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If you go to Google today, Google will be very persistent about you signing up for Google +, the Google Social Network.
Yesterday, Google announced Google + is available to all and added some key new features. Most importantly to me, a way to search Google + within Google +. The results are not found within Google Search's real time search yet, but you can search Google + posts within Google +.
That being said, there are many complaints about how intrusive the Google home page is today, with Google pushing people into wanting to sign up for the social network. Here is a video of the animation:
Danny Sullivan has a great write up on using Google + Search in detail, so check it out.
Other features include:
- Hangouts on your phone, Android now but iPhone soon
- Hangouts On Air (aka live broadcasts, limited user testing now
- Hangouts with Screensharing, Sketchpad, Google Docs and Named Hangouts
- Search in Google+ (as mentioned above
- Open to all (minus Google Apps users but that is coming 'really soon'
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help and WebmasterWorld.
Comments:
YouAre-aTool
09/21/2011 01:39 pm
What a Google @ss kisser. Not word about Google's anti-trust and anti-competitive hearings. Are u afraid Matt Cutts will be mad at you ? tool
Richard Hornsby
09/21/2011 01:42 pm
Your post should read: "Google + is available to all [except Google Apps users; DOH!]"
Barry Schwartz
09/21/2011 01:42 pm
Am I afraid of Matt Cutts? Read http://www.seroundtable.com/sponsored-links-12978.html The Anti Trust stuff starts today, I'll have a summary tomorrow. Not much I can write now.
Nick Stamoulis
09/21/2011 02:27 pm
It looks like Google+ is trying to grab some of the Facebook users that don't like the new design. Facebook has encountered plenty of backlash for updates before but it doesn't seem to have affected their hold over the social networking world. Now that Google+ is open to everyone, will people start to jump the Facebook ship?
Ian Williams
09/21/2011 02:47 pm
Poor name. Could have come up with a better one, e.g. Yuri Diotic Stu Piddity Watt Awannka etc
Ian Williams
09/21/2011 02:48 pm
I saw this last night (UK time). What I found odd was that it was still urging me to sign up, even though I was signed in to my Google account - and already had a Google + account. That said, I still don't see a reason to complain or get stressed. Its just a blue arrow.
YouARE-aTool
09/21/2011 02:54 pm
Maybe what the hearing is about? Yelp, Travel, site banning, Panda, Google's earnings increase after Pandalizing, how Google pushed sites down even more now with the latest change?????
Barry Schwartz
09/21/2011 02:55 pm
When I see forum threads discussing it, I'll cover it. We have tons of coverage today on the news at search engine land.
YouARE-aTool
09/21/2011 03:19 pm
Totally understand, prioritizing. Looks like you missed the most relevant news to webmasters and site-owners: Sergay from Google posted a picture of a giraffe on Google+!!!
Barry Schwartz
09/21/2011 03:38 pm
The Search Engine Roundtable covers topics discussed by webmasters and SEOs via the forums. We always have done that. Today and throughout today, I expect a lot of webmaster discussion around that topic. So tomorrow we will have a post on it. Search Engine Land, where I am the news editor, covers search news and we are covering this in depth as it happens.
Renee
09/21/2011 04:13 pm
Yes Facebook is doing things different all the time .What they need to do is keep high on their private settings
Caleb Ross
09/21/2011 05:30 pm
I noticed too that Google has started to incorporate callout boxes to encourage +1'ing of previously visited pages. Check out a screenshot here: http://www.golocal.com/seo-articles/whats-with-the-giant-blue-arrow-leading-me-to-google/ Is anyone else seeing this?
Ajay
09/21/2011 08:44 pm
That is kind of sad. What happened to all of the great "traffic" they got during the "testing" phase? I really that they could have done something a lot more intriguing than a blue arrow that looks like a child drew.
Michael Martinez
09/21/2011 09:15 pm
Although it may smack of desperation it's exactly the kind of thing I do to promote new Websites in my own network. Show people what you have to offer them in a prominent fashion. People should not be criticizing Google for remembering that it has a popular Website.
john lewis uk
09/22/2011 09:03 am
Well its good to know but i believe still facebook is running high, i made my account on Google + but still i like to spend most of my time on facebook.
Larry
09/22/2011 10:06 am
I personally think Google are attempting to create another Google 'product' that means users stay signed in. In doing so IF they can create an exponentially successful social media site (which they know people use all day) then they can really start to create personalised organic search results. Worrying times for anyone relying on dominating global search engine pages if you ask me.
me
09/22/2011 01:57 pm
Well said seroundtable.com is very bias towards Google and Barry has its nose so far up Matt Cutts ass that hes starting to like the smell of it. Look at all the past articles... it always publishes Google's minor success and Facebook's minor drawback.
AngeloDiennaro
09/23/2011 05:33 am
Trying this out while Facebook gets their act together.......
Norfolk_dumplin
09/26/2011 05:42 am
Help, verification emaildoes not arrive to my email account or junk account. Anyone got any idea on how to resolve this?