Google\’s new +1 button? Google has taken its commitment to making its searches user-friendly to another level with the introduction of a new ¡°+1¡± feature that is currently in the experimental mode. Appearing in quick succession after the implementation of their ¡°website blocking¡± service, this one (similar to the Facebook ¡°like¡± button) is their first step in the world of social media on their search engine platform.
¡°Today we¡¯re taking that a step further, enabling you to share recommendations with the world right in Google¡¯s search results. It¡¯s called +1¡ªthe digital shorthand for ¡®this is pretty cool.¡¯ To recommend something, all you have to do is click +1 on a webpage or ad you find useful,¡± says an insider from Google.
To check out this feature, you need to sign in to your Google account and sign up for their ¡°experimental search site.¡± Once you do that, you will get to see the ¡°+1¡± tab next to the search result. Then you can recommend a particular website to others on your Google ¡°contacts¡± list by simply hitting the +1 sign. For instance, if you have +1¡¯ed? www.promodirect.com after signing into your account, whenever anyone in your contacts is looking for promotional products on the net, Promo Direct will show ¡°+1 like¡± from you and consequently will be recommend to your friends and contacts.
Google spokesman says, ¡°The beauty of +1¡¯s is their relevance¡ªyou get the right recommendations (because they come from people who matter to you), at the right time (when you are actually looking for information about that topic) and in the right format (your search results).¡±
So we want to know what this means for online businesses. Here is how it will impact them:
- User power and website ranking: With the +1 feature and easy means to block the website, Google has given power over the fate of online businesses to its users. If your website is not preferred by users, you run the risk of getting blocked or not getting a much-coveted +1 preference, thereby affecting traffic and sales.
- +1, a part of Google Algorithm: Google plans to make +1 feature a part of their algorithm. They believe that if the users like a particular website, it gives them a good reason to rank it higher than others. So one more thing to keep you on your toes while worrying about where you rank in Google searches.
Google¡¯s +1 feature promises to create a great user experience for its loyalists, though websites and businesses might have another take on it! Let¡¯s wait and watch¡
