“We’ll leave the light on for you.”
Google is a pretty smart organization. Their search engine is number one. And their Alexa ranking is also number one. The way they’re planning to remain in their highly coveted position is to get even more personal with you — and everyone else — to become your friend, or perhaps, a friend of a friend.
You see, Google’s highest priority is to give you the best search results possible. To accomplish this they’re always adding new algorithms and evolutionary strategies. Now they’re interconnecting your searches with your social networking circles… Blogger, Twitter, Flickr…(and Facebook?). The video above explains how they tie all this in. So enough said about that for now.
As a marketer you need to consider the why behind their strategy.
Who’s Opinion Do You Trust Most?
Corporate information or consumer reviews?
Consumers still say that word of mouth trumps all other forms of consumer influence when it comes to making buying decisions.
Generally speaking, recommendations from people you know are much more highly regarded. In fact, recommendations from “regular people” online in the form of reviews and ratings are just about as highly regarded.
To quote eMarketer, Feb 2010…
Consumer reviews are significantly more trusted — nearly 12 times more — than descriptions that come from manufacturers, according to a survey of US Internet users by online video review site EXPO.
It’s no surprise then that Google would eventually realize this as an important strategy to gain the confidence of its users.
Are you as smart as Google?
Employing social media to solicit positive chatter, and in particular reviews, is a tremendous strategy. Watch what the big dogs are doing and figure out how to employ their successful strategies correctly for your brand. You could move far ahead of your competitors.
What do you think? Do you like Google including related social chatter in with your results?
Can you see how you might be able to capitalize on this trend?
How might you use this to your advantage?
Did a light bulb just go off in your head?
.
Deb,
I guess I would have to say that it depends. When I am investigating my own ranking or how I look in Google, I do not want them to tell me what I want to hear. I would like to see my google page the way it would look in a regular organic search.
Then on the other hand I am glad they are considering who is Tweeting my posts.
I discovered something funny….for some reason Google picks up Fiona Bostickys Tweets of my posts, lists them and not any when anyone else does.
So I put a BIG bug in Fionas ear.
Sheila Atwood recently posted..Speedlinking To Niche Websites on The Weekend Web
Whilst I think Google are right to incorporate Social Media links into their results, I’m really yet to be convinced by any social media marketing I have seen.
Most social media campaigns banded about as a success seem to me to be about giving away free stuff in exchange for a “like” – ultimately bribing people to befriend them… and you can’t buy friends!
I also fail to see why someone would want any advertising to intrude onto their twitter timeline. Following a company often seems like asking for spam.
Richard recently posted..How Much Does a Website Cost
Well Deb, I have been around the web since the days when there were no search engines. woops don’t want to tell my age.
really though we are very fortunate to have a quality Search Engine around like Google.Yes they do what they do for money but the quality of what they do deserves a number one ranking. I also liked your post on Google. I hope google makes lots of money so they stay around and give us great ways to communicate with each other.
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I agree with Sheila Atwood on this one.
My concern is, Google implements all these things in his algorithms, but what happens if one day Flicker or Twitter go bye-bye? They’re just taking things for granted and burden the results page (my opinion). One of the reasons i use Google is because they’re simple, else i could just use yahoo. I fear they’re also heading that way.
Maria Pavel recently posted..CNA Training in Arkansas
I agree with Sheila on this one, too. Google has been doing this for a while, but without putting the icons at the bottom of the entries.
We can still see our Alexa Ranking and Page Rank to see how we are doing with our own business.
Thanks for sharing,
Jaden
Jaden Daniels recently posted..Secrets To Improving Your Copywriting
I actually like the idea of the social chatter. That is my “tribe.” If they are talking and tweeting about me, they are most likely someone who is supporting me because they think I am worthy of it or a satisfied customer. Either way, it’s great information and I like it!
Hi Martha,
Yeah! I’m glad you like the idea, I do too. I think it’s absolutely phenomenal. That’s marketing to the nth degree. Wow!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. You are the best!
Deb,
This is a perfect platform, and using it to brand your name, is the key. The more syndication one gains would only strengthen their content, I would believe.
You are resourceful in supplying information, that can only help all of us improve our personal growth. The more knowledge you bring to the table. Makes social media professionals evaluate, their current techniques, and to prepare for the future changes we all will be facing, in this business.
Tracking and ranking, are some of the consuming chores, we face daily. One can make first page with Google, yet miss the point of having usable content to share. That makes it difficult at time with social media. Numbers need positive results, to achieve the bottom line, we all desire.
When serving others with great content, as you always have produced. Improves the quality of people doing real business through these platforms.
Please continue all the fantastic evaluations that only supply us with usable information.
I look forward to your next find, that you share. That is priceless!
You are a valuable leader throughout our profession, and at TSA.
Hi Deb,
I liked your post and the comments that discussed the pros and cons of Google adding related social media chatter about the subject I’m researching.
It is so true that recommendations and opinions of those that you know is highly valued when you are trying to make a decision. So I think it is very effective to find posts by our friends in our search results in Google.
I also like the additional exposure our brand will receive as a result of this change by Google.
Thanks for your very relevant post and for starting a great discussion on it.
Dawn and (Dave)
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Hi Deb,
thank you for sharing that.
Great to see how the changes are working.
I also appreciate you bringing my attention to that.
Love and Joy
from
Yorinda
Yorinda recently posted..Believe and achieve abundance
Oh yes, I do like Google because I always actually do get the most relevant results. I like them even more now that the opinions of people who I know will be included. Whenever I’m researching a product I tend to focus on sites with consumer opinions, anyway. So these changes will definitely serve me well.
From a marketing perspective, I see this upgrade as a huge opportunity. At a time like this it makes even more sense to belong to a tribe and other supportive communities. I definitely echo Martha’s insight.
Thanks for sharing incredibly helpful/powerful information, Deb.
Dena
Dena-Lynn recently posted..How to Set Work At Home Boundaries
People don’t buy products just because google lists them… they buy because their friends trust them. Sometimes they take a risk and buy with no recommendation, but often they’ll leap from a recommendation straight to a purchase without ever stopping to decide they need to buy! Recommendations stop the whole “do I need one” step of the purchase cycle and this is why companies go out of their way to create viral campaigns these days. The recommendation age is here!
Kimberly
Kimberly Castleberry recently posted..Free Facebook for Business Training – The Latest Fan Page Changes!
I see some good potential here…
However, for now, all I am seeing are search results based on people I am following in Google Reader. That is a fraction of my social network. Not sure what their timetable for implementation of the rest will be.
Richard Goutal recently posted..Brainstorming for Ideas Unstuck Your Business
Hi Deb!
Cool topic on the big G’s strategies!
Social media’s definitely gaining weight.
Also, consumer reviews are way more accurate and build credibility for you FAST if a search about you brings them up.
Awesome marketing, I say.
Yasser
Yasser Khan recently posted..Stop Blaming Others!
Great post and great conversation here in the comments. I see both pros and cons, but personally am a huge fan of word of mouth and love to know friends opinions (which will influence me either positively or negatively based on what I know about them and their preferences
, so think this change is a good thing. I think being able to do our own due diligence, combined with our tribe or networks thoughts, is incredibly powerful.
Thanks Deb!
Beth Allen recently posted..Going the Extra Mile
Hmmm, I’m going to have to sit on the fence on this one. On the one hand, yes it can be great to get a personal recommendation when you need one. But let’s be honest here – are you really going to go to Google and type in to find out what your friends have to say or are you just going to keep on doing what you probably already do now – i.e. get it straight from the horses mouth?
If I want a recommendation, I ask out loud direct on f/b – it’s amazing the response you get, and how quick it comes back!
Great for marketers though … Wonder how long it will be before the ‘Black Hats’ get their hands on it though … and what tricks Google will come up with to ‘outsmart’ them?
All good stuff. Thanks for opening up such a relevant topic for discussion
Hi Mandy,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
That’s a really interesting question! What would the “Black Hats” do with this!?! I love it. Gets my head spinning with all kinds of things… mostly not good, but maybe some good even if it’s not what they intend!
I mean, take Twitter for instance. When you follow the “big guru’s” or “stars” or “best selling authors” (etc) and they’re not following back, they wouldn’t have much influence on Google when it comes to turning up in your search results, would they! Ha!
So their influence then starts to fade.
I think that’s something great to look forward to.
Either that or they might have to reply to people more often… get involved, be SOCIAL! LOL!
Thanks for bringing that up! You made my day.
This is the step that all waiting for. Social media is growing as we speak and Google knows that more and more people will use social media.
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(and Facebook?) yes, conspicuously missing from the ‘other’ social platforms. No surprise there huh?
I’m not sure what I think of this yet. I want to see how it feels. If in a perfect world, and if the experience was anything like their video, it might be kind of cool.
On the other hand, there are not that many people who I feel monkey see monkey do about.
Especially online. Jury’s out on this one.
Great topic! Thank you for sharing this Deb.
~Theresa
Theresa Bradley-Banta recently posted..Got a Great Business Idea Why Are You Sitting On It
I LOVE this post. Not just the information you provided but your writing style. You got me thinking about all the “white hat” strategies and the “black hat” stuff going on behind the scene. Thank you for setting that straight so the rest of us don’t get caught up in their hype.
“Who’s Opinion Do You Trust Most?”
- Honestly, none of them! If I’m an ordinary person who just know how to surf info with the use of Google. I might say that I will trust both corporate and individual reviews. But since I’m working online, I know that some these are paid ones. We can’t totally rely on those things.
Samantha recently posted..Symptoms Of Teeth Grinding
You are right Sheila. Google has been doing this for a while, but without putting the icons at the bottom of the entries. I hope it’s absolutely extraordinary.
I’m not crazy about social media but i think what Google’s do right now is a good thing for all of us. More and more people use facebook, twitter, flickr, etc. and Google do what he should do.
Angela recently posted..Frontline Plus FAQ
Hey Debb,
What would google do?
That is the question, huh…
I think that they’re getting even more personal and social with the new google +1 button….
Have you seen that?
Thanks,
-Jamie
Jamie Bennett recently posted..Home Biz Success Library – The Lost Choice by Andy Andrews
Hi Jaime,
Yes, I have seen Google’s new +1, which is a lot like the Facebook “Like” button. That seems like it would be “easier” to exploit though. We’ll see what happens with that, too!
Hi Deb,
Google indeed is a very smart company and also is the number one on the search engine niche. The intelligence about Google is that they’re very simple, their website is just a page with a search box, no pop-ups, no nothing, just straight what the visitor wants and needs – to search, and he can search easily and fast. Google created the search engine easy to use for everyone, both for the beginners and the advanced PC and internet users. Google will still rule the online in my opinion, no matter what, they’re too high to fall down and that’s for sure. Thanks for posting!
Bye-bye!
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Deb,
Google chatter. I don’t think it would bother me if they were tweeting and chatting about my product. Social media is everywhere now, there is no way to avoid it. As always thank you for sharing
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