Do you think Google +1 can hurt rankings?
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More on established B2C sites (not blogs/forums)? For example, a client has the #1 ranking for the kw with the highest exact match volume in their vertical and sitelinks. Is it better to keep things status quo and not give Google the data or potentially introduce a new signal to Google that might be negative if CTR is not high enough?
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_ Is it better to keep things status quo and not give Google the data or potentially introduce a new signal to Google that might be negative if CTR is not high enough?_
If you don't add it, the signal could look as a 0 to Google (no social sign of life)... that could be finally worst than having few +1.
I think that we have to forget SEO has it was since few months ago, and start thinking SEO-Socially. SEO and SM are getting closer, and surely Social Signals are playing a big part in the rankings, directly or not.
What is sure, is that if you have a great site, with great contents that answer to users needs, has all to gain with the social sharing.
So, yes, start play the social game. But don't fall in the opposite risk: to forget traditional SEO tactics, because they still count a lot.
The philosophy is that Search Marketing has become a wider playfield, with more tactics and web marketing disciplines that influence it. The real secret is to create a coordinated internet marketing strategy and stop thinking one tactic at the time.
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The bottom line is you are going to be evaluated by social signals whether you provide the social sharing widgets or not. Users can tweet and send social signals for pages that do not offer the embedded buttons. It just requires a bit more effort on the user's part.
I would recommend getting ahead of the game. Set up the buttons now and make the adjustments to where you are naturally earning social recognition. Offering the social sharing buttons to users and not receiving likes/tweets/+1s is not necessarily a signal that your content is not good. It may be the buttons are not well-placed on your pages, or the color/style is not attractive.
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If you have a great site with sitelinks adding the +1 will more likely reinforce your position than detract from it.
Imagine what might happen if your competitor has a lot of +1 signals showing and you don't.
I think that this is all part of the SERPs "arms race".
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