Social Media Tool – Google +1 and effects in Search Engine Rankings
Google search engine has launched the new application called Google +1 very recently. If you have seen carefully, there is a +1 sign next to each search result in Google search results page. In this article, let’s take a look at this new tool on how it works, what are its effects on Page Rank, are Google+1 and Search Engine Rankings related to each other, and how you can use it on your website.
Basically +1 is acts same as that of “Like” button on FaceBook or “Follow” on Twitter. But the effects of +1 are different from other two, as Google is basically a search engine as well as social media and blogging platform too. With +1 launched, Google is trying to strengthen its position in social media sector. As far its working is concerned, it will add one vote to the search result, website or blogpost, if a user presses on +1 sign next to it. When more number of people presses +1, means vote for your website, it will be more trustworthy for Google.
Adding the Google+1 button to your own website is very easy. You have to copy-paste the following code on your website’s homepage and it will start working instantaneously. You need to place inside the <head> or just above the </body> tag of the webpage.
<script type=”text/javascript” src=”http://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js”></script>
<!– Place this tag where you want the +1 button to render –>
<g:plusone size=”tall”></g:plusone>
Now comes the important question. Are Google +1 and Search Engine Rankings connected to each other in any way? Whether +1 also affects the Google PageRank of a website, is still not very clear. Some seo experts say that it affects not directly but indirectly somewhere down the line. Whereas others claim that the PageRank is not at all affected by this new tool. However, there is good news for PPC marketers as +1 is going to be a permanent addiction in the Google AdWords. The anti-spam mechanism is already in place and if someone tries to vote more times to his or her own website to improve score, the website can be penalized.
According to some experts Google +1 is going to work in phases. During the first phase, Google will collect all the information for analysis and then during next phase, it will try to provide more personalized experience for searching and ranking operations.