Google +1 - What You Need to Know [Video]

There are always exciting happenings around the world of Google. I’ve got to say I’m particularly excited about the new Google +1 (pronounced “plus one”).

You are going to start to see little “+1” icons next to Google search listings. These give you the opportunity of giving a thumbs up to a particular listing.

The value of this is that people who are in your social circle will see things you have +1ed. If people follow you in the social world, they might also appreciate knowingwhat sites you find useful.

The team at Search Engine Watch provided a 10-point list summarizing the initiative.

If +1 takes off, it has the potential of being the future of influencing how sites are ranked in Google. Links are consistently being bought and abused. But people are often reluctant to abuse their social sphere.

To get started +1ing the stuff you like, you’ll need to create a Google profile. But chances are you already have one. If you want to know who you’re connected to, and how, visit the “Social Circle and Content” section of the Google Dashboard.

To see +1s in your Google search results, you’ll need to be logged in to your Google Account.

Google writes, “If you can’t wait to start seeing +1’s, we’ll soon let you opt-in to the launch by visiting our experimental search site. Initially, +1’s will appear alongside search results and ads, but in the weeks ahead they’ll appear in many more places (including other Google products and sites across the web).”

I love user-generated reviews. And I really love knowing what my friends like. So I’m all for this kind of thing. Hopefully, it will make the web even more valuable, interesting, and useful.