.

I don’t have an answer to that question.  I could say it’s interesting, because that’s the adjective I often use to indicate indifference without being offensive.  For me, I think the jury is still out on a few issues.

Is Google +1 a Social Network?

That’s the issue I’m really wondering about.  I wonder if Google can outdo Facebook.  I wonder if people will add Google +1 to the top social network list.  Right now, my list includes Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.

Or, will people decide that three major networks is enough, and the networking side of +1 will fade away.  I must admit, that would be my choice.  I’m not a big social media maven, and I don’t really want to maintain another site.

Besides that, and I hope Google isn’t lurking around here somewhere, I am beginning to feel like Google is Big Brother.  In order to use the +1, you must have a Google profile, and you must be logged into Google, too.

Between Google knowing everything I search for, controlling the ads I see to correspond to my interests, controlling the search results I get based on geography and so on…. I feel like I’ve been Googlized.  And, I’m not sure I like it.

When you sign up for a Profile, they make your age required so they can customize your online experience consistent with your age!  How can they presume to know me so well just based on my age??  It’s silly.

What about 11-year-old Jackie Evancho?  Would they customize her experience to normal 11 year old interests?  They’d be missing the mark if they didn’t include opera!  And, just because I’m uh..  over 40 doesn’t mean I don’t still enjoy dancing around the living room to a Foreigner song!

There are three things that can happen to +1.  Google could give up on the networking portion of it if it doesn’t take off.  But, if it does get popular, whether it makes people move from Facebook, or just manage +1 as another network, I will be very impressed.  Either of those outcomes would go a long way toward establishing/reinforcing Google dominance.

Is Google +1 An SEO Tool?

One thing I don’t doubt is that the +1 will have an impact on SEO.  Google can very easily consider it another “vote” for a site, just like an incoming link.  Of course, the Google party line avoids answering that question.  They only say that “+1 helps people discover relevant content”, but don’t address the question of whether there will be an impact on search results.

Given that I think the SEO is real, I suggest that everyone get on the band wagon.  You’ll notice that there is a +1 on this blog.  I’d be ever so appreciative if you’d click the +1 button on any blog posts that you like.

I’m using a WordPress plugin called WordPress Google +1 Button – Advanced Plugin, Includes Redirection.  Quite a name, huh?  It installed very easily, has some good options and works without a hitch so far.

Of course, if you want to put the +1 button on other websites, you’re looking at a do-it-yourself project.  Here’s what to do:

1. Create A Google Profile (of course!)
2. Install the code provided in Google’s instructions

From that Google link, you will get code with options for the size of the button.  And, if you click on the “Advanced Options” link, you can control whether the number of +1s shows.

If you poke around long enough, you’ll also come across information about whether to identify the URL to be +1d or not.  I’m not the world’s best coder, but the conclusion I came to is that most of us should let the code figure out the URL.  Google says:

• “Google will use the URL of the page as found in the DOM. This can sometimes cause incorrect behavior as the URL in the address bar can contain session IDs or other parameters which are not part of the canonical URL.”

If you need more information, you’ll need to find someone who knows whether your site URLs contain session IDs and so forth.

In summary, the +1 button requires 2 pieces of code.  One should be placed in the head section of your website, or it can be placed near the </body> tag.  The other piece of code goes where you want the button to appear.

For example, if you have a Point2 Agent website, you’d put the first part of the code in the Footer on the TEMPLATE page.  You’d put the second part where you want the button to appear.  If you put it somewhere on the TEMPLATE page, it will appear on every page.  Based on my test, that works fine.  Be aware that Point2 websites are regular HTML pages, so I haven’t seen a problem letting the URL be identified by the code.

I started this post as commentary, but guess I got a bit carried away.  Hope the additional information about implementing the +1 is helpful!