Google +1

Google +1 is a social media tool devised to provide credibility to a website, ad or search result on Google. The recommendation tool provides other users with trusted options amongst an array of websites that pop up as search results. Google also provides +1 users an option to receive customized ads, search results and web content their way. The +1 recommendation is visible to all Google centric social networks such as: Google contacts, Gmail chat list contacts and people followed on Google Reader and Google Buzz.


Certain loopholes that may require fine tuning from Google include:


• +1 recommendation is available only on search pages prior to the user reading the content and requires user to return to the search result to recommend it. Google is likely to extend the +1 as other webpages also include it on the page itself.


• +1 requires users to preferably have a Google profile. This can limit the use and popularity of the new tool.


• +1 is still at experiment stage and not rolled out yet for all users to define it as a worthy tool or experience.


• Also, Google +1 is not the first social media tool. It will have to compete with other recommendation icons that are already popular and linked to social networking sites.


• Google’s social networking adventures have not been the best so far. Internet users reach out to Google for information while social networking is primarily with Facebook followed by other social networking sites.


In +1, Google has found a route to connect information search with social networking. It is surely going to lend credibility to websites with known sources providing recommendation. An SEO company will have to ensure quality content to enable better rankings. Google +1 can be employed as a signal in ranking popular websites and content farms can be left out in the cold. It is up to the various search engine optimization firms to check the impact of Google +1 on content farms, which has been a sore point for Google.


Google +1 is limited to Google’s social web and most internet users already maintain their loyalty with one or two of the most popular social networking sites. Though the Google +1 recommendation will surely show up on friends search results it may be a much smaller social circle as compared to other established networks. Existing social networks already have successful recommendation tools linked to social networks more popular than Google. Google +1 is not the new comer among recommendation tools and has therefore lost out as an "interesting feature". The extent of information available to publishers about the type of people who +1 their content and the impact on pay per click campaign management are certain questions that hover around the Google +1 feature.