Once again Google is flexing its internet muscles right in Facebook’s face. Google is attempting to take on Facebook and its millions of ‘friends’ with a new service called Google Plus.
Now, not to fear…Google Plus has some growing pains to experience before it consumes the internet world with yet another product, but there is a neat little product that Google offers right now that compliments Google Plus and can offer a real boost to your website(s).
It’s called Google+1. As of this writing it’s brand new and the major internet marketing websites are just beginning to use it on their websites as part of their marketing plans. It will soon become as common place as QR images.
Here’s how it works: A couple of months ago a friend of yours visits New York City and has dinner in a great new restaurant. Afterwards they go online to the restaurant’s website, select the Facebook ‘Like Button’ and give a raving revue of the meal and service they received.
From Facebook their opinions are then automatically forwarded to all their Facebook contacts, including you, via a post on their wall or by an e-mail alert.
So what…nothing new…happens every day, right?
OK, but watch this…Next month you and a friend will also be visiting New York City and would like to have dinner at a nice restaurant. You would like to re-read your friend’s comments and endorsement of the restaurant they visited months earlier but by this time it will have been lost under piles of updates, emails, etc. and impossible to find.
Not to worry, because your friend also clicked the Google+1 button on the restaurant’s website and their comments about the great meal and fantastic service are right there for you and every single one of their friends when you search for restaurants in NYC, because you are all part of their Google network.
Internationally recognized polling agencies; Gallop and Harris Interactive, both confirm that 89% of buyers trust the recommendations of people (friends) they know.
That’s pretty darn close to 100%! Additionally, over 70% of buyers report that they would make a purchase if recommended by a family member (friends). Now, does that help you to imagine just how powerful recommendations can be for shoppers?
Think ‘testimonials’ on a webpage!
How would you like to have a few recommendations about your website made by the friends and family of your visitors?
Guess what? You can have the same internet marketing tool working for you as the big guys (gals), at entrepreneurial pricing!
In order to “+1 a site”, or see a +1 recommendation on a search engine page, a potential customer must be logged-in to a Google server, i.e. Gmail, or Picaso. When they visit your webpage they see the names of their contacts that have +1′d your site already!
If none of their contacts have visited your page then they will still see a number of how many +1′s your page has received by other people.
Here’s what to do:
Send this HTML code to your webmaster (if that’s you, copy/paste), and have them position it in a VERY visible location at the top or side of your site, this is the name text for Google+1:
<script type=”text/javascript” src=”https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js”></script>
Now, somewhere down in the body of your site, or out to the side, (again, VERY visible, above the mid-line) use this HTML code to place your +1 button:
<g:plusone></g:plusone>
If you have some HTML/webmaster talents and would like to get a bit more creative, Click Here for some fun choices.
I know you’re wondering, “will putting Google+1 on my website help my SEO?” Not Yet. But very soon!
As of this writing Google is saying that having the +1 feature on your site would certainly be a major advantage when your site is indexed by its computers. For right now it’s only one of about 250 “advantages” that Google uses to categorize the millions of websites.
But just for a moment think about the ‘gargantuous’ worldwide marketing influence that Facebook has enjoyed because of its social connection with millions of ‘friends’. If Google is going to compete in the social networking world having Google+1 on your site in conjunction with Google Plus will soon be a tremendous advantage for you when your site is indexed. Believe it!
The internet marketplace is extremely competitive and is constantly changing. Staying out in front is a constant challenge and just part of the business. Get used to it.
If your business is going to be successful and remain productive you must keep your content and your site current. Adding +1 to your website will:
1. Show movement/updating of content.
2. Offer a state-of-the-art option for your visitors.
3. Equips your site with the same marketing advantages as the giant marketers.
4. Cost nothing.
If you continue to have contemporary, informative, honest, and engaging content on your site that offers a good deal to visitors then they will be anxious to +1 your website to share with their friends again and again.
The only thing consistent about internet marketing is change!
Talk Soon!
-Jonathan
P.S. – As always, if you have any questions or comments about this post please don’t hesitate to leave them in the box below.
October 27, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Leave it to Google to stay ahead of the curve. The next thing we know the “Internet” is going to become the “GoogleNet”
October 27, 2011 at 2:19 pm
thanks. i will apply this to all of my websites today!
October 31, 2011 at 3:43 pm
I just love this blogs design. Is it WordPress?
November 6, 2011 at 12:23 am
Yes Sebastion, it is WordPress
Jonathan
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November 6, 2011 at 12:14 am
Thanks Nusser.Thats exactly what I try to do. Glad you appreciate it.
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Superb post – once again!
November 6, 2011 at 12:21 am
Hi Weston,
Feel free to share any of the information on my blogs. Just insure recognize the author!
J.
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December 12, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Thank you. I appreciate your comments.
Jonathan
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Thank you Ike. There will be plenty more discussions.
Here to help…
Jonathan
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