Google

Search has always been a part of the social communications mix, but with the emergence of Google+ and one of Google’s recent Panda updates we have seen an increase in the convergence of these digital worlds.

Many brands are looking to spread the risk of new updates from Google and associated implications and are rightly looking to spread their search strategy across as wide a mix of platforms as possible.

With the emergence of Google+, social media is ever more being considered as a result of the social signals that are being generated by gestures (likes, follows, shares etc) and content alike.

Google hosted their sellout Google@SocialMediaWeek event in London on Thursday 16th February 2012 at the SMWLDN 2012 Hub, sponsored by Google! (What a mouthful!)

If you weren't one of the lucky one's who managed to snap up a ticket, you can now watch the event online, right here!

Hear the latest thinking on social media and our wider social worlds from Google experts, academics and advertisers.

Google+ could surprise the doubters, says GlobalWebIndex founder Tom Smith.

It’s not hard to find critics of Google’s attempts to harness social in recent the years. But the sceptics should be wary of underestimating the power of the Mountain View behemoth.

The latest data from GWI.6 suggests that although widely known for its core search product – reaching more than 85% of global internet users every month (up from 76.1% in GWI.1) - Google+ is becoming the exciting new contender in social media.

With over 180 events in London alone last week and over 15,000 registrations not including the people enjoying all the action on Livestream, it was a serious hit!

Don't forget that eleven other cites were simultaneously taking part in Social Media Week 2012, although London being our amazing city made the most noise on Twitter throughout the week according to Brandwatch with 29% of the global buzz and over 50000+ Tweets, with New York close behind.

Day One

On Monday causing a stir was Twitter, the Butterfly effect and the future of Journalism with Andrew Walker, founder of Tweetminster; Paul Lewis, Special Projects Editor at the Guardian; Anna Doble, Senior Online Producer at Channel4 News; Steve Butterworth, founder of Flumes Media Limited; and Titia Ketelaar, UK correspondent at NRC Handelsblad. Paul Sawers from The Next Web brings you all the highlights.

This year, Social Media Week London (taking place next week, Mon 13th - Fri 17th Feb) has a fantastic hub, located at the Design Council in Bow Street (map), sponsored by Google+

There is a full agenda of great events at the hub during the week including events from Nokia, Google, Ogilvy, Constant Contact, as well as some of Chinwag's own and SMW's Global Keynote. Take a look at the SMWLDN Hub schedule below to see whats going on.

Jump to Monday // Tuesday // Wednesday // Thursday // Friday

Remember to RSVP!

Thinking caps on, pretty please - don't worry, nothing too onerous!

Following on from the success of our first Chinwag Insight conference, Chinwag Insight: Facebook Marketing, we're starting to plan for the next event, probably post-Easter 2012.

As with the first event, the aim of these conferences is to delve deep into a topic area. There's lots of options, which is where you come in. If we could beg 15 seconds of your precious brain power, could you fill in the poll below and let us know what you think.

It couldn't be easier. Just one question: which topic should we dive into and explore in-depth? Should we revisit Facebook Marketing, what about Twitter? YouTube? Or for those looking at B2B and recruitment, what about Linkedin?

Using Google Trends and the popularity of search terms as a guide to media consumption certainly isn't bulletproof, but reading Matthew Slight's post about the shift in media consumption inspired a spot of digging. And boy, is Facebook having an impact on search terms - just look at the graph above.

I can't work out whether it must be slightly galling for Google search execs to watch one of their main rivals rocket in popularity, or are they rubbing their hands with glee at all the data gathered about user's interaction with Facebook?

Whilst Facebook and Twitter are both ramping up their sales functions in the UK, sheer numbers play a factor, but influence will play a critical factor in grabbing those marketing dollars.

So Google and Facebook really seem to be going head to head.  Google does not send people to Facebook and vice versa.

I am sure we remember that back in May, Facebook was discovered to be guilty of hiring a PR firm principally to tar Google’s reputation in regards to their privacy policies.  However, Facebook themselves really aren't any better!  They have been caught red-handed using personal data in inappropriate ways.  All you need to do is read their Terms to find out how blasé they are with some of our most personal information. 

Here are some of the more interesting ones I found –

Always a fan of a tasty infographic and this morsel from Online MBA doesn't dissappoint, featuring a breakdown of the top-line numbers behind the daily deal giants: Groupon, LivingSocial and new entrants Facebook and Google. Amazon's announcement that it's entering the fray is too new to be included.

The figures put Groupon's eyewatering valuation in perspective: revenue of $100m, valuation of $6bn and plenty of red ink. Is there a touch of snake oil amongst the current offerings? Kevin Kelleher blogging at CNN Money seems to think so:

In a brief spare moment after The "Friend" Close: Social Sales panel (Weds 9th Feb as part of Social Media Week) we had a chat with Bruce Daisley, Digital Sales Director YouTube & Display from Google.