iPad Overshadows Google’s Social Search Big News!

The iPad has piped Google to the post as the ‘trending topic’ but that doesn’t mean the news isn’t big!!

Google’s new move to launch Social Search demonstrates that social media is no longer just a #trend and is actually here to stay.

As the usage of blogs, social networking sites and forums continue to rocket sky high it’s only natural that more people are influenced by their circle of friends online. When you buy a camera for example, do you go straight to the website or do you read an honest, un-biased review?

Recognising the power of social media influencing such decisions Google have launched Social Search which integrates your social media profiles and your friends into their search engine.

How Does Google Create Your Social Circle?

Google cleverly generates your connections by pulling together content from:

• People you’re publicly connected to through social services that you’ve listed in your Google profile, such as Twitter and FriendFeed
• People who are contacts of those in your immediate social circle (basically friends of friends)
• People in your Gmail (or Google Talk) chat list
• People in your friends, family and co-workers groups in your Google Contacts

You always have control over connections and content and you can block or remove someone just as you would befriend a person.

Social Search has been in Google Labs since last year and is still in beta status as change is inevitable with this launch.

Your Google Search Essentials

• You need to have a Google Profile
• Your Google language preference needs to be set to U.S. English
• You need to search on Google.com.
• Not everyone has it just yet…be patient it will come

The impact this will have on Search Engine Optimisation is still unclear but ensuring you have a profile and friends with Gmail should help.

Take 10 minutes to watch these two videos and how Social Search works.

Google Social Search in Plain English

Google Social Search Explained

So its time to start widening your circle, join me on  Twitter and say hello or check out my Google Profile!