As providers of search engine optimisation services, including PPC campaigns, we were very interested to find out about Google+'s latest development. No, it's not the fact that Google+ social network is now open to the public - it's the announcement that Google will be enabling their +1 buttons across their Google Display Network. We're taking a not very inspired guess that this will be implemented across campaigns that run on AdWords, AdSense, YouTube and the like.
It seems as though the folks over at Google are pretty excited by this, explaining that this move "has the potential to change the way people view advertising… A display ad becomes more powerful when people can see which of their friends and contacts have chosen to endorse it."
If you've been running ads through the Google Display Network, you're likely to have already seen the +1 and personal annotations in situ. As of 20 September, the Google +1 button had been installed on over one million websites across the web, receiving over 4 billion impressions daily. Google have also indicated that in early October they'll be expanding this new web service across mobiles and desktops, further extending their reach.
Social-Enabled Web Campaigns
There's more to this new method of social recommendation than just the appearance of a simple '+1' button on millions of websites - it's all about personalisation (yes - that oft-overused buzz word that's been floating around the web for years).
But this time, the +1 really is personal. Your Google+ friends and contacts will be more likely to see your recommended ad, because the Google Display Network will place more relevance on those ads that have been personally +1'd by other friends and contacts within your network. So your recommendations will have a direct influence on the ads that those in your Google+ social network see.*
Of course, the +1 button and its effect on Google's online advertising relies partially on the success of Google+ as a social network, but we're pretty sure (given the latest stats) that it won't be following the same path as Google Wave or Buzz anytime soon… Definitely one to watch. Closely.
Find out more about +1 on the Google Display Network here.
http://adwords.blogspot.com/2011/09/google-108-1-button-is-coming-to.html
*Targeted specific placements and audience segments will filter results according to restrictions in place. Your ads will also never show on any placement or category on an exclusions list.
