Search Engine Game Changer: Facebook-Bing Announcement

[Anna Johnson]

In case you haven't heard the announcement, Bing will start incorporating Facebook 'Like' data into its search results.

Basically, when you search on Bing it will not just give you results based on its own search engine algorithm but it will also provide and rank results based on the extent to which your Facebook Friends have Liked (or not) the various search results.

I've posted an analysis of the announcement - along with a brief discussion of the implications for Google and Internet marketers - here:

Search Engine Game Changer: Bing and Facebook Join Forces To Deliver Social Search Results | Kikabink News - Internet Marketing News

[JohnMcCabe]

Now that is interesting...

Puts that whole brouhaha awhile back when MS 'stole' a deal Google thought was done for a minority stake in Facebook.

It makes me wonder about a couple of other things.

> Facebook has already caught a fair amount of heat over privacy issues. I wonder if this latest move might add fuel to that fire...

> If Bing is going to factor in FB Friends, how are they going to handle Fans of fan pages? With the current limit of 5,000 Friends, they're working with less than 0.001% of the database (that's 1/1000 of 1%). I would suspect that for commercial concerns like their steak restaurant example, factoring in the number of fans the business has would be more relevant.

[phpnetpro]

The idea behind it seems OK, since Facebook is so huge these days.

On the downside, it's not exactly rocket science to boost a Like count. That makes me see yet a whole new wave of Like spammers hitting the market.

[ISMM Tom]

There's no such thing as a bad Like.


Facebook wisdom for the masses.

[Kael41]

I mentioned this in another thread, but as long as Bing/Yahoo stay behind google in the search engine marketspace, I'm not going to become worried by this yet.

Also, I see this as just one more gimmick for bot users to game to increase their search engine positions.

What's to stop me from building a ubot program that utilizes proxies and allows me to cycle 1000 facebook user accounts that I own (hypothetically) and then click "Like" on certain webpages that I own?

[LMC]

It's not a game changer SEO wise, unless your specifically targeting Bing traffic. Google has such a stronghold, Bing and Yahoo had to combine forces to grab just a small piece of the pie. So now they are going to use social media as an effort to grab more of the pie... there thinking is, "oh let me drop some facebook crap into my SERPS and more people will use us"

They need to become a bit more innovative.

[kindsvater]

Another reason I use Facebook less and less.

What was originally attractive about Facebook was its closed system and easy way to privately communicate and share. I understand the company looking for ways to make money.

Maybe that's just me and my personal Facebook account of family and friends. But it is creepy thinking a "like" I privately share is incorporated in any manner into Microsoft's databases.

[Tom Goodwin]

I can't speak for others, but with >80% of my search traffic from Google, this is going to have an impact of between slim and none for me.

[Rus Sells]

I agree, the goal for Bing needs to be capturing more of the search traffic. Somehow I don't see Facebook doing this.

Now if facebook would integrate Bing in the sites search function that could grab more traffic.

Bing is playing catch up whereas branding is involved, people say "Google it" referring to making a search engine quarry. That's the major thing Bing needs to overcome in my opinion.

Originally Posted by LMC

It's not a game changer SEO wise, unless your specifically targeting Bing traffic. Google has such a stronghold, Bing and Yahoo had to combine forces to grab just a small piece of the pie. So now they are going to use social media as an effort to grab more of the pie... there thinking is, "oh let me drop some facebook crap into my SERPS and more people will use us"

They need to become a bit more innovative.

[theseoguys]

Until Bing figures out how to get more of the Search Market share, I think that is just fantastic for Bing. Let's see how much that factors into their search algorithm after the professional 'likers' try to manipulate the results.

[Buyseech]

I believe Bing will burn, because of this. Facebook likes are SO EASILY obtained its scary. Facebook itself has so many holes and people have been exploiting them for some time now.

All the "Like this page and see 25 hotest women on facebook" have gathered millions of Likes. No relevance + No quality content = No future

At least thats my view on this subject.

Sincerely, Buyseech

[yukon]

This is the exact reason Bing is always behind in search. MS can't build a search engine that anyone will use.

MS missed the boat 10 years ago, as far as search goes.

They will never be a leader promoting someone elses product/brand.

[jazbo]

90% of my traffic is from google and anything to do with facebook turns my stomach, so thats a big ignore from me.

[Anna Johnson]

Interesting response! I'm picturing a collective yawn/roll of the eyes here which leads me to wonder how regular search engine users will respond. I'll guess we'll know as the next round of search engine market share results come out...

[paulgl]

Google just announced record, yes that's record, profits.

Google increased it's search share. Especially since instant.

Paid clicks went up 16%. That's huge. Their stock was nearing $600
earlier today.

Not sure why the google haters abound, but seriously, people
forget youtube is THE video search site. Put google.com and
youtube.com together, and you have a powerhouse. Not to mention
android and smartphones.

Anyone who wants to bet money on MS, I don't know.

Just read today AOL wants to buy yahoo. And didn't AOL toss in the
towel to partner with google?

Yukon, you hit the nail on the head

This is the exact reason Bing is always behind in search.

Google and apple morph, adapt. MS just drags...

Paul