Google Bids Meebo Goodbye, Focusing on Google+ Instead


Google bids Meebo goodbye

It was less than a year ago, in 2012, that Google acquired Meebo.  And now we see Google shutting down Meebo.

An announcement on the Meebo website says they’ve decided to retire the Meebo publishing bar effective June 6, 2013.

Meebo is a social sharing bar that you sometimes see at the bottom of websites. With it, users could share items on social networks.  The Next Web reports that the Meebo bar disappeared for a while after Google bought it but then returned with Google+ sharing capabilities built in.  The Meebo bar has been used by bloggers as well as some large sites, such as TV Guide.  Larger sites often incorporated small ads in the bar (see image above showing Meebo bar outlined in pink).

The Meebo team will now focus on Google+ instead, including initiatives such as the recently launched Google+ Sign-In and Google+ plug-ins, the announcement says.

After June 6th, the Meebo code will no longer work.  They are no longer accepting new Meebo accounts.  There’s also an FAQ with more details for existing Meebo publishers.

Lee Jarratt, editor of the website Google Plus Daily says “I don’t think many will be sad to see the product retire, as it was mostly seen as a nuisance since it followed website visitors down the page as they scrolled.”

This is yet one more sign that Google+ is the future for Google.  If you’re not on Google+ with a professional profile and a Google+ page for your business, you’re falling behind.  The writing is on the wall with announcements like these.


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Anita Campbell Anita Campbell is the Founder, CEO and Publisher of Small Business Trends and has been following trends in small businesses since 2003. She is the owner of BizSugar, a social media site for small businesses.

7 Reactions
  1. The list of casualties from Google’s fascination with Google+ is becoming quite a long list. Cue Queen music…

    • LOL, this is the best comment I’ve seen all day, Robert! “Another One Bites the Dust,” huh?

      That’s a great observation. Picnik and several other products are now just features or technology built into Google+.

      – Anita

  2. I haven’t heard of meebo before. That’s probably the very reason they’re discontinuing it. Who needs another toolbar?

    Ti

  3. The Meebo bar has been used by bloggers as well as some large sites, such as TV Guide