Social media search
Google has just launched a tool that allows users to find postings from their friends as part of a Web search. Microsoft too has announced deals with Facebook and Twitter that will enable tweets and posts to show up in searches.
It’s still brand new, but most likely will be an accepted part of the online landscape within six months. It’s not a comprehensive search tool, as individuals have to agree to share their information in public searches. But it’s likely to increase the amount of content that is publicly available.
This has huge implications for businesses, particularly those involved in travel and leisure, like restaurants and holiday resorts. Someone who carries out a social search while planning a holiday or a night out will soon bring up loads of casual comments about people’s various experiences that may help them make up their minds. Ditto with retail and financial services.
Google account holders can try out the experimental tool via
There’s also an explanatory video here.
Some other posts you'll find interesting:
- Google Search becomes more social
- The impact of real-time search on companies
- Social media exposure increases search and click through rates
