Google Plus One Double Plus Good

The Google +1 is similar to a Facebook Like. It appears to have replaced the star feature in Google Search results, which has disappeared. It’s simply a way to say “hey, this is a good site.”

Now webmasters and web designers have the capability to add the Google +1 button to their websites. It’s pretty easy, and there is excellent information in the FAQ on Google’s plusone-button page.

You can use the +1 button as a sort of bookmarking tool, marking your favorite websites and then viewing the list in your profile (click your email address in the upper right hand corner of the screen when signed in, click “View Profile” then the “+1” tab). However, it’s a very public form of bookmarking.

Google has stated that +1 is one of the hundreds of signals they are currently using in their search formula, but they are urging caution, stating that they’re just experimenting with it so far. That means it could become more important in the future, or may be removed entirely.

Anything that impacts SEO is enough to make web designers sit up and take notice. However, even if Google stops using it in their search engine rankings it does still provide value in much the same way that a meta description does: it helps human users decide which search result they want to click on. Seeing that a friend recommends a certain result can make all the difference.