We've all had our friends suggest websites to us, and more often than not, I know I usually end up visiting based on little more than the suggestion of a friend. As social creatures, we put so much stock in the opinion of our friends; why not let them help us comb through search results? Google has recently decided that this type of social suggestion should be more like a seal of approval, and with the advent of the +1 button, has become a reality in search results.

What is the +1 button?

We've all seen the Facebook Like button, and this iteration is really no different in theory. But, the scope of the +1 button and it's impact could, and probably will, exceed the impact of the Like button in terms of internet marketing. Google has already reported that it will use this when determining the relevancy of search results. (http://www.google.com/webmasters/+1/button/)

Why Casting Votes is Important?

This type of vote casting is extremely powerful, and in my opinion will also have a dynamic impact on organic click through rates. I know that I am more likely to click on content which I can visibly tell has been deemed relevant by users, not just an algorithm. This type of human interaction lends to a more engaging search workflow, with users not just following results, but also telling other people what they thought. The take away here is that we all know that black hat SEO tactics can be used to game an algorithm into thinking that a search result is highly relevant, humans will not be so easily tricked.

Enough already, SOLD, how do I add it to my site?

Adding the +1 button is really easy; simply copy and paste the code snippet provided by Google into the place you wish for it to appear on your site and you're done! (you can get the code here: http://www.google.com/webmasters/+1/button/). With something this easy to install, and foreseeably having a huge impact on search results, we can definitely find a place for it on your site.