Google’s +1 Expansion Boosts Search and Social

My latest article at Practical Ecommerce, read it in full here.

 

The Google +1 button now plays a much more visible role in promoting content in search and social marketing. Much like Facebook’s Like button, Google’s +1 button allows — as of last week — Google+ users to share a comment, an image, a headline and a snippet of text when +1’ing a page. Compared to the +1 button’s previously limited role of decorating blog posts and search results pages, the expansion connects some important dots in the evolution of Google as a social media payer. More importantly for ecommerce merchants, it represents an excellent opportunity to influence what gets shared, control how it looks when shared and increase visibility in search engines and in social marketing.

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Originally posted on Web PieRat.

Google+: The Beginning of a Revolution?

My latest article at Practical Ecommerce, read it in full here.

 

The pieces are rapidly falling into place for Google’s increasing integration of “social signals” into its search algorithms. With the oddly isolated “+1” button launch at the end of March and the seemingly abrupt end of its agreement with Twitter in early July — see “Google Loses Access to Twitter Stream, Suspends Realtime Search,” on Mashable — it seemed that Google was dropping the social ball yet again.

Instead Google surged forward with Google+, its month-old social network based on sharing specific content to specific circles. From the users’ perspective, it’s like Gmail and GTalk combined with Facebook, but far more engaging. From Google’s perspective it’s the missing piece that connects the social dots between its products and provides a unique source of social-signal data to feed its ever-growing algorithms. Assuming Google+ realizes its potential, Google has the beginnings of a revolution on its hands.

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Originally posted on Web PieRat.

Exploring Social Networking Sites

As appeared in the Presence Pointers column of the February 2009 issue of “Business Watch” magazine.

Last month we started down the path to social media and setting into motion some tactics that could make 2009 an unbelievable year for you by going over some of the Social Media Networking Fundamentals. Now, it really gets interesting as we roll up our sleeves and take a gander at some of the venues to explore. Continue reading “Exploring Social Networking Sites”

Social Media Networking Fundamentals

As appeared in the Presence Pointers column of the January 2009 issue of “Business Watch” magazine.

As we kick off a new year, I thought this would be a good time to open our horizons to new frontiers. What hopefully makes this particularly exciting is that it isn’t dependent on how elaborate or simple your Web site is, or in fact, whether you even have a site yet. For those who have been feeling behind the times because they haven’t made the leap onto the Web yet, this is a way to get out on the leading edge.

What I’m talking about is social networking. You may have also heard related phrases like “Web 2.0” or “social media.” In fact, if you created your LinkedIn profile after the “Are You Linked In?” article — way to go — then you’ve already been dipping your toe in the social waters. Continue reading “Social Media Networking Fundamentals”

Are You Linked In?

As appeared in the Presence Pointers column of the June 2008 issue of “Business Watch” magazine.

The Web has opened up a whole new world for individuals and businesses alike. Today, anyone can have a Web presence, can access information, can make purchases, and can interact with others online. This last bit is particularly exciting though.

Who would have ever guessed that the Web, a tool that allows us to do all these things without ever having to leave our homes or offices or come face to face with another individual, would become a major social arena? Yet the “social media” sector is growing in leaps and bounds, connecting people of all ages and interests. Continue reading “Are You Linked In?”