I'm just getting back and I'm behind. I was googling to find an article about social network policies, specifically friending policies. I noticed that Google added a new feature where you can comment on a search engine result and like DIGG either promote it or demote it. You can customize the search results page too.
The YouTube Video describes the feature and the official blog post will tell you how it works.
As LockerGnome's Matt Hartley notes, "it will shake up search to the core for everyone." About a year or so ago, I blogged a bit about the concept of social search looks like this is the next frontier.
The interesting thing is that according to google, this will NOT affect the search listings for anyone other than the user who promoted the site. So it isn't nearly as social as a digg or reddit, but I wonder if this is a precurser for google to begin accounting for this kind of input in their search rankings...
Posted by: Dave Raley | November 22, 2008 at 12:56 AM
Beth,
I've noticed this recently and think it has a lot of potential for non-profits. It looks like supporters can now have more direct influence on search indexing and rankings.
John
Posted by: John | November 25, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Hi Beth
I am looking for advice or feedback for a NGO who is wanting to explore social media and how they can use it to network more effectively: http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com/2008/11/advice-needed-on-how-organisation-can.html
thank you, Sarah
Posted by: Sarah Stewart | November 25, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Hi Beth, I just re-read my request and it sounds really rude so I apologize for that. What I should have said was if you have time to pop across and give me any feedback, I'd be really grateful.
thank you very much, Sarah
Posted by: Sarah Stewart | November 25, 2008 at 06:21 PM
@Sarah -- I didn't take as rude, now worries.
Posted by: Beth | November 25, 2008 at 06:57 PM
The SEO community is very much a-buzz about how this means that quality, relevant, and social content may soon (whatever that means) trump links for search rankings.
Whether Google will significantly decrease the import in their algorithm placed on links for social preferences remains to be seen.
Posted by: Nathan Ketsdever | November 30, 2008 at 02:03 AM