Facebook tops Google as "most visited web site in the US"

Interesting note in the Potomac Tech Wire today.

Facebook Tops Google to Become Most-Visited U.S. SitePalo Alto, Calif. -- Palo Alto-based Facebook topped Mountain View-based Google last week to become the most-visited web site in the U.S., according to new data from audience measurement firm Hitwise. Facebook claimed 7.07% of all U.S. Internet visits last week, eclipsing Google's 7.03%. Visits to Facebook were up 185% for the week, compared with the same week in 2009, while visits Google rose 9%. Facebook also has wrestled away the top U.S. site ranking from Google on several prior occasions, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Together, the two sites accounted for 14% of all U.S. Internet visits last week.

The problem is that Facebook doesn't appear to be able to monetize their product as well as Google, nor are they able to add new services/features to grow their relationships with current users. Let me know what you think... Am I off base on my comment?

Two points on Google's Corp Structure:

One of the key benefits of a bureaucratic structure is that it slows down the decision making process which limits the risk of bad decisions. More structure, more rules and processes to adhere to ensure “uniformity”. Typically, you don’t see much bureaucracy in a small company and even less in a “tech” company. It just seems to go against everything that makes them successful. However, many successful companies feel the need to implement more and more bureaucracy as they get larger and larger. Right or wrong, Google has intentionally avoided making that shift. Their goal is to attract the best and brightest, and give them the opportunity to “experiment” with their ideas. Ultimately, it’s not that Google wants a different result than any of their competitors; it’s that they believe there is additional value that can be gained by giving their employees latitude.

The way that Google deals with their investors is another story. Currently, they can get away with being aloof with Wall Street, because they are so successful that nobody really can question what they are doing or how they are doing it. However, I don’t think Wall Street is going to be very willing to put up with this kind of communication if Google makes any strategic mistakes. One bad strategic decision and they will have to change their behavior. Google is big, but Wall Street is bigger and today they can do no wrong, but that could change real quickly.