Is there a better way to do social search? - Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

You’ve probably heard the news already. Google is making search more social with their new Search Plus Your World. Basically, results from or recommended by people in your social network (meaning Google+) are given high placement in rankings when you search.

You might have also heard the biggest criticism of this new search feature — that it’s anticompetitive. (Or at least that’s what Google’s big social media competitors have said.) While I understand that concern, I have bigger ones. I worry about how Search Plus Your World will affect the actual users of Google’s search engine. And I immediately found two glaring problems.

Search Becomes Redundant

The first thing I noticed after the introduction of Search Plus Your World is that my results were repetitive. I already knew so-and-so wrote about subject X and recommended Y. I saw that in their social media updates.

In and of itself, that doesn’t make the content more relevant. I’m using a search engine to find something new or specific. If I want to see what my friends recommend, I’ll check out their +1s, likes, or I’ll ask them on Twitter. Search engine users shouldn’t have to be bombarded with the same material they’ve already found elsewhere.

Google Gets Gamed (…Again)

As a Web publisher I’ve watched Google go after people they see as gaming the rankings system for years. Now it appears they’re handing these heavy promoters better rankings on a silver platter. That’s another trend I noticed quickly — people who are blatant self-promoters ranked high while more trusted sources (like closer colleagues and friends) didn’t appear in my results nearly as much.

Why did this happen? Because these folks are the link whore types who will link to, “recommend,” +1, etc. their own content all day long if they think it’s going to drive more traffic to their sites. These are the old Stumble exchange folks, the “tribes” that blindly link to each others’ content so their own will be promoted too, and the aggressive SEO link builders.

Now don’t get me wrong. These aren’t all bad people. But they do game the system, and the behavior borders on spam at times. I follow some of them because I like what they have to say on their blogs or I have an interest in what they offer elsewhere. That doesn’t mean I should be slammed with their self-promotional nonsense in search results. Keep it isolated to the social networks where I choose to let that through. Wanting to see something on Google+ (or any social network) doesn’t mean we want to see the same people and the same things promoted whenever we search the Web.

On the plus side, Google does let you disable Search Plus Your World (either in your settings or on a case by case basis). The latter option has its own problems though. The options aren’t labeled well, so I doubt the Average Joe searching the Web would even notice. You have to change the results after you search rather than being able to set your options up front. Their highlighting seems almost reversed (when personal results are turned on that button is grayed out — not a big deal, but I can see how it could get confusing).

Then there’s the worst part. You have to change this setting every time you use Google (whether it’s a separate visit or you just open another browser tab). The exception is if you run a new search in the same window where you already changed the settings.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not thrilled with Google’s aggressive tinkering with the default style of search results. If you want your search engine to work as a search engine (rather than a promotional tool for Google+), you need to login and change that in your search settings. I’m sure most readers of this blog are savvy enough to do that. My concern is more about an average user who doesn’t even notice the changes yet (given that the new settings and the ability to change them back aren’t clearly disclosed on results pages).

What are your thoughts on Search Plus Your World? Have you seen the same kind of redundancy I’ve come across? Have you also had issues with bloggers and other heavy promoters ranking better than more trusted people in your network? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

If you too have been waiting with baited breath to see how to use Google Plus for business, I have your answer. Google Plus is completely open to the public (invitations are not required) and Google Plus Pages are now here. In addition to circles to inform your friends, coworkers, and family with the messages you’ve written just for them you can show support to and follow your favorite businesses. Connect with your favorite clothing line, bands, coffee shop, and more.

For local businesses and globally recognized brand names, Google Plus Pages have been introduced, worldwide. Now you can share with individuals who are passionate about what you do. It’s social media marketing at its finest, real relationship building and nurturing.

Individuals can recommend you with a +1, add you to a circle to get regular updates, and get to know you and your business. All you have to do is start sharing. Google is currently limiting pages, not everyone will be able to create one right now. A number of pages are already available for public viewing and soon any organization will be able to create a page at plus.google.com/pages/create.

What does Google Plus Pages mean for search? Two things. One, Google Plus Pages will be included in search results. Two, Direct Connect. From Google search you can search for (+) followed by the page/company you’re interested in. Google will direct you to the Plus Page related to your search and allow you to add the page to your circles. Direct Connect is still in Beta (it doesn’t work for my page yet, for example – just a few well known brands).

I’ve been waiting for months to see if Google Plus could compete with Facebook. I’m still not sure I’ve got a good answer. Google Plus hasn’t taken off quite as quickly as I thought it would, but I’m excited to see what Pages have to offer. I recently added the +1 icon to my blog and will be adding badges to my website soon. I hope to use my brand new Plus Page to build a base of super fans and loyal customers as well as educate potential clients (much like what I already do on Facebook). Be sure to +1 Fletcher Freelance and add my page to your circle for marketing tips and all the latest in social media.

Your Plus Page is a blank state. Share what you’ll make of it in the comments below.

Search and social media are two constantly (and rapidly) evolving areas. So to serve you better and make sure you don’t miss some of the bigger or more interesting stories, we’re launching a new series. Near the beginning of every month we’ll reflect back on the previous few weeks, highlighting some of the search engine, SEO, and social media stories that grabbed our attention.

Google has generated a lot of buzz recently with news on both the search and social media fronts. But they’re not alone. Facebook, Microsoft, Baidu, and even Myspace make a showing this month. Check out some of the latest stories, or share other news that has you excited in the comments.

1. Google+

Google has dominated social media news lately with the launch of Google+ — their latest attempt at a Facebook killer. Not a fan of Facebook myself, I’m looking forward to seeing how Google+ might (or might not) be a better fit. One of the main features I’m excited about is Google’s “circles.” Basically you can group your friends, family, colleagues, or whomever into different circles and share different information with each group easily. I just received my invite today and can’t wait to test it out. Are you on Google+ yet? Do you think Google+ will have any affect on traditional search? [source]

Credit: Google+ (Circles feature)

2. Google Discontinues Real Time Search, Wonder Wheel and More

One of the biggest stories in search right now is the discontinuation of Google’s real time search feature (where they showed tweets and other information as it happened). This is reportedly due to a contract expiration between the search giant and Twitter. Google has also discontinued other enhanced search features including the Wonder Wheel and they’re sporting a new look (including a black / charcoal bar at the top of the site which seems to be a “love it or hate it” change). [source]

3. Facebook-Skype Video Chat

Facebbook and Skype announced a joint effort to bring you video calling and better integration between the two services. You’ll be able to video call your Facebook friends and even set up group video calls through Skype. How will you take advantage of these features? Do you think video calling was a natural step for Facebook? [source]

4. Google Panda Update 2.2

Google released their Panda 2.2 update in mid-June. Some webmasters have seen their rankings improve from the last update while others are now feeling Panda’s pain. Where do your sites fit in? According to Matt Cutts the update specifically targets scrapers. [source]

5. Microsoft / Baidu Deal for English Search in China

Where Google was previously willing to pull out of China, Microsoft wants a way in. With that goal in mind Microsoft recently came to a deal with Chinese search giant, Baidu. They’ll work together to provide English-language search results to the market. [source]

6. Facebook Blocks Friend Exports to Google+

If you’re both a Facebook user and an early user of Google+, I bet you’d love a way to move your friends’ information to the new tool. Right? Well, with Google+ barely out of the gates Facebook is already putting a stop to it. They recently blocked the Chrome extension, Facebook Friend Exporter, that allowed users to export Facebook contact info and import it into their Gmail address book (where Google+ pulls contact details from). Does sharing their info with you count as an opt-in where you should be able to move to another service (like with email marketing)? Is this a move to protect user privacy, or just an anti-competitive strike-down? We’ll let you decide. [source]

7. News Corp. Sells Myspace

News Corp. finally parted with the social network, Myspace, at a huge loss. It was sold to Specific Media for $35 million. Apparently Justin Timberlake will have an ownership stake and some say in the site’s future. Do you think the new owners can breathe life back into Myspace by going back to an entertainment focus, or is Myspace just clinging to its last breath? [source]

Share your thoughts on these recent stories from the search and social media industries, or share other stories with our readers by leaving a comment below.

What makes image search different from text search is that people searching for images are most often looking for some entertainment rather than business-related or informative content.

What else differentiates image search is that image content is often subjective – you can ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ images; besides, more often than not you even don’t know exactly what you are looking for and what you want to find.

So here are some fun tools that turn searching for images into fun and also let you find you don’t know what:

Search Images by Color:

Multicolr is Flickr-based color search engines. With it you can mix up to 10 colors and select images matching the chosen color palette.

The more colors you choose, the more colorful images you get in the end:

Each search result has its own URL, so you can share it with friends. Here’s my latest pick:

Search Images by Similarity:

Byo image search will find images similar to the one you upload. The exact algorithm is unclear but it seems it rather focuses on colors, though some similarity in forms and shapes can also be identified.

Retrievr is a Flickr based tool searching for images based on your sketch You can also rate sketches created by others.

Search Images by Theme:

Tiltomo (Flickr based) searched for images by either color palette and texture or theme (too bad those two criteria can’t be combined). It has its own database of Flickr images, which means this database is not always up-to-date.

It is impressive that the engine finds images that really have similar topic (and the similarity is not clear even to a human eye). For example, the following search results definitely have something in common (strawberries) but the similarity is not about shapes, colors or forms, it’s about theme:

Search Images by Face:

Exalead offers imagecontent:Face advanced operator that restricts search results to faces only. Google also provides that feature accessible via advanced search:

Post image by Andyrob