Archive
How Does Google+ Social Signals Effect Websites and Posting’s?
Okay, recently there has been some discussion surrounding the Google Authorship and Publisher topic. So I figured what a great time to cover another article for the topic since it has been part of an update being done for some websites I am working on.
First off, there has been some more talk about the social signals being used by Google and whether or not it affects organic ranking or not. At this point there have been no definitive answers by most. The general census seems to point mostly to ranking not being effected by Google+ social signals. Which to me does not make much sense. Reason being, Google places social signal factoring in for other social websites such as FaceBook and Twitter.
So why Would Google not Place Emphasis on Their own Google+ System?
Well actually they do place emphasis on their own system. But the real question is whether or not it affects your main websites organic presence. Well, first of all, just getting those +1’s bring’s about more exposure because you are now connected to the individual who +1’d you. For instance, here is an example for a local SEO company in the area I have plus +1’d.
As you will notice it shows me and one other person as being a person who +1’d this website. Since these individuals are socially connected and have +1’d the website, the search result shows it as being +1’d. Now, one thing you need to take into account, is the fact you are signed in and viewing it as a private result. Reminder, this only shows the +1’s if you are in a private session – signed in. If you set the session to a not private result then you no longer see the +1’s on the search results listing.
Now, let us take a look at the next example of a Google+ posting that was +1’d by me. It is of an ad on Groupon the client has placed for his business. The ad was posted on my profile and +1’d by me. It then appeared in the search results as an actual posting on Google+ and is not the actual website the ad was posted on. Of course this is also in a private session mode as well.
Now as you can see in this example a url to Google+ is showing. When you visit the Google+ page it shows you the posting and then has a direct link to the Groupon page where the original ad is posted by the client. Now if I were to +1 the page it would then display me as +1’ing the Google+ posting. This is a direct correlation between Google and preferential treatment of social signaling in the search results.
So in my mind Google gives direct social signals to certain +1’ing but only when viewing in private sessions to this point. When shutting off the private viewing the organic ranking for the first example, the result drops one organic position, from 3 to 4, while the second example disappears completely off the front page. So this still leaves room for interpretation on whether or not Google gives more organic placement to websites that have been +1’d or not. This is behind the scenes and probably will not be told to you by Google because they are guarding their secret. More less, it is an unproven theory by most individuals.
So What Does it do for you?
Well if you are signed in all the time the major significance will be the displaying of websites or posting’s you are connected with socially on Google+. Secondly, those individuals will be gaining for sure organic placement right in plain view because you have privately connected with those businesses or individuals. So sending out social signals on Google+ is beneficial, another words ranking is effected – just depends on the viewing mode, which is the debate.
Conclusion
It is in my opinion that Google protects their algorithm with the highest regards and does not make it easy for you to determine certain parts of the algorithm. I personally believe social signals from Google +1’ing does affect organic ranking no matter what viewing mode you may be in. Yes, I am sticking my neck out there on this one, but what the heck. My research points to it does affect search ranking no matter what viewing mode I am in. If it does not, it will for sure someday be a ranking factor. I would bet most say it does not effect organic ranking. Since this topic covers a wide area of discussion, you might find the next post important as well. It covers Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool. Hope you enjoy it as well.
“Remember, this is my personal opinion”.
Spreading the Word of Your Web Blog by Social Networking
Making use of Twitter
I have spent hours on end gaining contacts for Twitter. You may become discouraged when you first get started trying to establish contacts/followers but persistence will pay for itself eventually. Like any good search engine optimization you must maintain a constant campaign to prove to be effective. Social media marketing is no different and is just not about creating contacts and posting links. You must engage in conversations, Mention your followers and allow time for the word to spread.
Know Your Followers
You should also take the time to actually look at the website your followers are providing a link too. This may seem to be time-consuming, which it is; but it also can provide other way’s of connecting other than just through Twitter itself. Sometimes one website can provide information that catches your attention that you may have never found without visiting the website from Twitter. For example: there have been several times without using a search engine, I have found great content and information just by researching my followers and what they have to say or show.
Because of this, when you find something you like or of importance to you, sharing becomes almost a must because you want to let people know you like something or have found information worth sharing. This can bring more visitors to a website and produce more exposure for your business. You may also want to be more selective with what types of followers you’re connecting with and I highly recommend making as many of your followers validate themselves to avoid spammers to non-loyal followers.
Marketing a Web Blog
Simply showing off your web blog and posting links on twitter or just about anywhere can provide a substantial increase in visitors to your blog site. For instance, let’s say you just posted a new article and would like to show off it off. A simple Tweet can provide that extra traffic to your web blog you were missing because it can be spread throughout your follower community very fast. Plus, if it is worth spreading the chances increase even more that your followers will spread your content for you as well. Of course Twitter alone is not enough to bring home the bacon, but can help spread the word about your web blog quickly.
Networking Your Blog Content
If you have not done so already, try establishing some networks in other areas, such as LinkedIn, ExploreB2B, BlogLines, Blogger, NetWorkedBlogs, Blog.com and Digg for starters. Several of these resources are great to show off your work being written and created. While connecting on some of these networks, you can establish contacts with people or companies interested in what you might have to say, especially if it can help. Generating any means of connecting to others can be helpful but is also a time-consuming process as well.
Final Social Note
Do not forget to mention and follow others on some of these networks or interact them as much as possible. It will bring value to the table eventually. Remember that sooner or later your efforts from this will be rewarded. A great place to get started on Twitter is to make use of the Follow Friday. Until I had a guest blogger explain to me what Follow Friday was, I had no ideal of what #ff meant that I kept noticing. Believe me, I kinda laughed at myself because I have been doing this for sometime and looked at all kinds of info-graphics on Pinterest. Which was amazing considering how many of those info-graphics I had read and looked at since Pinterest started. Once I got a clue of what #ff was about, I began making use of it.
Since then I have been posting a #ff for someone new every Friday with hopes of the same being done for me. Yes, #ff me if you will. 🙂 I suppose this is a give and take type of situation, but from what I have learned about it; it can be a beneficial effort. O’ yeah one more thing, Pinterest is another great place to post your web blog content as well. Since I started posting my web post on Pinterest, my visitor count and followers has increased fairly well.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are lots of different way’s to spread the word of your web blog, not just by posting links to areas but by interacting as well. The combination of interacting and engagement along with posting in proper areas can do serious justice to bringing forth your accomplishment of spreading the word. Of course there are tons of other great ways to market your web blog, but the ones provided on this post can get you started. Do not forget to #ff me #linkworxseo – @LinkWorxSeo and follow me on Pinterest.
“Remember pass it along”.