As we all well know, Google Plus has now been launched albeit in testing phase. Even so, the search giant has now taken up arms against the social network threat which is Facebook. Now that social signals are a powerful means to enhance your SEO campaigns, the question is, how can Google Plus affect SEO?
Eureka!
We know all too well how Facebook affects search rankings with Facebook shares and Likes integrated into almost every website you land on. Furthermore, Twitter tweets from authoritative Twitter accounts are also measured in a way that is integrated into the search engine ranking factors of Google (and perhaps other search engines too).
Google plus is still pretty new but the way I see it, Google will really try to integrate the social signals they can extract from Google plus into their search engine rankings. Here are some of the reasons why:
It’s easier to measure social signals from Google Plus because they own it.
It’s easier to tweak stuff in Google Plus in order for them to get better social signals to integrate into their ranking factors.
People would be driven to use Google Plus due to the fact that it will have more bearing in search engine social signals factor.
An Experiment
Just recently in Google Plus, Rand Fishkin started an experiment (which I gladly participated in) on trying out Google Plus metrics alone in ranking a website.
We shared the experiment exclusively on Google Plus platform. Then we started clicking the +1 button for this specific website on its search results page using the keywords ‘vintage scooter helmets’
As you can see, the experiment worked.
From a 16th place rank, it’s now in 6th place. Try it out for yourself. Google Plus works powerfully and Google has really given their Plus button a big advantage when it comes to their own ranking factors. It’s phenomenal. It’s crazy. It’s Google – and they now have full control. You either join the Plus one club or you lack one precious ranking factor.
Right now, if you’re an SEO specialist, you would want to have anything and everything you can get your hands on in order for you to rank – and rank well. I highly suggest that you implement Google Plus one button in your website and ask your friends and peers to click on that little bugger whenever they could.
Sharing in Google Plus also seems to have an effect – maybe that’s what Google is going to do next? Or perhaps they are already tracking what you’re sharing inside Google Plus?
In any case, I’m sure getting into Google Plus will never be a mistake.
Related posts:
About Sean
interesting experiment. also the Google profiles & now the Google+ profiles are given search priority anyways.
Right. We very clearly see how Google is trying to weed out Facebook from its search results – replacing it with their own data. It’s subtle and yet it affects Facebook’s search traffic. Kinda makes you think…
this means if we want extra effect on Ranking factor along with SEO,then we should implement google + button in each page.Is there any restriction regarding limitation How much Google + button,we can used in a website?
thanks for sharing this imp. information.
Interesting experiment, Sean.
Of course, there are so many variables in this, since the SERPS will also be so highly affected by WHO is searching for the keyword term and whether they are in some ways connected to the people who “plus oned” the entry, right?
In other words, is it a universal jump in rankings or localized to people within the certain social circles?
Ana
Hi Ana,
Yes you definitely have a point in saying that all individuals are affected by personal search – which has now included social results. The SERPs we see now is more personal and social than ever before.
Yes.. Google + will decide whats and whats not to added to the search result
What is the best way to set up the +1 button? I have it on the individual post page as well as the excerpt on the home page, will this affect my site eg. should it be one or the other?
I personally think that you should have it on the individual post page and the excerpt on the home page – as you can see in my setup.
Nice to hear that it would somehow help boost in optimizing my blog. It’s all messed up as of the moment. Wew. I’l take that advice. +1 in every post. Thanks for the information, just what I need.
Great article!
In fact are there other, legal ways to entice readers to share your website! You don´t need to buy +1´s! Also is there a lot cheaper Fiverr gig, just by the way! (I cant say much about the value!)
If +1 is used to cheat for SEO universally, +1′s affect will be diminished, such as Google PR…
Just did a google search for “vintage scooter helmets” and urbanrider.co.uk could not be seen on the first few pages of results. Was it somehow penalized?
It was at position 16 before experiment
It was at position 6 during/after experiment
Now is MIA in google search??
What happened or what am I missing?
Thanks!
Hi Mark!
I have no idea. My guess is that they did not really try to retain the social value they got from the +1′s OR they were somehow, someway penalized for whatever reason. Anyhow this entry unfortunately doesn’t cover that for the time being. Thanks for pointing that out Mark!
How long did it take for the 10 place increase, from 16th to 6th? Hours? Days?
I’m not so sure Will. I’m assuming that the experiment ran for a week.
Excellent article and very well written and informative. I know that many people are using it now as a ranking factor and it can be a huge favor but remember, it’s only one fraction of about 1000 different types of SEO. I know we are starting to use it over at our website
i find this very useful and have tried it myself
Twitter: zonepalmspring
says:
Google would not be promoting +1 if it will not have an effect on their search engine rankings. Just like you said Sean that it will really have an advantage because it is theirs and you just proved it. Google is really doing their optimization very well.
Gray recently posted..Search plus Your World – The Merging of Social Media and Search Engines