Google+ and its effects on SERPs

[Entrusteddev]

Hi all,

With the recent launch of Google+ I've looked into the possible effects of +1'ing sites and whether or not it has a direct effect on other people with whom I'm connected within Google+.

So far I cannot see any direct correlation, however I running a bigger/wider experiement with more people to get a definitive answer.

What does scare me as an SEO, is that Google+ users will (most likely) use Google search whilst they are logged in, which, as we know personalises results based on a myriad of suspected metrics such as previous visits, personal +1, etc...

How is this going to effect the SEO world if/when a Google+ attracts more users.

Experienced this first hand when a client called me to congratulate a jump from position 9 on Google to first position over the weekend, which when I checked, the website hadn't shifted, the client was logged into her Google account due to the fact she had been playing with plus.

Thoughts?

Cheers

Aran

[krissy-cca]

I'm talking about having the +1 button on pages of your website - e.g. product pages (info here). If there have been a number of people +1 a particular product then that may help the position of that page organically - I think even if you aren't signed in.

You wouldn't +1 at the SERP stage if you haven't been on the site but your friends might have done which could input into it.

All guesses though

[Entrusteddev]

Agreed CCA.

I don't get +1's on SERPs, when your google something and you get the SERPs you generally haven't visited the sites before, so why would you +1 at that point?

[krissy-cca]

Aran,

I think that it will have some sort of an affect on the SERP (by considering your different circles) when being logged in to Google.

But also, http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1152948 shows that the +1 button at least has some impact on rankings and therefore we should all adopt it - I'm not sure it will ever be as popular as a like button, but, who knows!

[Entrusteddev]

I've conducted an experiment with several friends in my 'Friends' Circle within Google+

To start I +1'd a clients site whilst signed in to Google. Then I Signed out and went on to tweet the URL for another clients website and finally facebook shared yet another clients website (within another industry)

I asked my friends to +1, tweet and FB share a URL which I gave them.

Now when signed into Google the +1'd website (normally at 9th in Google) is now ranked 3rd with a note under the SERP telling me my firend +1'd the site. The website which received the Tweets is now 9th on Google, it is normally 12th when not signed in. Also a note appeared under the serp saying my friend had Tweeted the URL.

The page that received the facebook shares didn't change in position!

All the people concerned all follow each other on twitter, belong to the same circle on Google+ and are friends on Facebook.

Not a very well set up or executed experiement, I made it up as I went along and put into practise within 5 minutes of conceiving the idea. But interesting results all the same.

If Google+ takes off and people adopt the trend of staying logged into Google when searching, Social Metrics are going to have a huge impact on traditional SEO.

Now all we need is someone to setup a 'proper' experiement.

[Entrusteddev]

oh, you missed off Android and the efforts to takeover the mobile OS market!

Kowtow to Google.

[Entrusteddev]

Agreed, the number of personalised searches will increase if Google+ catches on. Is this the beginning of the end for SEO?

[RyanKent]

Google has crossed all the lines from being a pure search engine, to being the source of data. There are many people who, if you ask them, would tell you that Google has no data related to them personally. Most are quite mistaken. If a human uses a pc, Google is going to have tons of data available unless the person makes a very specific effort to avoid Google's services.

Gmail, Spreadsheets, Analytics, Desktop, Adwords, YouTube, Google +, WiFi, Chrome browser, translator, picasa photos, Google maps and I am sure there are a dozen other Google apps. Many of these services are independently very highly rated. YouTube alone is the #3 website in the world.

It really brings to reality the phrase "It's Google's world. We are just living in it." They are poised to further widen the chasm between themselves and the next closest competitor. Clearly they will leverage these resources to a greater extent in time.

[EGOL]

I think that personalized search is making it much more difficult to get sales from customers who have an established history with your competitor.  The introduction of Google+ will most likely increase the number of searches that are personalized.