Am I the only one getting tired of the social sharing mania? Really, it’s getting to be too much for me.
I know it’s the world we live in now, and as a blogger/webmaster/affiliate marketing I often feel the pressure to keep up when it comes to adding these buttons to my site.
So of course, when Google announced that we could add the functionality to our sites last week, I installed the button like any diligent marketer would. 🙂
But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tired of seeing countless speculation posts about what it is and isn’t going to do for our business, rankings, etc. The blogosphere has been going Plus One crazy since it launched.
One hair blogger I follow even wrote a post asking her visitors to Plus One her content so she could get a rankings boost. Seriously? An entire post dedicated to begging for Plus One clicks?
Google did admit that it’s going to have an impact on SEO. How much, of course, we’ll never know since Google keeps its algorithm info locked down better than the gold at Fort Knox. But for some reason I feel the impact will be minimal… at least for now.
Now of course Google +1 will provide both personal and business conveniences and benefits (especially if you’re an avid Google user.) I just feel like the Net is on sharing overload sometimes.
To Add or Not to Add?
So should you install +1 on your site?
Sure, why not? It’s free, takes up very little room and…
It’s Google — the #1 search engine accused of trying to control the Internet and search! And it’s THE traffic source responsible for bringing many people the majority of their search engine traffic. So why would you bypass the opportunity to let the oh-so-powerful Google know who likes your content?
But if you’re expecting some miraculous increase in your search engine traffic overnight, I think you’ll be disappointed. But maybe Google will prove me wrong.
I really think this was more about Google trying to match the success of Facebook’s “Like” button. How they’ll use the data and how much of an impact it will have on SEO, remains to be seen.
So what do you guys think? Am I the only one tired of all the social sharing noise and the hype that comes with it? Maybe I’m just getting too antisocial for this social world we live in now. 😀
What do you think of Google Plus One? Did you install the button yet?
I have not added this Google +1 button, but since everybody is going crazy about it I think i will add it to my site.
Google is really smart to entice US with SEO.
Just installed +1 by Google to the blog and has not yet ranked it on Alexa. But, many people feel the +1 addition will be a good thing to benefit from in the longrun. Have you experienced additional traffic and an increase in search engine positioning as of yet after installing it?
They should only put a little weight to it because social aspects do not translate to great websites just shared sites. What about vacuum cleaners are we all going to plus one vacuum companies? What about wax manufacturers? how many likes/plus one’s do you think that they are going to get.
I think google plus 1 is actually one of googles better ideas! Buzz was a failure but the concept of plus 1 is definitely worth exploring and can make search more accessible.
The +1 button will only affect Search Results if you are logged in to google @ the time of search. To me, I think its better i dont log in when i want to conduct a Search.
Hi,
In my opinion Google’s +1 thing is something really cool and smart. I neither understand the big fuss about this but it’s something cool. I like the fact that Google is making its system bigger and bigger through these options. Congratulations for writing this article! Long live Google!
Victor
Would love to [tawlk] about +1 tomorrow with the good ppl of 2CreateaWebsite. Loves this blog site and connecting with others online so much here, that [DrewryNewsNetwork] is going to have to stop by, mo’ often. For those who are seeking to network on a business professional level, please feel free in your convenience to join “DrewryNewsNework”, create a new thread introducing yourself, or, add your feedback to an existing thread. If you would like to see a new topic thread created on DrewryNewsNetwork after you sign up for your free account, please mention it in any forum thread , and a new topic thread wil gladly be created for your positive networking purpose of accomplishing your visibility goals on the world wide web. Thank you for reading this comment tonight, and see you soon on [Drewry News Network].
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+1 has not only increased our kw relevancy, but has also brought returning customers back. Great move by Goog
It looks like +1 is working so far for SEO
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I kinda agreed with you. I don’t think…I hope I am wrong….that this Google +1 is going to last long. Google is just trying to match Twitter and Facebook…it doesn’t have its own unique social marketing strategy. So to +1 or to -1?
lisa,I am really fed up with these social mania,we now need to get some real life
So what do you plan to do about it ?
This would be a good idea but even this button for giving more credit to the site or blog can be misused. So there shall be ways to find if this is not abused and used properly.
Ive installed it but here is something I don’t know if many have noticed, it does not work with Firefox, is it just wordpress or does anyone commenting here see this or know how to fix this problem.
Do you notice any kind of increase in SEO by using Google +1 ?
Nope nothing but it ofcourse will take a lot of time.
It might help SEO, but yet to find out momentarily…
Hi Lisa.it will help your content to have a +1 on the page.
Installed it almost immediately and have not, yet, seen any effect.
I am still wondering why google always want to copy what Facebook does, for example Google Buzz, Google Wave and Orkut and now +1. Hope this one does not become a failed service after Buzz and Wave.
I am so lazy to add these buttons for sure. Without a doubt. But i guess now i have too. Even if it doesn’t work, it gives the impact that the blog is up to date =)
How to Add YouTube, Facebook, Twitter buttons on your blog
I am so lazy to add these buttons for sure. Without a doubt. But i guess now i have too. Even if it doesn’t work, it gives the impact that the blog is up to date =)
How to add YouTube, Facebook, Twitter buttons on your blog
I don’t understand what the big fuss is about this +1 thing. To be honest, I don’t think I’m going to add it for a number of reasons.
1. Has it really been confirmed that these +1’s will impact Google’s search? Granted, the more +1s you receive, the better you will probably rank, but I doubt it will be because of the +1s-it will be because many people have viewed that page/site. SEO is the big reason the +1 button has so much hype, but realistically speaking, there’s no way a +1 count would be an accurate indicator of site content. Therefore, I don’t ever see it actually getting incorporated into the Google rankings.
2. How many people have and currently use Google accounts the way they use Facebook or Twitter? Of course, Gmail gives Google the numbers, but does sharing to your email make sense? In other words, sharing via Google Connect would make sense, but given that Connect really has never caught on, +1 has a large mountain to climb.
3. The button is slightly too big compared to the others, which makes it not “fit” correctly. Since I already don’t see the practicality of it, this becomes just another reason not to add it.
I know it’s Google and I know they pretty much run the world we live in, but if you take a step back and look at the +1 button in a logical manner, can anyone see where it really fits? Can anyone honestly say they need this? Or, even, really want this button at all? To me, the answers are all no, so the +1 button gets a no in my book.
It’s like watching a clown blow up a balloon: is he just going to let it be a balloon, or will he keep blowing it up until it pops?
Online social sharing apparently can be a lot of fun and very beneficial, but at some point – I think it’s just too much. I have NOT installed the Plus One button yet, but as you say – do I (we) DARE not?
I will not help your SEO, but it will help your content to have a +1 on the page. as webmaster we should keep up with the trends, otherwise we will lose our job 🙂
It looks like might be a great addition but am still not sure how much value it will actually add to the site. I guess anything new is always unknown.
Thank you for great write up
Hello,
Google is a search engine and FB is a social networking website…and I guess both their algorithms are different keeping in mind the different purpose of their service. Google has now included the +1 factor as one of the ranking criteria in their search making it more prone to spamming and giving advantage to the brand kings and in the way forcing small business to go for Adwords (more earnings for Google).
On Sunday, I ended up visiting over twenty of my favorite blogs to leave comments and half of them were about the +1 button. I’m proud to say I left comments that were still relevant to the discussion, but after a few times, it was hard to stay “excited” and think up something new to say about the same ol’ thing. I admit, I’m kinda relieved to see there’s someone else who’s already sick of all the +1 talk!
Great, it’s here. Now let’s just use it and move on.
Delena
The Google +One button has me wondering if it will end up like FB and their like button. So, the wondering part is: Will Google be getting our visitors information? And, should I care? I realize we count on google for traffic, well except for all those websites that bit the dust, but do you think there’s anything in the plan to increase traffic to the sites with the +One button? I haven’t out it on yet. Should I?
Lisa, I kid you not – traffic has gone thru the roof since I added the button!
I’m with you, Lisa. All the fluttering around trying to get noticed in rankings is ludicrous. But as I say this I’m planning to go get the button. I’m afraid we’re hooked whether we like it or not.
Lisa, I swear you read my mind on this subject. Social Media can be like a job in itself. It’s one thing trying to maintain, update and build more content to a site, and having to keep up on Twitter, Facebook and whatever else can be too much at times.
More and more of it just keeps coming and I’m wondering if it’ll ever end. lol I have not tried this +1 yet, but I may install it at some point.
first, let me quote you lisa:
“…it’s THE traffic source responsible for bringing many people…”
i think if you’re planning to add sharing buttons, then a smart thing to do it in this list:
1.) Google’s Plus One Button
2….n.)
well, that’s my thought.
i believe, google should have done this long before.
I am really struggling with this one….
I can see potential abuse of this….you +1 me, I’ll +1 you. Or you +1 me, I’ll FB like you….
Is that a true measure of anything?
@Ileane…you DID get a great deal!
I’ll probably try it……
Have a great day!
Carolee
Come on home – mom blog
Working at home advice
My head will explode with the amount of boring social buttons coming out and the will it or won’t it help my rankings, to me this is a replacement for the failed google buzz button, trying to compete with facebook and aimed at the SEO hungry people who will just rush out and install. It will also “tell you” what your friend or false friend has just liked or been looking at, that is scary to me.
No +1 for me yet, I’m an HTML newbie and until a plugin for WordPress comes out, I will try not to mess with my template.
But I like the +1 from Google, might help me 1% with SEO, hah.
How do I install google +1 on blogspot?
Here’s an article here. http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/2831-How-to-Install-the-Google-1-Button-on-Your-Site
It’s already integrated, Lisa. Here’s a screeny.
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu9/ZellDenver/Blogger1.png
Oh cool! I should have known that since Google owns Blogger. Duh, Lisa. 🙂 Pardon my brain lapse. lol
Lisa, I figured out how to add +1 to my ancient “classic” blogger template:
http://dave-lucas.blogspot.com/2011/06/add-google-1.html
Yeah, it seems there’s tons of people trying frantically to find how-to articles, but I would recommend using the Blogger integrated +1 since it will be tied directly into the site metrics, and eventually Analytics. The Blogger version allows for better compatibility.
Manually adding a +1 to a page will do the whole page, where as with Blogger integrated, it’ll likely focus on the blog post’s content and note that in the searches and social feeds.
Just a thought
By the way, I’m still tipping that +1 will REVOLUTIONIZE search engines. I think +1 is the next big thing.
Google should have already rolled out the +1 on the Blogger platform. Double check your “Design” page under the “Blog Posts” widget. It should appear as “Show Share Buttons “
O yea, Google got us feeding from their plate again, isn’t it? They know that anything that has SEO attached will make everybody scamper to get their hands on it. Especially when it is coming from the big G himself.
I guess the SEO impact the Google +1 will have is only an extension of what we already get when we carry out a search while logged on to Google. Now instead of displaying only the websites we visit often at the top, it will include those that our friends have +1’ned. If we log out, we will get unbiased search results.
I can imagine a lot of people took down an under-used share button on their site so they can install the +1 button for lack of space 🙂 Can’t help but wonder what buttons we will be talking about in 2 yrs time.
I added the button over the weekend. We’ll see if it matters over time. I never assume a factor Google publicly announces will be a highly weighted one, but it’s simple enough to add in this case.
I added the +1 about a week ago. I don’t think it makes too much sense. I had to take the “like facebook” plugin off because it interfered with my Feedburner. It’s just another thing to have to keep up with.
I don’t think it will make much difference in the long run.
@Eleanor! That was funny! 🙂
@Evelyn, it’s really like the Facebook Like button except it’s tied to SEO. So theoretically this will help Google see who likes different pages and it will ultimately affect SE rankings according to them.
As I mentioned in my reply above it also allows Google profile users to share sites.
“Google +1” sounds like a TV channel. You know, one of those catch up channels.
Anyways, I think it’ll be great, in theory of SEO. What I DON’T wanna see is things like “John Doe +1’d http://www.somesite.com/nonsensical-content-im-not-interested-in.php” along with 700 pages John Doe also +1’d appearing in my social feeds. I don’t like this John Doe guy as it is. That reminds me, I should really remove example people from my Facebook…
Great post, as always, Lisa!
Hi Lisa,
I found the link to the plugin. I like the plugin, but I really have no idea what this Google 1 button is for. Will it help or hurt?
After reading your post, I trimmed down my sharing buttons and things look much better. 🙂
I hate social search stuff. Ooh that was some good alliteration. Anyways – I just want to build good enough content so people will share it naturally. All these likes, plus 1, tweets, and other nonsense takes away my time when I should be trying to build good content.
Facebook likes actually makes sense to me because it appears in the facebook users homepage, but what does a +1 do? Nothing yet. I hope some of the other search engines get more popular. I’ve been using Yahoo/Bing more often lately just because of the whole Google Panda deal. My site wasn’t hurt, but it seems weird that they punish some sites, but don’t other garbage sites such as eHow.
It appears in people’s Google’s profiles but if you don’t use your Google profile (gMail, etc.) it would be useless. And it also shows up in search. So if you do a Google search for “lobster tails” and one of your friends happened to +1 one of the pages in the results, it will say something like “Jane Doe +1 this…”
Do people need to log in to their google profile (gmail, e.t.c) before they can use the +1 button.
Hi Lisa, I got an email from someone asking me to give a +1 to three of his sites. I vaguely recognized the person but I checked out the sites anyway (being the good little social networker that I am) and they were pretty good! So I traded three +1’s for a Facebook Page like – do you think I got ripped off? 🙂
Don’t think you got ripped off! I don’t see much point in the google +1 like but a Facebook like is something. Can someone tell me whats so great about getting these +1 likes? Is it for SEO?
LOL Ileane, Seeing that FB is more established, it definitely seems like you got the better deal. 🙂
@Photoshop Editor Google says it will impact SEO so I would imagine when determining a page’s rank for certain keywords it may weigh how many +1 clicks the page has. No one really knows for sure how great the impact will be.
I’m with you, Lisa.
I tried to install it yesterday, but got messed up somehow and just dropped the whole thing to try again today. My general attitude at the time was, “Egad, not another one!”
But it was Google, so I figure it has to go on there, right? I feel like I’m kissing up, which when it comes to Google is probably a good thing 😛
Cheers!
LOL, completely agree. Hard to bite the hand that is feeding you so to speak. 🙂
Hi Lisa. I don’t think that you are the only one on this boat about social media buttons. I mean, I think that one should have some on their sites so as to allow users to make their life easier if they want to share something. The problem is most of the time, the expectations are different and just like the +1, there has been way too much information (good and misleading) about what exactly does it entail having +1 clicks on ones website. I do share your opinion as to the importance of Google and I am sure we will soon find out, what benefit, if any, will it bring. Got my +1 installed 🙂
I agree that people are jaded with respect to sharing on the social-media websites. I guess I’ll go ahead and add the Google+1 button, but I am using a line of buttons created by the SexyBookmarks plugin, and my preference would be for the Google button to appear along with the other buttons at the bottom of each post. Do you know if the social-media-share plugins will add the Google+1 button to their lists?
I’m sure they will and they probably already have on some plug-ins – just not the ones I use. I bet someone will probably volunteer a link shortly. Anyone?
Hi Lisa,
Here’s a link to the plugin.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-1-widget/
I like it!
Take care,
Evelyn
Evelyn,
Would you happen to have a cousin named Kim Parham from Virginia by chance? =)
I didn’t know what all the talk on WB was about. Google +1 sounds like, like, like….. Exactly it doesn’t sound like a new button. I haven’t installed it and I am not even quite sure what it is.
Is it basically googles version of the like button?
Added +1 to my site and hopes for the better =)
I am with you on this one. I am tired of it but I did add the button the first day.
I think Google is trying to take over the success of Like button but they may very well decide to count Plus One button in rankings and discard the Like button at the same time. That would eventually lead to replacing Like with Plus One because most blogs want rankings.
Who the heck knows with them… 🙂
Lisa: I agree that we are on “share” overload. Its hard to know which buttons and which different bookmarking sites we should use because it becomes impossible to keep up with them all. I will probably install the newest Google button because it doesn’t have much upkeep with it. Hope these continued “sharing” trends to give me a headache!
I’m going to add the Google +1 to my blog in the next couple of days.
Someone needs to invent a system like Mashable’s ‘M Share’ function where the post can be shared across multiple platforms in one click. Too many buttons to perform a simple function, especially if you want to cross post.
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I added the +1 button to my posts. Anymore social icons and I may have to start removing some back as it may get too crowded.
I am wondering how much of an effect it will actually have on search results if any as it can easily be open to abuse. Google, may however, add it as a factor in it’s rankings, albeit probably a very minor one.
Good morning Paul. Do you see any difference in your SEO, by using +1 ? Just curious =)
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This post really speaks my heart Lisa. About a year ago I saw a video on Web Pro News that said Facebook “like” buttons would be playing a part in SEO.
Not long afterward, I started seeing FB buttons everywhere.
To be honest, I just sighed at the thought of having to add yet another factor that may help my webpage rank well.
If these social media quick clicks carry any weight at all, we will see spammers abusing this SEO tactic like crazy.
When it comes to marketing something on the world wide web, patience pays beyond just making money. it helps the spirit better appreciate the good things in life.
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