Google adds value to the +1 button
We’ve been waiting for Google to make the +1 button more valuable for website owners as it has only offered so far the ability to “+1” news stories and show how many users have “+1’d” the same article. Now, Google has added inline friend annotations to the +1 button, now showing who in a user’s specific network has shared the article and given it a +1, complete with their Google profile picture.
On the Google+ Platform preview blog, Google Developer Advocate Timothy Jordan said, “You may have already noticed faces and names when you hover over a +1 button. This change rolled out late last week. Now, you can make these recommendations even more visible to your users. Simply update the +1 button code, and an inline annotation will show next to the button.”
The new code for the +1 button will make it appear more like the Facebook like button which reveals who a user is connected to on their network that has already clicked the +1 button on any story or site.
The update isn’t revolutionary but it’s one step closer
This update is far from revolutionary and is indeed a “me too” move, but where Google’s power lies is in integrating the new Google+ network, which we anticipate will soon become more closely done with the +1 button which ultimately should offer better sharing options such as updating G+ status along with a link to the page a user is on, just like Facebook sharing. Google likes to release updates in batches, so it stands to reason that other +1 button updates are on the way.
So, give it a try with the +1 button below this article by simply clicking and seeing who else in your Google network has +1d as well.
