Google +1 Button: 8 Things You Should Know
1. What is Google +1?
In March 2011 Google has announced the release of their new tool: “Google +1″ button. Designed to make Google searches even better and more accurate for users, it means a new opportunity for websites to get noticed.
Already know the power of Facebook Like Button? Then we are sure you will want to add Google +1 to your website asap too! But, if you still are not sure what the fuss is all about, read on for our clear guide to the Google +1 button’s secrets.
And one more thing before we proceed: if you find this page useful please click on the Google +1, Twitter Tweet This and Facebook Like buttons at the top/bottom of this page! Thanks:)
2. How does Google +1 (Plusone) work?
In the words of Google: The +1 button is shorthand for “this is pretty cool” or “you should check this out.” In a nutshell: when you click on Google +1 button* you publicly give your approval to something (a website, a page, product, piece of info, search result etc.). Thus, Google +1 button helps both ways:
- it allows people notice relevant, “recommended” content
- it helps Google understand which websites and web pages are truly useful and liked by users
*Users who want to “+1″ content need to be logged into their Google accounts to use the button.
3. Google +1 Advantages
It is this simple: adding the +1 button to your website’s pages lets users recommend your content. Once “plusoned” (btw. we’re almost certain a new verb has just been born, similar to the rise of “to google sth”) the said recommendation will be seen by users’ friends and contacts when it’s most relevant—in the context of Google search results. How?
Well, when signed-in Google users are searching, they may see your website’s Google search result snippet (the search result listing of your site) annotated with the names of their connections who’ve clicked on +1 button on your page. If none of their friends have “plusoned” your page, your snippet may display the aggregate number of “+1′s” your page has received.
4. Add Google +1 to improve your website’s listing in searches
1. Google trusts its users.
2. Content recommended by users = most probably good, “preferable” content.
3. Thus, Google +1 is a useful signal to Google regarding the relevance of your website/page to users’ search queries!
Of course Google +1 button usage is one of many signals Google may use to determine a page’s relevance and ranking. On the other hand Google constantly tweaks their search algorithm to improve overall search quality.
Google +1 can be a fairly new ranking signal now (and, thus, one treated with caution by Google), but as it gains momentum its usage will not only act as “personal recommendations” in the Internet community but also further affect search results listings.
5. Will Google +1 button affect website visits (natural traffic)?
Personalized annotations next to your page in search results may:
- increase your website’s visibility
- make your site’s snippet (listing in a search) more compelling
- which may in turn increase the chance of users clicking through to your pages.
Moreover, Google may crawl or re-crawl pages with Google +1 button, actually storing page titles and other content in response to a Google +1 button impression or click – perfect for SEO!
6. Do I need a Google account to add Google +1 button to my website?
No. No need for accounts, payment, special set ups, Social Media knowledge etc. As usually with Google, the Google +1 useful tool is available to anyone who wishes to use it. And who wouldn’t?? It can really help your business while you don’t need to know anything about Social Marketing. Just add Google +1 to reap and start reaping the benefits of this powerful yet absolutely free marketing tool.
7. Power of Google and Facebook – combined!
SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), aimed at improving your website’s positioning on Google searches, is now considered a prerequisite to getting your website found and noticed. But the power of “word-of-mouth” (click?) advertising cannot be underestimated either, and should be employed whether you optimise your site or not.
The lead in Social Media of course belongs to Facebook and Twitter. But the Facebook Like button and Twitter Tweet (and Follow) button work a bit differently to Google +1. They have the advantage of creating “viral” opportunities for your site/pages/products, but on the other hand they both lack Google +1′s power of directly influencing Google search rankings of your website(!).
Best solution? Use all three - Facebook Like, Google +1 and Twitter Button (Tweet This button) – to achieve best results for your website through synergy.
8. How to add Google +1?
Think about where you’d like the button to appear on your pages, i.e. where (in relation to content) would the buttons be most effective? Google recommends placing buttons near the top/title of a page, above the fold and/or close to other sharing links. Google also says it can be effective to put Google +1 at the bottom of a page (end of an article) as well as its beginning. Now, there are different sizes and styles of Google +1 button to choose from – see below:
If you are a webmaster or have some web development knowledge you can try to add the Google +1 button yourself – get the code here.
Alternatively contact us or call 0208 133 5444 and we will add Google +1 Like button to your website today!
Google +1 Button: A few more facts
A. Google +1 should soon be available on YouTube watch pages under the “share” feature. Consider how valuable YouTube can already be to SEO, and take then take into consideration the search implications of Google +1 button!
B. When users “plusone” something, the “recommendation” applies to the particular URL of the page they’re on.
C. That said, multiple buttons can be placed on a single page that will all refer to different URLs!
D. ..While if you try to “plusone” a private URL, Google says it simply will not work.
E. Google +1 button can be customized further: various sizes, 44 languages (although annotations will only appear in English Google.com search results for the time being), multiple buttons on a page, different coding languages etc.) if one wants to get more technical. Just contact us for more info.
F. When users click on Google +1 button, their Google Profiles will show links to the “plusoned” content under their “+1″ tabs.
G. Those Google +1 “recommendations” are public by default, i.e. they may be shown to any signed-in user who has a social connection to another. That said, users can choose not to have them openly displayed on their Google Profiles.
H. Google +1 button is not available on mobile search results yet, but users may view and use button on your pages.
I. While everyone can see aggregate annotations, signed in users can also see info about people from their Gmail or Google Talk Chat lists, “My Contacts”, and people they’re following/interacting with on Google Reader and Google Buzz.
J. Google +1 is different to Google Buzz. True, they both appear on users’ Google Profiles under (different) tabs, but Google+1 button donesn’t allow comments (well, at least not yet!.. we wouldn’t be surprised to see Buzz’s functionality introduced to Google +1 at some point).
K. You can also add Google +1 button to your pages to help your ads stand out on Google: “By giving your visitors more chances to +1 your pages, your search ads and organic results might appear with +1 annotations more often. This could lead to more – and better qualified – traffic to your site”.
L. Google +1 button will appear next to a search ads headline, while annotations will appear beneath the display URL.
M. Google has strict policies for publishers used along with the Google ToS to govern use of the Google +1 button.
N. According to Search Engine Land Google might launch analytics for Google +1 button in the future. This would show info on demographics, geography, content, and – most importantly – search impact. When might this come out is not yet predictable, as Google is said to be working with Google +1 launch partners ensure reporting is accurate before offering it on a wider scale.
Did you found this page useful? Click on the Google +1, Twitter Tweet This and Facebook Like buttons at the top/bottom of this page to share it with your friends and the world!
Want to add Google +1 to your website? Contact us via email or call 0208 133 5444 today!
