Todd Jackson, product manager for Google Buzz, called it “an entire new world within Gmail.”

On the other side of the aisle, Facebook is allegedly working on an email client that it is calling Titan. This news has come amidst yet another “Facebook facelift,” with the social networking site releasing more changes to the home page, specifically within the toolbar, with Messages, Notifications and Friend Requests now drop-down menus on the left-hand side of the screen.

There is a strong Internet buzz that Titan will kill off Gmail, especially since it is rumored that Titan will be able to be configured with any email client. With over 400 million users, it does seem that Facebook can’t really go wrong with this move. You can already search the web with Facebook. You’re connected to anyone who you want to be connected with. You can update your Twitter account through your Facebook status update with a special app. So if you incorporate email, would you have any other reason to leave Facebook.com?

I’m actually pretty excited about the changes within Gmail; however, I am a little skeptical about any true success. People are looking for the “next Facebook,” not another Facebook. We’re looking for something different that fits our needs in a better way. For a long time, we thought MySpace fit the bill just fine until Facebook one-upped them. If Google/Gmail had something truly innovative, then this would be an entirely different blog post. But they’re not one-upping anyone here – they’re just copying Facebook and hoping that the Google brand will encourage people to switch over.

What Google does have going for it is that the company has a strong track record of responding to consumer needs and desires. With that history alone we can expect several versions of Google Buzz to update our Gmail accounts over the coming months. And there are unique features that have been announced, and I’m sure there will be many more to come. For example, Buzz will be location-enabled on your phone, so it will know where you’re at without even being told. Ignore the creepy factor, and that’s pretty neat. But I’m not entirely convinced that those features will be enough to persuade people over to the Google-verse.

Who knows? Maybe two years from now I will be eating my words and Facebook will be as irrelevant as MySpace is, with Buzz leading the way. I do think Google is on to something with Google Wave, so perhaps they’ll end up mashing together Wave + Buzz + Gmail to create something that will end up eating the Internet.

The first wave is scheduled to start today; hopefully this won’t be on such a limited-basis release as Wave was. I also can’t find a date on when Facebook’s Titan will be released, though I’m thinking that will be sooner rather than later in an attempt to stay ahead of Buzz.

The best news about all of this? With some of the best online sites duking it out, we all win.

1. Nexus One

Of course we have to mention the phone first. We’ve all seen Android released into the wild, but now it’s been confirmed that Google will be releasing its own Google-branded phone, called Nexus One on January 5th, 2010. No one knows for sure what the reason is for them to have their own phone but it will be exciting to see. Also the competition will be good for all the iPhone users out there, too.

2. Homepage Redesign

The next biggest announcement from Google was the simplification of their homepage and the addition of a nice fade. The average user may not have even noticed a difference, but designers with a keen eye will certainly have caught it. It’s not a drastic change, but it’s a nice upgrade.

3. Chrome for Mac

Google’s lightweight browser that has been thrilling PC users has now been released for Macs. We’re all pretty excited about that as a 100 percent Mac shop. Download your copy here.

4. Google Real Time Search

This is a huge change in the results of all of our searches and with it the Internet has officially become time-based. Read our post on it to learn more.

5. Google Suggests Answers

Google Suggests is a great little tool that we’ve all come to love (that drop down list of suggestions when you’re typing in your search terms.) Now Google has added answers into that list. For example, if I type in “Atlanta Weather” I get some search suggestions, but I also get the actual weather! Search over before it began!

Google Suggests Answers!

6.  Google Favorite Places

This one is getting started and seems to be Google’s way of fighting against Yelp! and Kudzu. Local business can be listed as a favorite spot and then also display QR code on their windows that can be scanned by iPhones and Androids. Plus one of our clients has already been selected as a Google Favorite Place! (Congrats Strand!)

7. Speed Tracer

This is only for us web dorks, but Google released another new tool that will help web masters quickly optimize their websites for speed! Hopefully this will make a big difference and we’ll see a vastly faster Internet soon. (Not holding my breath, but a really useful tool none the less.)

8. Goo.gl

For some reason Google has launched a URL shortener. Not sure what the intention is, but I’m sure whatever they plan to do with it, it should be interesting. http://goo.gl/

9. Google Goggles

Google jumps into the augmented reality game with it’s visual search function for Android phones. It’s only in the labs right now, but check it out here. It sounds like it’s a program to watch for in the future.

So thanks to Google, we already having a pretty great Christmas season with all of these new toys to play with! Let me know which one is your favorite or what new Google feature I left out in the comments.

What exactly does this mean? For example, let’s say you search for Tiger Woods. I’m not sure why you would considering we haven’t heard anything about the guy in ages, but let’s just pretend you want to see what he’s been up to lately. So if you type “Tiger Woods” into Google’s search engine, you see this page:

Note that you first see news results, Tiger’s official Web site and the Tiger Woods Wikipedia entry. However, now you’ll see a “Latest Results” box:

This box consists of the latest postings on social network sites about Tiger (including Facebook and Twitter) as well as articles from news Web sites and Yahoo! Answers. It updates automatically, so there is no need to refresh your search results. In fact, you can click on the “Latest Results” link and be taken to a search results page that specifically updates from these real-time results:

So. What does this mean for you and your brand’s online identity? We now not only have to ensure that your Web site’s copy is en pointe so that it is more likely to show up high in search results, but also that you are producing consistent and timely information via blog entries and social network updates. It’s important to keep in mind that the Internet is not a stagnant marketplace, so your approach to your Web site or “supplementary materials” such as your blog should be to constantly be searching for ways to be innovative and timely. Once you hit “publish” on your Web site does not mean you are “finished.” Sure, take a break. Get some fresh air. But once you get back to your desk, it’s time to think about what more can be done.

This does not mean to constantly update. An online marketing strategy should never consist of spam, and if your strategy is to simply update for the sake of updating without any real thought behind your target audience and the content you wish to present, you will become a spammer.

Here is some advice on how to continuously maintain and improve upon your online identity:

• Revise your Web site judiciously. Revisions are made often, and from time to time a complete overhaul is needed. But if a client or consumer of your product comes to your Web site but can’t find what they are looking for where they saw it last time, that becomes an issue. Rather, continuously be considering how you can get the most important information across to your target audience in the most convenient way possible. (You can use Google Analytics as an easy way to see what’s most important your Web site visitors.)
• Post your Facebook updates to your Wall. Some pages send updates to their fans’ inboxes, particularly “special deals” that are for Facebook fans only. Solution? Post the update to your public wall, anyway. If you want to be super “exclusive” then you can send a certain code to member inboxes. But chances are you’ll only gain more fans and interest by posting to the wall. And this way you are more likely to show up in search results.
• Tweet often, but only if you have something to say. You probably have a product to sell, and Twitter can be a great way to introduce an audience to your brand. But don’t tweet constantly just to show up in both your followers’ live feeds and the new real-time search results. You’ll only become a nuisance in the marketplace, like a mosquito in a quiet room. My advice is to tweet at least twice a day – once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Once you fulfill that quota, stop to think. What’s new with your business? Have you read any interesting news articles about your industry lately? Maybe you’ve heard a funny (and appropriate) joke about your industry (I’m looking at you, lawyers.)
• Respond to others. Get your brand out there by responding to industry blog posts. If a fan of your Facebook page posts a comment or question, answer them in a courteous and cheerful manner. Join in on trending topics on Twitter. Work on keeping your online identity accessible.

What does your online presence currently consist of – just a Web site? Are you on Facebook or Twitter? What are your thoughts on Google’s real-time search results?

1. Ashton Kutcher. We totally helped him beat CNN in the race to one million fans.
2. Google. O’Neill Communications uses a variety of Google services, including the Calendar and Analytics functions. We follow them on Twitter to learn of their NEWEST innovations, which not only helps us to be a great asset to our clients, but … we just like knowing things before anyone else.
3. macTweeter. O’Neill Communications also uses Apple products – we follow them on Twitter to make sure we’re up-to-date on technology.
4. Any news agency. ABC, CNN, FOX … we check news outlets constantly so that we always keep our clients up-to-speed on what’s going on in the world and in their particular market.
5. Martha Stewart. (Because O’Neill staff member Carly loves her.)

Let us know – are YOU in on the Twitter phenomenon? Who do you follow? Or are you an anti-Tweeter?