Google's +1 recommendation system launches in Australia

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 28 June 2011 12:18

Your IT - Home IT

Google has added its '+1' recommendation system to google.com.au, following its launch in the US in March, and made it available for incorporation into Australian web sites.

'+1' according to Google, is digital shorthand for "this is pretty cool". The +1 button appears alongside search results allowing the user to 'recommend' that result. This recommendation is then optionally visible to other searchers who have some connection with the recommending searcher.

The system is being touted as a way for searchers to get results that are more relevant to their needs, but if it is embraced enthusiastically it will result in users' Google profiles storing much more information about their preferences, their contacts and their contacts' preferences: all of which could be extremely useful even anonymously to marketeers.

Kate Conroy, product specialist at Google Australia, explains +1 in a blog posting: "Say, for example, you're planning a trip to London. If you are searching for a hotel, we may show you +1s from your globe-trotting friend. Or if you're looking for things to do on a sunny day, we may show you +1s from your food-loving cousin next to the result for a gourmet market."

She explains: "We use many signals to identify the most useful recommendations, including things like the people you are already connected to through Google (your chat buddies and contacts, for example). Soon we may also incorporate other signals, such as your connections on sites like Twitter, to ensure your recommendations are as relevant as possible."

The +1 feature can also be added to any web page simply by the webmaster downloading the appropriate code from Google. According to Conroy "Website owners can implement the +1 button on their site within minutes'¦From today, you can +1 local businesses on Truelocal, holiday accommodation at Stayz, vehicles at Mitsubishi, daily deals on Spreets and electronics at Kogan. In the next few days sites like Trading Post, The Australian and News.com.au will also be adding +1 to their sites."

Conroy said the +1 button would start appearing on Google's search results in Australia for some users today, 28 June and should show for most logged in users by the end of the week.