Let’s face it, search is a big deal. When you have a site the size of Facebook a properly placed search feature can dramatically increase visitor engagement (Not to mention put a dent in Google!)
Here are a couple of videos from Facebook that discuss how to use their search featured.
Facebook users have always been able to perform searches. They could search for their high school friends, look for relatives across borders and oceans, and even find groups based on their interests. However, things are changing. On October 22, Facebook rolled out new settings that further expanded users’ search capabilities.
What’s New?
Whereas Facebook users were once limited in their searches, things are truly opening up like never before. Now, you can search for information stored in two trillion posts – including from people who are not your “friends” on the site and groups you have not joined. There are some limitations, though, since Facebook is vigilant when it comes to protecting privacy. Users can only find information they are otherwise allowed to see, such as public posts. Private posts from individuals who are not the users’ “friends” remain private.
The Results Breakdown
If a user wanted to search for something particular, such as the recent record-breaking hurricane Patricia, they only need to type this information into the search bar at the top of the page. Then, they will see popular posts from trusted news outlets first. After that, they will see posts about that subject from friends and joined groups. Next comes lists of the most popular links on the web, and, finally, users see a list of posts from strangers. Essentially, the results appear in order of relevancy to the user, and they provide an excellent way to discover what other people are saying and thinking about the hurricane.
It’s Not About the Money – Yet
Facebook execs are aware of the potential money involved with optimizing their search tools, too. Vice President of Search, Tom Stocky, even says that Facebook is not focused on monetization with this feature. Despite this, some 1.5 billion searches a day take place through Facebook, and optimizing them opens the door to incredible keyword advertising potential. In fact, SEO may apply to Facebook ads in the future just as it applies to Google ads today. Businesses relying on internet-based content to sell goods and services may need to consider Facebook as a viable source of keyword optimization and a money-making opportunity.
Is Facebook Obscurity a Thing of the Past?
Something that everyone should consider with this change is the fact that everything they have ever posted on Facebook is now suddenly searchable. Even those who set their posts to “friends only” might find that a comment made during a heated argument on a public post could come back to haunt them. The best way to mitigate any damage before it begins involves searching your name along with any terms that people might find offensive, then removing any comments you find.
Why Is This a Game Changer?
Today, when people want news, they usually turn on the television or head to one of their favorite news sites. In fact, there are no fewer than 50 smartphone apps that compile news from various sources based on the user’s interests. However, because millions upon millions of people log into Facebook every single day – and for many, it is the very first thing they do – why not make it so Facebook not only updates people about what is happening in their friends’ lives, but also around the world? What’s more, the new search feature gives people a new perspective on the news. People know what is happening around them, and they also know how others feel about it. It is a highly social take on news that suits Facebook well.
What to Expect
For most people, nothing will really change other than their ability to type a keyword into the search bar and discover relevant information. Facebook will give you a notification if anyone likes or comments on a post that they found through the new “Search” function, just to give you a heads up that your information is available in this way. In the meantime, if you are concerned about your privacy, just head over to your accounts settings and make sure that you have posts set to “Friends Only”. What’s more, remember that nothing you put on the internet is ever 100% secure, so you should choose your posts wisely lest your employer (or potential employer) find them.
Billions of people around the world turn to news outlets each day to tell them what they need to know about what is happening in the world. Facebook looks to become a true contender, offering up not only the same outstanding relevancy as smartphone apps that exist for no other reason than to provide the news, but also the opportunity to find out how friends, family, and even strangers feel about that news. It is a major advance in social media, for sure.
Business enterprises are buzzing about the new phenomenal way in which Graph Search could potentially bestow enormous advantages for their brand and for those of you who are wondering what and how it will work can keep reading.
When Facebook announced a few days back about their refurbished search engine it was by far the most awaited and predicted one and they have named it the “Graph Search” which necessitates that to reap the most benefits in terms of making brand visibility a prime objective, equipping oneself with the knowledge of how to use Graph Search is critical.
Facebook proclaims that Graph Search will be a very unique approach to Search Engine Optimization in comparison to some of the other search engine platforms and can majorly enhance your company’s visibility. It’s very crucial that the “About Section” summarizes your business objectives, goals and vision as well as the category so that it enables people to look for you easily thanks to the updated information.
For someone who is looking for information about a business in a specific location it is very important that on your business information page details such as the address are clearly stated and also ensure that the address is similar to how it appears on the company website. Needless to say sharing the most relevant and latest news periodically only helps to keep your fans engaged. Its imperative to attract the right kind of people or fans as you would say in the facebook terminology, so that you have a reason to communicate on a regular basis with the news that you share on your page.
When people search for information what search engines would highlight would typically depend on the exactness of information that is out there to explore. Fans or people who have liked what you have to offer are instrumental is enhancing your Graph Search experience and exposure. The growth of your Facebook account and how popular you are will be responsible for the visibility you encounter. So each time someone shares, likes or comments on what you have put up on your page is almost like giving credit to you and this referral in turn becomes very important as graph search permeates to all of the other Facebook users.
Fake “Likes” or paying people to like you can be detrimental from a futuristic perspective because when a fan reports an update of yours as a spam or simply does not pay any heed to what you have to share will hurt your market positioning and validity with Facebook which will inadvertently effect your visibility.
Using pictures yield a high level of communication so also will asking propelling questions, using the right keywords that are simple to comprehend or adding links to your blogs are a great way to to boost the needed traffic to your website. Mechanisms that will not just build but also solidify connections could be recognizing a fan or sharing requests.
Finally whatever you do consistently and with integrity in approach go a long way in promoting your brand!!!
Author
This is a guest post by Roy Fernandez of acquiweb.com, a site that offers savings and current information on the best comcast cable company and comcast internet providers.
There sure are many interesting changes occurring right now in the social space that are probably getting lots of people really excited. First we have Facebook going public which is most likely going to bring an interesting slew of features to Facebook (some good, some bad) in order to keep up with investor demands. Also, a new Bing just launched and it has a lot of really great new search features that are sure to get Google thinking and scratching their heads. Google+ really has a rival on their hands now.
Facebook Going Public
Danny Goodwin, a writer for Search Engine Watch had this to say:
“A new survey finds 48 percent of respondents dislike the idea of Facebook launching its own search engine to directly compete with Google and Bing. The same survey also found Facebook could potentially capture 22 percent of the global search market.”
I agree, I don’t think they need to recreate the wheel and compete directly with Google & Bing but Facebook does have its own share of content that can easily be dumped into its own search tool, a better search tool than they already have. I don’t think anyone will need to search on Facebook to find a local electrician but when it comes down to searching for anything of entertainment value a Facebook branded search tool could put a dent into Google & Facebook market share, a potential 20% or more type of dent which i’m sure would make beads of sweat form on the foreheads of Google executives.
Video Transcript
Facebook going public, where are investors going now for the next new thing. julia boorstin with where t money wigoing next. sue, facebook put second market on the map. now the platform for trading private company shares is looking at life after facebook. with so many social media companies already public, mpanies like zynga, for the first time software company shares were the majority of second markets transactions. drop box and box.net. so last quarter software surpassed the category that facebook is part of, consumer web and social media which comprised 44% of trades.