3 Simple Strategies to Leverage Google Social Search

Yesterday a video was released from Matt Cuts and the folks at Google talking about Google Social Search.  In classic Google style, the friendly upbeat Cutts conveys how Google will use Google profile information to build social circles, presenting relevant search results information to Google users from their circle of online friends.   In this post I will share with you 3 ways online marketers can leverage Google Social search in their marketing to extend their reach, and build more relevance in their online marketing.

3 Simple Strategies to Leverage Google Social Search

Several months ago, we discussed how you can get on page 1 of Google by leveraging your Google Profile.  Google has continued to build value with Google profiles by tying in other services.  The most recent move is this idea of Google Social Search.  It is a pretty simple concept, and is another step in Google’s battle to remain king of everything search.

How can an online marketer leverage this information to their advantage, similar to being active early on with their Google profile, to grow their business and prominence on search engine results pages?

First – Recognize What is Happening in Your Social Circle and Market

Understand that when you do a search (you must be logged into your Google account in order for Social Search to be active), you will see what Google believes to be relevant results of others in your social circle.  This is a great opportunity to connect with those individuals in a more meaningful way in your market.

Second – Respond Appropriately

When seeing social search results after searching keywords in your market, you have an opportunity to respond. From my experience, you’ll get the best bang for your buck with responses give value and/or extending the conversation.  Here are a few ideas of how you can respond:

• Twitter: Retweet a Twitter tweet, adding a comment at the end.
• Twitter: @ message them inquiring further about their tweet
• Twitter: If they are following you, DM them a helpful idea or a question about the their tweet.  If not following them (Social search also looks at your second generation social circle), do so.
• Facebook: Comment on their status update on Facebook, post a relevant follow up question on their wall.  Tag the user to a relevant note you’ve written on the topic. If important enough, write a note building on the topic tagging them to it, followed by a personal note asking them to contribute (based on their recent Tweet, or status update).
• YouTube: I’m not sure how Google will serve search results from YouTube, simply give value and extend the conversation by commenting, rating, favoriting a video, and possibly subscribing to the YouTube channel (here are some results of using YouTube for Marketing).
• Phonecall?: This may be shocking and old fashioned, but done right, it can be super-effective.  Call referencing the search result you found and continue the conversation. 

Keep in mind, this strategy is best used when searching the keywords that are relevant in your market.

Third – Be Aware of Your Activities Before Other Searchers

Remember: The results of your social activities online (for social profiles that are linked to your Google profile) will show up on other Google searchers results pages up to the second generation.  Meaning a Google searcher who has a social connection to one of your connections may see some of your recent social activities for relevant keyword searches (read that again to get your head around it).

This is powerful, and represents a great opportunity for online marketers.

Here is the video of Matt Cutts talking about Google Social Search (in case you missed it):

Bottomline: Get your Google Profile updated with the social profiles you want to show up in search results pages, and be active, or at least appear to be active (automate this with RSS – See lesson Twelve here).

Post Incomplete: This post is incomplete without your valuable contribution.  Chime in below with other ways you see Google Social Search impacting online marketing or other thoughts or contributions on this topic.

Technorati Tags: Search Engine Marketing Strategy, social marketing strategy, Social Networking for Business, social search