(July 22, 2011)
Google+ is catching on, and fast. With over 10 million users and 1 billion pages shared it is becoming hard to ignore. With the recent failure of Google Buzz and Google Wave, Google+ is going back to basics by catering to search engine results rather than attacking social media networks head on.
For those of you who are wondering what Google+ is, here is a not-so-brief way to sum it up: Google+ is a way for users to share web pages with various circles of friends and family. Search results will no longer be ‘one-size-fits-all,’ rather they will be unique and contain recommendations from your friends. Google+ will also provide a lightweight way to share photos and news.
There are a couple of ways that a user can share a web page with other Google+ users. The most common way is shown in the screenshot below:
The other way that is starting to pop-up is the use of the Google+1 widget on individuals websites. The widget works like the Facebook Like button and the Twitter Retweet button. Below is a screenshot of the three buttons together.
If you own a website, it is wise to be aware of Google+. Future search results may be influenced by these shared pages and it could help your website’s traffic to use it. Ask your website provider for information about utilizing Google+ and other social sharing widgets on your website.
