Google +1: What You Need to Know
Ever wanted to influence your friends and family on anything from the clothes they wear, to the places they go, and to the restaurants they should try out? Then you will find Google’s new +1 feature a godsend!
After about four or five months of screenshots, leaks, rumors, hunches, teasers, discussions and misinformation, Google has finally unveiled +1!
What is Google +1?
Just what is Google +1, you say? This is basically Google’s version of Facebook’s like button, only that you get to “like” Web sites, photos, maps, or just about anything that you can search on Google. So literally, there are a lot more things here that you can +1.
As a user, you can recommend sites when you see it listed on Google search results by clicking on the +1 icon next to the search result.
Google Wants You to Think +1 Is “Pretty Cool”
Your recommendations would then be shared with your friends. Google believes that this would be a great way to further personalize your search results. Google thinks that this would be the most relevant search results for you because it would be like asking your family members and friends what their favorite movie is and getting answers without talking to them. What’s more, you get it while searching for a movie that you might want to watch.
Google +1 works because it gives recommendations from the right people at the right time and in the right format. Basically, Google +1 takes its cues from Google Social, which shows you content from your contacts in Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and other social media sites. Only that now, Google is making it easier for you to make your recommendations, and you don’t have to blog or tweet about it!
Will Your Search Results Be Any Different?
Yes. Google +1 is all about relevance as factored in by your network’s recommendations. These recommendations will show up on top of or above other search results. Your search results will differ significantly if you have a well-connected Google profile.
How Do You Get +1?
Doing a search now would show you the same search results you had yesterday. Google is still in the process of “slowly rolling out” +1, and it is still very much experimental (which is to say buggy beta in need of free beta testers to debug).
You can join the experiment here: http://www.google.com/experimental/index.html
Just make sure you have a public Google profile and you are signed in to your Google Account before you press on “Join this experiment.”
You could also learn more about the new feature, what it covers, and how it would affect your searches in this nifty YouTube video:
What do you think of your friends influencing your search results? Share your views in the comments!
This post is brought to you by SEO Inc, a Search Engine Optimization Company located in Southern California specializing in creating SEO/SEM, and Social Media Marketing solutions for businesses of all sizes.