Google is taking on Facebook's Like Button with a button of its own, the +1 Button.
"Our goal at Google is to get you the most relevant results as quickly as possible," Rob Spiro, a Google product manager, wrote in a blog post Wednesday. "But relevance is about relationships as well as words on webpages. That's why we recently started to include more information from people you know -- stuff they've shared on Twitter, Flickr and other sites -- in Google search results.
"Today we're taking that a step further, enabling you to share recommendations with the world right in Google's search results."
And it will be the +1 Button that Google is hoping users will use to give their seal of approval across the Web.When a user looks at Google.com search results (and is signed into his Google Account), a +1 Button will show up right next to a link, beside the current magnifying glass icon used for Google's Instant Previews feature.
If a user likes the website they've visited, they can click the +1 Button to publicly share that with those Google has identified as friends or contacts. Below links on Google.com's search results, a list of any friends who have clicked the +1 Button for that link will show up too.
Google is currently rolling the +1 Button out to a small number of "select" users, but soon users will be able to opt in, through Google's experimental search site. Google also said adding the button to websites will be easy, giving Google fans the option of giving a +1 to participating pages outside of Google.com as well.The whole system is similar to that of Facebook's Like Button, which has quickly spread to many popular websites across the internet -- including news agencies looking to increase online readership.
And like Facebook, the idea revolves around using a digital button to share a user's action, sending that information back to the main site -- either Facebook.com or Google.com.
"It's called +1 -- the digital shorthand for 'this is pretty cool,' " Spiro said. "The beauty of +1's is their relevance -- you get the right recommendations (because they come from people who matter to you), at the right time (when you are actually looking for information about that topic) and in the right format (your search results)."
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Everything you need to know about +1
(Mashable) -- Google's announcement that it's adding a "+1" button to incorporate sentiment into its search results raised a lot of questions not addressed in the company's official announcement.
We spoke with Google rep Jim Prosser about +1. Here are some of our questions answered. What other questions do you have about the new product?
Why is Google doing this?
Aside from the fact that it represents another way to compete with Facebook, Google's official line is that it will make search results more germane. Says Prosser: "People consult their friends and other contacts on decisions. It's very easy and lightweight way to make search results more relevant."
Will the number of +1s affect search rankings?
Prosser says no, but adds that it's something Google is "very interested" in incorporating in some form at some point.
Who are these contacts we're seeing next to the +1s?
They are from Google Contacts, which come from various Google products, most notably Gmail, Buzz and Reader.
Will we see Facebook friends giving +1s at some point?
Not likely. Prosser draws a distinction between the "open web" and Facebook's closed system. Google is up for incorporating open social media apps, but not Facebook. And Facebook isn't likely to be interested in bolstering +1, a competitor to its "Like" button.
What about Twitter?
That's a different story. Google already incorporates Twitter data into its searches, though Prosser says there are no immediate plans for integrating Twitter results with +1.
What about using data from other social networks?
Prosser says Google is interested in using more data from Flickr and Quora, which Google considers "open web" apps. Initially, though, you won't see your Flickr or Quora friends' +1 recommendations.
When will we start seeing the +1s?
Not for a few months, at least not en masse. Those who are interested in experimenting with +1 right away can go toGoogle.com/experimental. Otherwise, Prosser says only a "very small percentage" of searches and sites will have the +1 button within the next few weeks.
Will +1 be incorporated into banner ads?
Not right away, though Google is interested in that possibility.
Can marketers game the system by running "check +1 to enter" promotions?
It seems that Google frowns on this sort of thing, but it's unclear whether the company expressly forbids it. Meanwhile, to maintain the integrity of the results, Prosser recommends that marketers don't tweak their copy to ensure more +1s.