Predictions and suggestions

So from the three posts in the series, let's recap what we know:

Up to recently Google was considered unbeatable but was considered "evil" for making tons of money.

People are sharing links with friends on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites creating a very different kind of web.

With the "Like" button Facebook is basically getting it's users to submit content they like.

Google does not have a complete list of all your friends and their interests but Facebook does …

Facebook is making a real effort to attract businesses. With that strategy they could create a sturdy platform that is woven inextricably into the fabric of the web.

If the visitor clicks the like button and shares the page with their Facebook friends along with an appropriate comment all of their friends and some of their friends friends see it – many, many more than if they merely commented on the blog post itself.

Getting mentioned is the new link building.

Now and in the future it's all about building those connections between people and social media is built from the ground up to achieve that goal.

So one of your major strategies for the future will be to consider the many different ways people can connect with you, and make sure you enable those connections.

Out of the mouths of Facebook: "Marketers have always known that the best way to sell something is to get your friends to sell it," says Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer. "That is what people do all day on Facebook. We enable effective word-of-mouth advertising at scale for the first time."

Another important concept you should know:

People buying things are more inclined to trust their friends than strangers …

…. or ads presented next to search results.

Is Facebook or Google more trustworthy if you're thinking about buying the new Jewel CD?  It's more likely to be Google, but soon you could be asking Facebook friends what to buy.

Our predictions for the near future:

No like button on your site – no indexing by Facebook!  This could mean no search results either!

No social connections on Gmail or Google Profile = no social search results

If you are not involved in social media, dismiss it as a big time suck, or you are not making a serious effort to build your social capital, you stand the chance of being sidelined by Google, Facebook and others who will increasingly use what they know about a user to deliver highly targeted search results.

Please don't ever say we didn't warn you!

So pay attention, this isn't hard – here are our pointers for staying ahead of the game:

1. Create as much relevant content as you can
    
2. Maintain control over your content.
    
3. Build your own list on your WordPress Blog with RSS or opt in emails
    
4. Add the Facebook "like" button to your blog
    
5. Create and or enhance your Google profile
    

What are your predictions? Please share!

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