Google+ Buttons features are used to encourage social shares on websites. They are a collection of buttons and integration points that publishers (Applications, sites, and other services) add on sites to enable Google+ users to connect and share on the platform.
When you include Google+ Buttons on websites, they increase social media share and boost organic traffic in the long run. Here are some of the common Google+ Buttons you should know;
Common Google+ Buttons You Should Know
+1 Buttons
The +1 Button feature enables users to recommend and share valuable content within their Google network. Google first introduced the +1 feature in 2011.
Generally, the button appears next to search results. But it could appear on your website if you choose to embed it.
Whenever a user clicks the +1 button to share a link, the link will pop up in their +1 activity tab in their Google profile. This will enable the user to return to the content they found valuable. You see, the button helps to keep users on your website for a longer time.
Again, if you are a user on a website with +1, the button will be visible to enable in your Google network. The feature makes it easier to share and recommend useful and valuable information to your network.
In a nutshell, the +1 Button is like Facebook's "Like" button. Even though it's not as widely used as Facebook's "Like," it dramatically benefits Google+ users.
The more users share your website content on social media platforms, the higher its ranking potential. The +1 button provides an excellent opportunity to improve the Google ranking of your website and attract more organic traffic.
Google+ Badge and Follow Button
Badge is another familiar Google+ button. The button enables you as a website owner or publisher to allow Google+ users to add your Google+ page directly to their circles easily.
Once the users click the button, they indicate the circle they want to add to your Google+ page.
Google + Share button and Link
Google+ Share button is an easy way to benefit from Google's numerous social media services. The share button and link is an easy way for a publisher (website owner) to invoke a Google+share dialog.
Interestingly, you can implement Google+ share button and link using a textual link or a Google+ icon. You can even decide to use both.
Again, publishers can easily embed Google+ share buttons on their websites to enable visitors to share content to their Google+ page easily. The Google+ share button is similar to the share button on Facebook and Twitter.
Sign-In Button
The sign-in button is another useful Google+ button. It enables you as a publisher to request permission to access your user information on Google.
However, you may decide to grant Google access to your Identity and additional specified services.
Hangout Button
The hangout button is another great feature that allows you to create Google+ hangout whenever someone clicks the button.
Buttons Policy
Like every other Google's product and services, the policies below govern publishers' use of the Google+ buttons.
It's a violation of Buttons policy if you, as a publisher or website owner, tries to discover the Identity of Google+ button users without their consent.
However, if users consent to share their Identity with you via the authorization procedure approved by Google, it's not a violation.
Google also frowns on identifying users' by correlating Google+ button reporting data from Google with publisher data.
Publishers aren't allowed to sell or transmit data relating to how users use Google+ buttons to others. For the avoidance of doubt, this prohibition includes using cookies, pixels, and any other methods to identify users' click on Google+ button. And then disclosed or sold the data to other parties.
Altering and obfuscating a Google+ button is a severe violation of button policies. Publishers or website owners aren't allowed to link Google+ buttons with any advertising content like putting ads in shared content or putting Google+ buttons on or around ads, except Google authorize it.
Again, placing any text, image, or other content that violates Google+ User Content and Conduct Policy in share contents is a severe violation of Button policy.
If you are rendering buttons like sharing links as a publisher, ensure you use an official Google-provided icon or a combination of link and plain text. Whichever method you are using, try not to mislead users regarding the purpose of the link.
It's a serious violation for publishers or website owners to direct users to click a Google+ button to mislead them. Also, publishers aren't allowed to promote prizes, monies, or monetary equivalents in exchange for a Google+ button click.
However, publishers can direct users to a Google+ button to enable content and functionality. When a publisher or website owner leads users to a Google+ button, the action must be related to the publisher's content. For a +1 button, any content or functionality that users have access to must also be accessible to users' social connections who want access to it.
To ensure compliance with button policies and to facilitate Google's development of Google+ buttons, Google may analyze publishers' use of Google+ buttons. So, whenever you use Google+ buttons as a publisher, you are giving Google permission to utilize a web crawler (an automated software program) to retrieve and analyze websites linked with a Google+ button.
If your website or services are directed at children under the age of 13 or are aware that most users on your website are children under 13, you must comply with US children's Online Privacy Act when using any Google+ button.
As a publisher, you must take reasonable steps to get users' consents to the storing and accessing of cookies and other information on the users' devices whenever they are using Google+ button; it's a legal requirement to obtain such consent.
Whenever you embed any Google+ buttons on your website, ensure you adhere strictly to button policies. Violation of these policies may attract serious penalties, and I don't think you want that to happen to you as a publisher.
Violation of Google+ button policies could result in disabling or removing your application, ban from providing future applications, and possible termination of your Google account.
Impact of Google +1 Button on Search Results
The embedding of the Google +1 button on your website could impact your content's performance on Google Search Result pages.
One way to prevent this is by having a good content and SEO strategy. Check this resource to see the ranking of the best Local SEO Companies (our top recommendations).
When you integrate the Google +1 button in Google webmaster tools and Google analytics, it will influence Google search engine algorithms and make your website rank higher.
However, nobody can accurately tell the level of impact the +1 button has on any website. This is because Google tends to tweak the formula overtime. But one thing is certain - the +1 button can influence your content performance on Search result pages.
Below are three ways the Google +1 button can influence your search results;
+1 Click Reign Supreme
Like I mentioned earlier, the Google +1 button is similar to Facebook's "Like," it gives endorsement to content. The more +1 clicks your web page receives, the more likely it will be to rank high on search engine result pages.
However, Google algorithms check several other factors before ranking your page based on the number of +1 button clicks. In other words, having more +1 click isn't an assurance that your page will rank high.
Since spammers tend to take advantage of the system, Google algorithms use other undisclosed factors to rank a webpage based on the number of +1 clicks.
+1 Limited to Your Network
The +1 Button can help deliver personalized search results through social integration. The more +1 clicks your page receives from people in your network, the higher its ranking potential in your search results.
Going by the above explanation, the number of +1 clicks a page gets doesn't impact search performance. What impacts your webpage search performance is the number of clicks you get from your network.
This approach is more reliable and tends to work better because it's difficult for spammers to game the system.
+1 Complexity
Sometimes, it's a bit complex to explain how the +1 button is impacting your page ranking. This is because Google tends to develop a formula that blends multiple factors, including the first two approaches explained in the previous sections.
So, here are other factors that determine how a +1 button impact your search result;
- The number of +1 clicks on your webpage over time is more effective than a single spike.
- Google algorithms give preferences to the most recent +1 clicks on your webpage. So, the recency of +1 clicks on your webpage can influence its ranking.
- Google values +1 clicks by users within your location and tends to rank your website based on the number of clicks from your immediate location.
Bottom line
Google+ buttons play an essential role in local SEO. They expose your website to the right industry audience and increase its ranking potential. But ensure you adhere to Button policy while implementing them on your website. Violating any of the policies attract a serious penalty.
This is just one thing to think about when building your If you want to implement a solid SEO plan and strategy for your website, here is a link to the best SEO agencies we recommend.
