I’ve written previously about one of the benefits of using FriendFeed.  Beyond sharing your life with family and friends, though, it also allows you to discuss any items that you share there with all sorts of other people.  That creates a discussion that’s fast moving and anyone can be part of. Fantastic stuff!

As great as FriendFeed is, there’s a feeling among many of its users that it’s not living up to its potential.  Because of the type of people who tend to pick up on services like this first, all the hot debate is about technology and Social Media issues.  While that’s to be expected, is it also the reason that a wider range of people aren’t using it?

Let’s say ‘Joe Newbie’ wants to try out FriendFeed.  Here’s what he does:

1. He signs up and searches to see if any of his friends are already there.  They aren’t.

2. He sees the ‘Recommended users’ tab on the settings page.  “Great!  That’ll give me a taste of what this is all about!” he thinks.  But when he adds Bret Taylor, Chris Brogan, Dan Farber or any of the other people listed he finds that all they’re talking about is Technology and Social Media.

3. Bored in five minutes, he goes back to Facebook.

If, however, people were talking about what he enjoys (let’s say Football and going to music festivals) he’d have been more likely to stick around.

A search for ‘football’, for example, brings up lots of items but not many comments and conversations around them.

Thinking of music festivals, how about a search for ‘Glastonbury’?  Again, lots of items but little talk about them.

Try ‘Google’ though and it’s a different story – loads of comments and conversations.

How can we drive more interest groups to FriendFeed, making it a more interesting place in the process?  I’m guessing if you read this blog you’re into technology but you must be interested in other things.  Why not invite some people from other forums you visit over to FriendFeed?  Maybe set up a room for your favoured topic – that’ll ease Joe Newbie into the whole concept.  You never know, he might stick around this time!