at the upcoming Austin SXSW Photowalk event in Google+, we have well over 500 people RSVP’d for the event. Compare this to the PhotoWalk I put as an event in Facebook for Paris (a much bigger city) a few months ago where a very lame 19 people RSVP’d. I mean, the people weren’t lame. The number is.

Now, I have 430,000 subscribers on FB compared to over 4.5 million Google+. So that is could be part of it, but I don’t think so. I know that a bunch of those 430,000 subscribers from Facebook LIVE in New York City (at least more than 19) and would have liked to be informed of the event, but I doubt they even knew it was going on if it wasn’t for Google+.

The only time I got any traction on a Facebook event is when I posted a link to the FB event to my 4.6 million Pinterest followers. As soon as I did that, a bunch of people signed up. I’m sure there is a big overlap in Pinterest and Facebook users, but none of those Facebook people would have found out about it unless I posted it on Pinterest!

There a few other x-factors in Google+. One is that it is integrated with the whole Google email and search world. So, if people use Gmail (who doesn’t???) or do a search in Google (who doesn’t???) then it is easy to find events that are happening near you and get invites from your friends. There is much less friction to sharing an event.

And Facebook search is horrible! It took me forever even to find my previous event. I did a search for “Paris Photowalk” and mine did not appear — another one appeared. Plus, I know there have been many many photowalks in Paris, and only a random one appeared.

The recent PhotoWalk Event in Melbourne is a good example of how vibrant and alive the event system is with Google+. It’s growing and growing as they add more features, and it is certainly the most “fun” place to share photos during and after the event.

Another X-factor in the Google+ events is the live sharing of photos. If you’re at an event with Android and have “Party Mode” toggled on temporarily, then all the photos you take automatically upload to the event page so you can watch it live from many different perspectives. I think this will be a fun way for everyone to interact with our SXSW PhotoWalk in Austin even if they can’t be there with us.

There is one little bug with G+ events. Whenever I +mention people or pages, it loses the hyperlink whenever I have to edit the event. That bit is annoying… so hoping they fix that soon.

Anyway, if you are putting events in both places, what are your thoughts? Or, if you are JUST putting them on Facebook, have you noticed them being less effective? It’s possible that maybe only the Facebook event was being shared with my friends and not subscribers. It’s a black box and I have no idea what is going on… but I do see the results… and event after event gets better response and engagement through Google+.

Another Indoor Situation

Since I’ve run about 25,000 photos through Photomatix, I’ve gotten to know the software pretty well! 🙂 One thing I have noticed for sure is that these kind of situations are where Photomatix really shines. You can take the result of Photomatix from these indoor, shiny situations to the bank. What comes out of photomatix needs very little adjustment.

The Photomatix Review here on the site shows more about this tool in case you’ve never tried it before! Also, if you use a Mac to edit your photos, check out Aurora HDR Pro! I worked with Macphun for over a year to build the ultimate HDR software!