Just heard about the new Google +1 Button and wanted to share the news on how this new feature can help you find what you need faster and how you can join in on the experiment.
At a glance, the Google +1 Button encourages word of mouth marketing as it allows people to recommend content directly to their friends and contacts through personalized annotations. Online recommendations remain a positive influence on search behavior. According to Erik Qualman, “90% of online consumers trust recommendations from people they know; 70% trust unknown users, 27% trust experts.” (Econsultancy, 2009) Personally, the first stat resonates with me and aligns with my online behavior but I put a lot more weight on trusted experts when it comes to a purchasing decision.
With that said, I’ll leave you with the Google +1 Button video and how you can take Google +1 for a spin.
Watch a Video on the Google +1 Button
Take Google +1 for a Spin
To join the Google +1 experiment, follow the steps below:
- Log into your Google Account (required)
- Go to Google Experimental Labs > Experimental Search
- Click the ‘Join this experiment’ button next to the header ‘+1 button’
- Plug in a search query on Google.com and click the new +1 button on the SERP that you recommend
That’s it! You’re ready to go. Don’t forget, you can participate in only ONE Google experiment at a time.
For more details on the Google +1 Button, check out the official Google +1 Button landing page.