How important is Google+ and +1?

[Natalie Hill]

I'm willing to dive in and learn this stuff if it's going to make a difference for me. But if not...

...well, I'd rather spend my time doing things that will make me more money.

Can you help me understand the value of Google+ and/or +1?

Thanks!!!

[garyv]

It's really hard to know the eventual effect. But even right now having a plus account, and using +1 on your websites has a positive effect. - Like using the "like" button on your page - it's a great way to squeeze a little bit of extra traffic out of the visitors you already receive. But who knows what effect it may have on future SEO?

[Alyona The Publicist]

From what i am seeing, google is trying to jump in the social networking sector, but unfortunately they are not succesful. This already happened with google buzz where in my opinion google failed miserable. Google is seeing that facebook is a very big threat to their income and therefore they are trying to attack facebook back at their own game, ie. social networking. However other than blogspot, google did not manage to hit the nail on it's head with any other service and i believe it's the same story with the +1 option. They are trying to copy the 'like' button on facebook!

In my opinion google should continue and focus on their core business... therefore the SEARCH business and stop trying to imitate facebook. Facebook is succesful because it is not imitating anybody, they are actually being fresh.

If google continue like this they will self destruct and it won't be long before google looses it's dominant position as the best search engine and it will start loosing money from advertisers and this would lead to a vicious circle where more losses and cracks start to appear

[Natalie Hill]

Thanks everybody - I'm getting more clear on my lack of clarity. No wonder I'm not clear - no way to know for sure just yet.

If I hear from others that it is making a big difference, I'll spend the time to learn what I need to know. For now, I think I'll keep doing what I'm doing that I know works.

[David Keith]

i see the +1 button and its affect being around for a long time even if googles attempt at social networking fail again.

the idea behind crowd sourcing search results is something they plan to focus on and while there will be growing pains with +1, i see google being pretty committed to making +1 have some affect on its search rankings.

there are negatives to crowd sourcing stuff like this, but i think google will find a way to make the +1 button an affective part of their overall search engine ranking algorithm.

we are already seeing some on this forum use black hat tactics to trick google by selling +1 clicks and such, but google will catch up to these people and once again they will change their algorithm to protect their end users.

if i were a betting man, i would bet +1 will be around for a while. the social network may or may not make it, but the search engine affects of the +1 button are something i think will stand the test. it will be tweaked, but i just dont see them bailing on that part of this project for sure.

[GeorgR.]

"Fail" is the best what comes to mind here.

Too much manipulation and fraud going on.... "Google +1 Unlocker for Websites"...this is as UNETHICAL as it gets.

I have seen plenty of such shady sites already which force their user to click "I like"..honestly i think its the stupidest thing Google ever did.

[David Keith]

Originally Posted by GeorgR.

"Fail" is the best what comes to mind here.

Too much manipulation and fraud going on.... "Google +1 Unlocker for Websites"...this is as UNETHICAL as it gets.

I have seen plenty of such shady sites already which force their user to click "I like"..honestly i think its the stupidest thing Google ever did.

personally, i think google will adjust their algorithm according and eliminate most of that crap eventually.

so far, they have been able to do a pretty good job adjusting their algorithm to address issues like this.

10 years ago is was stuffing invisible words onto a page, then you have article spinning (which is getting punished more with every update), and auto blogging (which worked great for a while, but has mostly faded in its effectiveness).

google is not stupid, they knew this would be abused. i suspect they already have many plans as to how to address this issue.

crowd sourcing their search results (to some degree anyway) enables them to effective have millions of reviewers help them make search results better. and lets be honest, they have enough data to give them a pretty clear indication of what it looks like when someone is gaming the system.

[Nino Rostomashvili]

G+ will become more and more important and it will take its place in social networking. Google needs +1 button to identify which site and content is really valuable for the audience. When you +1 something you let the people who have you in their circles know that you liked the article. I think this will help Google to manage more effective and justified search engine systems.
And also, in my mind, the G+ profiles will have some effect on your own business and business relationships

[Ryan David]

Personally, I don't think Google+ is going to be a game changer. I don't know anyone, outside of tech geeks, that use it. Anything that is cool about Google+ can be implemented into Facebook. Facebook has the active users, that's the hard part.

Google Plus One could be interesting. But again, I don't see anyone using it as of yet.

[garyv]

Originally Posted by GeorgR.

"Google +1 Unlocker for Websites"...this is as UNETHICAL as it gets.

Sorry, but that's not quite right.

This is right in the Google +1 TOS "Publishers can direct users to the +1 Button to enable content and functionality for users and their social connections."

Google likes these types of uses for their +1 button, because it gives them a clearer view of what people are looking for. - It is against the TOS to use it in a deceptive way, but as long as you're unlocking what you promise to unlock, then it's well within their TOS, and far from being "as unethical as it gets."

[Joesorrell]

I think it will get more and more important

[Natalie Hill]

you guys are awesome.

Any suggestions of the best way to learn more about Google + and +1?

[gxfcrjdj]

I don't know what's the eventual result, but it is surly more and more important.Google is serious on social networking.