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Google +1 – what is it and what do you need to know?
This post was last edited by Alex Cohen, on August 10, 2011 @ 9:03 am
What is Google +1?
Google+1 is the latest big change to Google search, it’s similar to a Facebook Like button but instead of liking your friend’s updates it lets you like or recommend websites.
With the Facebook Like button, when a user Likes something via the button on a website or on Facebook itself, it shows up in their Facebook friends’ news feeds. Similarly, when a Google user clicks the +1 button on a web page or article, their connections will see their +1’s within their search results. This enables users to easily view recommendations from their connections where they’re most useful — in search results.
Currently users need a Google Account to view +1 recommendations and need to be signed in. Users also require a public Google profile…the first time you try and +1 something Google will ask you if this is ok.
What’s the point?
Ever been searching on Google and unsure what link to click? What coffee machine should you buy or what article is the most relevant? Surely it would be easier if you could see recommendations from your friends as to the best link to click? This is what Google +1 allows you to do – see personalised recommendations from your network when searching.
For a business owner, the more people that +1 your website, the more recommendations it will get and the more traffic it will get.
+1 on websites
Right now we’ve just discussed Google +1 in search engines; so when searching you can recommend search results. Another way to recommend websites is to click the +1 button on websites that have it (see our footer for an example of this).
To add the +1 button for your website use the code generator here.
Marketing takeaway and recommendations
Google’s mission is to become more social. Google +1 is just one of a number of tools it is currently rolling out to move into the social networking sphere. You are more likely to choose one restaurant over another one if you had been recommended it from a friend, Google +1 helps your business get these recommendations.
So add the +1 button to your website and then create remarkable content that people will want to recommend.
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