Archive for the ‘Google’ Category

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Google+ Begins Rolling Out Verified Accounts

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011 by admin

Google recently launched its new verification badge program on its social networking site, Google+, this past weekend. The purpose behind this feature is to verify the identity of users within the platform and ensure that “the people you are adding to your circles are actually who they claim to be”.

This new program seems to be taking some notes from Twitter, as verified accounts will receive a gray check-mark next to that user’s name. While Google begins rolling this out, it is only being used for public figures, celebrities, and those users who are invited to a large number of circles.

Although Google has yet to explain the process of this verification program, they do say this will eventually be spread to more users in time. The below video explains this new feature a little more in-depth:

Rolling out this new feature could be a test for Google to begin preparing for when they open up to businesses. In the meantime, we will have to see how this platform continues to transform in the social media landscape.

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How to Tweet From Your Gmail Account

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 by Danielle Laurion

With Google+’s growing success, Google is finding even more ways to become social. In order to make your tweeting experience with clients and friends even easier and more convenient, it is now possible to Tweet right from your Gmail account and other Google properties.

The app that made it possible to connect social media with business is TwitterGadget.  TwitterGadget is a style client of Twitter’s and it enables people with a Gmail account to view status updates and to tweet right on their iGoogle homepage, Gmail account, or directly in their browser. It includes numerous features desirable in a Twitter client including: auto refresh, customizable URL shortening, keyboard shortcuts, media upload, new tweet alerts, trending topics and locale, support for lists and geolocation, @reply all, and many more.

How to set up TwitterGadget

Setting up TwitterGadget is simple. First, log onto your Gmail account. Click on “Labs” either at the top of the screen or go into “Manage Labels” which is located on the left side of the screen to find “Labs.”  Then go to the “Enabled Labs” section and click “Enable.”

Next, go to the “Gadgets” tab and enter in the TwitterGadget URL shown below. Click “Add.”

Congratulations, you’re done and you can begin tweeting and utilizing all TwitterGadget features right from your Gmail. To learn how to use TwitterGadget and become familiar with the features and capabilities it offers watch this video.

It is now possible to stay connected to clients in an even more convenient manner. TwitterGadget encourages users to be able to Tweet and email all from one page. When you receive an email from a client, you can quickly follow through with a Tweet, or make a change or update in their account. In addition, about one in three consumers follow five or more retailers/products on Twitter. With access to both email and Twitter on the same page, it will be easier than ever for people to receive either Tweets or emails on deals and promotions, giving them even more opportunity to take advantage of these specials.

It is such conveniences that help social media to continue to grow and to encourage increased business opportunities and stronger connections. Have you tried TwitterGadget? What was your reaction? Is there anything about the app that you would change? We would love to hear from you.

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Topsy “Tops” Google for Real-Time Search

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 by Danielle Laurion

With the closing of Google’s Relatime search feature, Topsy.com is about to become the leader in social search.  Google’s contract with Twitter expired over the Fourth of July weekend but Google says they are going to integrate the feature into Google+. The contract gave Google access to Twitter’s live “firehose” of public tweets. Microsoft’s search engine, Bing, still has a deal with Twitter; however, Bing only controls about 30% of the market of Twitter’s public tweets whereas Google had 65% of the market. In addition, Bing, unlike Google Realtime, does not archive tweets older than three days.  Overall, the abrupt stop in Google Realtime and the lack of sophistication in Bing’s real-time program is opening the door for Topsy.

Topsy, which has been around since 2006, is a real-time social media search engine “powered by the largest searchable index of Twitter data.” With Google’s contract with Twitter expiring and without any current real-time search software, Google is handing Bing an advantage in real-time search. Two years ago, Google was excited about their collaboration with Twitter in creating an evolution in information access.  Now, Google is taking steps backward.

Google, and even Bing, could benefit from Topsy’s real-time search engine database. Topsy currently implements their real-time search program onto sites giving them access to searchable, real-time topics.  Benefits with Topsy include an enhanced consumer experience as user engagement increases with real-time searchable content, and, increased monetization.  Integrating Topsy real-time increases page views for target keywords, producing more revenue. In addition, Topsy offers trend analytics, as shown in the graph above, to compare up to three keywords to see correlations. With Bing’s contract with Twitter, Google no longer has any access to real-time information resulting in a loss of market share.

Google and Topsy could become a powerful alliance if they decide to work together. Further, whether Google teams back up with Twitter, or reaches out to Topsy, it is crucial that Google reintegrates a real-time program either into Google+, or separately. Do you think Google should work with Topsy in order to bring back real-time search?

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