Blogger

Jun 6, 2011

What’s all the fuss about Google +1?

google +1 for bloggersYou may have been aware of Google’s strategy to take on Facebook with its own ‘Like’ button called Google +1. I have added it below to show you what it might look like. (There are various display options) The blogging community have responded rapidly due to the fact that it appears to get you noticed more on Google search if you have lots of +1′s. (if you look at my post on Google Love this is another way to attract it!)


How do I put it on my blog or website?

At the moment there is a reasonably easy way of getting the Google +1 button on your site if you are comfortable adding some script code to your blog. Some themes (my theme ‘Bloggie’ from Themify for instance) will provide an easy way to add code to headers and footers via the theme settings. Others may need to be changed via the editor within the WordPress admin dashboard or via FTP (File Transfer Protocol for those who are interested) using a file transfer program like Fetch for Mac or FileZillar for PC.

There is also this post on how to implement the +1 button on WordPress or Blogger using Google Webmaster code. Another source of information is from WP Beginner on how to add the +1 button to WordPress which is more detailed than the rest and shows you how to add the button to your theme rather than adding the code to each post or page.

If you feel queasy after reading the last two paragraphs then you might want to try the new Google +1 WordPress plugin with the rider that it is new, has only just over 600 downloads so far and is therefore a bit bleeding edge. You might want to wait a while to see if it this plugin proves itself or ask a techie mate to implement the first option above. It only takes about 10 minutes if you know what you are doing.

I know this is a more techie post than usual but sometimes being a little ahead of the crowd can make a difference to your ranking and get you noticed. In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king!

Update: Google now have a go faster Google + button which loads more quickly.

By Andy Britnell Blog Optimisation 8 Comments Tags: , , , , , ,

Jan 10, 2011

To blog or not to blog?

To blog or not to blog Twitter talkI am quite active on Twitter and have had the benefit of learning from some of the pioneers in social media such as Daniel Priestley and Mark Shaw (more about these two later but in the meantime I suggest that you follow Daniel & Mark on Twitter). They are both passionate about how social media can help your business.

This post is in answer to someone on Twitter who was asking how he could get more attention online. When I suggested he did a blog his response was:

“How would having a blog work, I know nothing about blogs and how they work”

Which is a very good question. I sent him a couple of links to information on why it was a good idea and about 10 minutes later he posted a Tweet saying ‘Come and look at my new blog’. I was impressed that he had acted so quickly so I asked him what had persuaded him.

Apparently just after I had suggested a blog two other people on Twitter (who he didn’t know) said it was a good thing to do. So he went ahead and set himself up on Blogger.

The power of social media often surprises me.

Useful links on why writing a blog is a good idea:

7 facts why your business needs a blog

12 Reasons why you should start a blog

Why Would Your Company Need 13 Blogs?

By Andy Britnell Social Media, Writing a blog 6 Comments Tags: , , , ,