Open Source Content Management

Thought it would be a good idea to start a topic for all the web development and internet marketing members.

Who of you have joined Google + (or Google Plus?)

What do you think of it?

What impact do you think Google +1 will have on search engine rankings? Are you taking this into consideration? How so? - Are you implementing Google +1 on your websites?

According to Google, +1 WILL most likely affect search rankings.

Get the Google +1 buttons code and read about it's impact here:

www.google.com/intl/en/webmasters/+1/button/index.html

I have added a Google +1 button to my website. Will see how it goes. Analytics is an great tool to see searches to your website.

It is going to be good competition for Facebook.

I will also want to see the impact it will have on promoting your business other than just getting people to hit the +1 button.

I tried an affiliate marketing link and it is working great. Although there is some privacy issue with that as apparently you are not allowed to have more than 1 account.

The circles are great - now my clients don't have to know what I am doing in my leisure time!

Hehehe - time will tell - try it, like it, if you don't, leave it. I am sure that with only 10% of Facebooks traffic, Google will still make profit.

I also see a big war going on - Google taking on Facebook and Facebook collaborating with Microsoft (Skype). Microsoft is also planning to take on Google with a social search network.

Just love the competition - just asking myself how can we benefit from it?

Time will tell.

I'm sure that as it develops, and we all gain a better understanding of Google+ we will figure out how to use it to our advantage.

What I think is really important to take note of at this stage is the impact the the Google +1 buttons can have on the search engine rankings of your website.

This adds a whole new dimension to SEO

OK, OK, maybe I'm missing something and someone can direct me. I have been to the Google+ site a few times and all I can do is ask for an invite. How does one get on? Sounds like a lot of people are there already.

you will need to give one of us that are on there your email address so that we can invite you...

if anybody wants to get an invite to Google + just send me a message with your Google email address.

Hi there.

You should know this already, but if you don't, Google Plus is open to registration for eveyone. You'll find it's heavily promoted throughout most of the Google products network as well as on the actual front page, which means it's very important to Google, which means it's important to you.

At the moment Google Plus is NOT a Facebook killer and won't be for the foreseeable future, if something special doesn't happen. But be that as it may, it is used by millions of users and can also be beneficial in terms of SEO.

So here's my quick Google Plus / +1 setup guide

1. Install the +1 button on your website. According to most reports it does affect your SERPS and will do so in the future. It's a win win situation for you.

2. Setup a Google Plus page for your website or business. Include as many details of you business as possible. Eg. Include your main keyword in your description as well as a backlink to your main website. In my case my Google Plus page ranks higher than my Facebook fan page and drives valuable traffic to one of my websites.

I can't see the benefit of google+ at this stage. My profile has quite a bit of followers and I often post useful stuff to the list but honestly don't know if it really adds that much more benefit for anyone on the list. Most of the people on my google+ list is also on facebook and twitter. And this is probably the biggest problem, most people are on too many social linking sites and don't use it anymore

Rudi, Google + is starting to play more and more of a role in the social sphere. As far as search rankings go I'm sure Google + already plays a larger role than any other social network and will continue to grow in importance.

When compiling its search results Google places links it can 'trust' first, links from platforms it has developed can thus be seen as more trustworthy as Google has full understanding and access to such platforms.

For more on why google+ matters read the blog I recently wrote.