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+1’s: the right recommendations right when you want them—in your search results

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Re: +1’s: the right recommendations right when you want them—in your search results

#61
post #39

Facebook "Like It". Google "+1". Assuming Google A/B tests just about everything, I'm surprised "+1" seemed like the winning choice. I don't hate it, I'm just surprised...

The problem with 'liking' something, which would be especially acute on Google, is that it just sounds downright wrong for some things. Perhaps you're looking for news on the Japanese Tsunami. No, I don't 'like' it. Yes, it's relevant to what I'm looking for.

Facebook's Like button can be either "Like" or "Recommend", and publishes the selected verb into news feed. Many news sites use recommend for this exact reason (NYT, for example).

Re: +1’s: the right recommendations right when you want them—in your search results

#63
post #8

I'm in two minds about this. On the one hand, Google should have done this years ago, even if it had no effect on result placement, think of all the data they could have collected. On the other hand, the big appeal of Google is the simplicity and minimal clutter, and this is just another useless (at least on the first search) thing added to the interface.

[deleted]

Re: +1’s: the right recommendations right when you want them—in your search results

#65

I really surprised at Google by this implementation--it seems like they didn't really think it through. When I'm searching for something, my behavior is usually: Google search term Open the top couple results in a new tab Check each tab, to see if they contain the information I was looking for If tab is not useful, or more information is required, check next tab. If information is satisfied, close window (all tabs, i…

But search may not be where you click +1 the most. This article suggests google will also count other places where you have shared a link eg twitter, likes on reader, etc http://j.mp/fSVZSn

No doubt a toolbar and chrome addon is on it's way. Even in search with previews and HTML5 being able to tag info as summary to display directly in the search screen you may even use it in search more than you think. No reason why they can't start tying in reviews on google places and checkout as you suggest

Re: +1’s: the right recommendations right when you want them—in your search results

#66
post #8

I'm in two minds about this. On the one hand, Google should have done this years ago, even if it had no effect on result placement, think of all the data they could have collected. On the other hand, the big appeal of Google is the simplicity and minimal clutter, and this is just another useless (at least on the first search) thing added to the interface.

I think they are feeling pressure to do something though. If they don't, how are we to keep them on their pedestal?

Is something better than nothing here? Also, remember they have shareholders to keep drunk on the gogglejuice.

Re: +1’s: the right recommendations right when you want them—in your search results

#67
post #61
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem with 'liking' something, which would be especially acute on Google, is that it just sounds downright wrong for some things. Perhaps you're looking for news on the Japanese Tsunami. No, I don't 'like' it. Yes, it's relevant to what I'm looking for.

Facebook's Like button can be either "Like" or "Recommend", and publishes the selected verb into news feed. Many news sites use recommend for this exact reason (NYT, for example).

Still valid argument on the meaning of the like or recommend verbs in certain contexts. Eg someone may write something I disagree with and I don't want to like or recommend it but I may +1 for being articulate or a point well made. Geek in me and maybe too many q&a sites but I think +1 works

Re: +1’s: the right recommendations right when you want them—in your search results

#68

I don't see my wife creating a google account so she can click +1 on a web page when there will be a facebook like button right next to the +1 button. Why would she? Her friends are on facebook.

This is a key point. Also, it's easy to "like" something if there is only one button. I feel I'm doing my friends a favor. When there are multiple buttons, I feel like I'm doing work for the website operator. The only exception would be the case where the content is really so awesome that I feel the whole world needs to know about it. My first thought after reading about how it works was "How can we consolidate all t…

Someone like add this may create one. There are already plenty of ways you can turn a like into a share on facebook, twitter, Tumblr etc instapaper's new social options is one

Re: +1’s: the right recommendations right when you want them—in your search results

#69

I don't see my wife creating a google account so she can click +1 on a web page when there will be a facebook like button right next to the +1 button. Why would she? Her friends are on facebook.

Her friends don't use Google?

Re: +1’s: the right recommendations right when you want them—in your search results

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My main problem is actually the name itself. Facebook's "like" button works so well because it gives people a simple, self-explanatory button to press if they like something. Never mind the stuff it does behind the scenes, most people think if they click a "like" button, their friends will know they like it. It promotes self-reinforcing behaviour. +1 doesn't do that. It's not immediately apparent what it's for, and i…

perhaps its simply endemic. Internally to Google (which presumably arose outside of Google) was the notion that folks who agreed would simply put +1 in their email. Some tools (especially code review tools) could parse that and agreeable phrases like "looks good to me" as the writers approval of the original message. Sort of an in-band upvote if you want an HN translation. When I read about it this morning I thought…

The Apache lists, for as long as I can remember, used +1/-1/-0/+0/etc. as a means of informally expressing approval, as well as explicitly registering a vote from committers.

http://httpd.apache.org/dev/voting.html

That was the first place I'd seen it appear, although I assume it predates them.

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