Google Gadgets vs. Facebook Apps

Before YourStreet released its recent news headline widgets, we did a little research comparing the various widget platforms with Facebook applications.  After all, as a start-up YourStreet has limited limited time and had to decide which avenue to pursue first.  We chose to develop on the Google Gadgets platform and here's why:

• Google gadgets get more users.  While the Facebook applications platform has been getting tons of press, Google gadgets have been quietly building up a huge user base.  There are 10 Facebook applications that have more than 500,000 active daily users.  In contrast, there are 16 Google gadgets that have more then 500,000 users (Google doesn't specify the number of daily users, so it's impossible to exactly compare gadgets to Facebook apps, but it's pretty close).
• Google gadgets can be found in lots of different ways.  The Google Gadget directory gets tons of traffic and seems to be easier to navigate than the unwieldy Facebook application directory.  Google is actively promoting its iGoogle homepage on which gadgets can be placed.  Also, Google gadgets can easily be turned into widgets that are compatible with sites like Netvibes so they can get even more exposure.
• There's a wider variety of popular applications on Google gadgets.  The most popular Facebook apps seem, shall we say, rather trivial.  If you want to find the cutest, sexiest, smartest friends you have, then there are dozens of Facebook apps to help.  As a local news aggregator however, we're looking for a platform where serious content is popular.  Google News, The New York Times, and the BBC are among the top 10 most popular Google gadgets.  The NY Times Google gadget has over 1 million users.  On Facebook, the NY Times app gets a whopping 1,757 users.  Quite the difference.

The Facebook application platform is undeniably active and viral for the right type of app and YourStreet does plan on developing a Facebook app in the future.  But if you're a start-up that's thinking about syndicating more serious content, you should definitely consider Google gadgets.