Introducing The Google +1 Button….

We all knew it was going to happen at some point  - Introducing Google’s first real direct shot at Facebook - the +1 button. Essentially the +1 button is Google’s own “like” button and a step into social information sharing that will start appearing for people who have joined the experiment in Google Labs. The +1 button will start to appear next to search results from this week, allowing people to “+1″  a search result, leaving a visual recommendation for your friends to see. Check out the video below for more: 

Im sure you can see the reasons why Google is trying something like this. Firstly if Google wants to retain the influence it has on the webs content it has to gain the same volumes of  'socially shared contact' that Facebook currently is enjoying. Second it will enable them to target their ads better through richer data which will improve Googles ability to compete in the display advertising space. And last but not least the impact this will have on SEO  - imagine the wealth of data that the +1 Button could create and how this will affect future search results… either way the +1 Button is one to watch. If you would like to join in on the +1 experiment you can do so here.