Google Social Search

The Google Social Search era is here and with it the ever-increasing importance of integrating Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with Social Media Optimization (SMO).

In this Identity Building Blog article we will look at 1) What is Google Social Search 2) How Google Social Search impacts your current SEO and SMO strategy and 3) What to look for next.

Let’s get started!

1. What Is Google Social Search and How does It Work?

According to Google: “Google Social Search is a feature designed to help you discover relevant content from your social circle, a set of online friends and contacts. The idea is that content from your friends and social contacts is often more relevant to you than content from strangers. For example, a movie review from an expert is useful, but a movie review from your best friend can be even better.”

The goal is to provide a personalized search experience by attempting to provide relevant content produced by other individuals within your social circle.

How Does Google Social Search Determine My Social Circle?

For Google Social Search to work, you must have a Google account and be signed into Google when using the Google search engine. If you are signed in, then Google Social Search determines your social circle by pulling information from:

1. Contacts in your Google chat list
2. Friends, family, and co-workers listed in your Google contacts.
3. People you are connected to publicly through social sites like Twitter and Friendfeed. Google is aware of these accounts and your contacts through your Google profile. You can link your social sites with your Google account when filling out information in your Google profile.
4. People you follow publicly through Google Buzz and Google Reader.
5. Friends of friends. Your twitter pal has a friend which could be included in your Google Social Circle.

2. How Does Google Social Search Impact My SEO and SMO Strategy?

1. Having good SMO for your social media content now gives you an additional boost as Google begins searching through social media.
2. Having good SEO can no longer be seen as giving your content an extra boost in search engines. You must begin to perceive having good SEO as the LEAST you can do for your web content.
3. There is increased value in growing your social circles. Once again, a mix of social media groups must be utilized beyond twitter and facebook.
4. Increased importance on producing remarkable and relevant content. You must grow your social reach and the quickest way to do that is with remarkable and relevant content.

3. What To Look For Next: Identity Building Blog Takeaway

If you remember to perceive Google as a company that generates revenue through ads you will understand how important it is to take Google Social Search very seriously. Google and advertisers know that the outbound era of sales is over. By continuing to develop social search results Google and other social media sources are creating an online shopping environment where internet users are sold on the shopping experiences of those in their social circle rather than the companies producing the product or service.

We strongly advise adapting your SEO and SMO strategies immediately to begin taking advantage of the potentially greater reach available through Google Social Search. Make sure your organization has mapped out all of its social media outlets and has connected them as much as possible. Make sure ALL your social media sources are updated frequently with relevant and remarkable content and continue to grow your social media accounts (especially twitter). Moving forward, make sure you’re following a strategy based on important keywords and get these keywords out there with your tweets. Remember, you are now in the era of optimizing your social media!