SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Google recently announced plans for a new “+1” feature that allows users of Google’s services, including Gmail, Google Talk, Google Reader and Google Profiles, to rank search results.
Similar to a Facebook “Like,” the +1 feature offers social validation from users, and users have the option to undo their +1 clicks. In order to +1 searches, users also need a public Google profile.
In a report, Google said it hopes to test adding the +1s to search results to boost a result’s rank.
With the addition of the feature, once logged in into Google you will be able to see who out of your contacts from Google services like Gmail, Google Contacts, as well as Google Reader and Buzz, added +1 to a special search result.
According to reports, Google also plans to offer the social validation service to publishers that will be able to embed the +1 button on their page, similar to a Digg This button.
“We expect that these personalized annotations will help sites stand out by showing users which search results are personally relevant to them,” Google said in its blog. “As a result, +1’s could increase both the quality and quantity of traffic to the sites people care about.”
