Google Buzz has created some buzz in the past couple of days. A Twitter killer it is not, but it is definitely the most exciting social web service I’ve seen since FriendFeed. Tim O’Reilly has said that Google has “taken the social media lessons of Twitter,” and Jason Calacanis thinks “Google Buzz 1.0 is better than Facebook after six or seven years.”

Not only does Buzz combine some of the best aspects of Google Wave, FriendFeed, and Twitter, but it’s also built into GMail. By adding the mobile component (so we can take it anywhere), and integrating feeds from Twitter, Flickr, Picasa, and Blogger (so we can pull outside content), Google Buzz starts to sound like a very promising service of its own, and not just another GMail feature.

But the question that everyone is wondering about is:  Can Google really create a new social network that people will want to use?

It is true that Google has failed at many, if not all things social in the past, but this time it seems different. From day one, Buzz already makes great use of multimedia, is open to anyone, makes use of @ replies (ie. @socialnerdia@gmail.com), and allows us to have conversations in real-time.

So, with early adopters rushing to test, criticize, and/or embrace Google Buzz, should companies be creating accounts just as they have done on Twitter and Facebook?

Traditionally, companies have been slow to join social networks. The idea of unproven and confusing new social services creates unwillingness to jump in until other companies have. But with a rapidly changing and increasingly social online landscape, it is essential to understand the things that people are doing. In order to really “get it” companies could spend months researching, brainstorming, and strategizing. Or they could just do what regular people do: Jump in and experiment.

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Every so often I stumble into an interesting + funny blog with the potential to stick around for a while. The moment I heard about Build-a-Beard, I knew I had to find out more about this “movement” and “organization” led by Kristina Weise and Alex Aizenberg. Please check them out on Twitter and Facebook, and attend the Beard Ball NYC on Feb 4th (with proceeds going to RightRides).

1. Build-a-beard has been getting some much deserved attention. What’s the story behind it? When and how did you get started?

The idea for B-A-B came when I was admiring Paul Bank’s new band, Julian Plenti, at the Guggenheim in August 2009. I (Kristina) found myself in a sea of bearded hipsters.  To keep myself amused that evening, I started picking out the “best beards of the night.”  The next morning, I ran the idea past El Beardo (Alex Aizenberg) to have a blog dedicated to both beards and DIY facial hair creativity and voilà – Build-A-Beard.

2. The world probably wants to know what’s next for you. What’s the future of B-A-B? Will you ever actually take on Build-a-Bear?

Down the pipeline, we hope to throw a Beard Ball in every major city.  Next up for us is Spring/Summer 2010 in Los Angeles.  ‘R Bar’ in Los Angeles, California has already been gracious enough to contact us and offer up their venue.  A bar in Austin has reached out to invite us to Texas.  There is a real need for people to have an outlet for their beards – and that’s where Build-A-Beard comes in.  In addition, each city that we choose to have a Beard Ball, we will obviously pick a niche, community-focused charity to support.  Sadly, we will never take on Build-A-Bear – different industry all together – but bears are rad.

3. As beard experts/connoisseurs that study the art of the beard 24/7, do you ever look down on those who cannot grow a beard?

Build-A-Beard is about the celebration of facial hair, but it also is a nice niche group for those who admire beards.  So if people cannot grow beards, as long as they hold some sort of admiration for those that can (or just mild curiosity), they are welcomed in our bearded world.  Besides, some people are not built (ha ha) to be able to grow one, and that’s OK… at most we will ask of those people is to try. (more…)