Twitter launches “Follow” button, Google launches “+1” button Facebook’s “Like” button is all over the web these days. We all know what it is, and most of us use it from time to time. It is the gold standard for social buttons, but now there are a couple of new kids on the block trying to shake things up. On Tuesday, Twitter, the popular micro-blogging and social networking site, launched the “Follow” button. It didn’t take long for search engine powerhouse, Google, to follow suit. On Wednesday, Google’s “+1” button was unveiled. Twitter’s new “Follow” button allows users to indicate that they would like to follow a particular Twitter feed without actually being on the Twitter website at the time. Previously, one was required to visit the actual Twitter profile of the entity to be followed, and subscribe to the feed from there, making it impossible for a Twitter user to follow a feed with one click from a third party website. The “Follow” button makes following much simpler, and a link next to the button allows a user to preview the target’s profile and browse their most recent Tweets. When Twitter initially announced the launch, they cited more than 50 websites that were on board to use the tool, however that number has undoubtedly soared since the button went live. Big name celebrities like Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez were among the first to adopt the button, but the button is available for anyone with a Twitter account. The “Follow” button is an excellent tool for individuals and small businesses that are working to build a stronger online presence. Rather than posting a link directing visitors to a Twitter feed, businesses and personalities can simply install the new button on their websites to give their fans a one-click way to follow. To install the button, one must visit http://twitter.com/about/resources/followbutton, enter the Twitter username, choose a background color, and decide whether or not to display a follower count. Once that’s done, simply copy the code snippet generated by Twitter, and paste it on your site wherever you want it to appear. According to Twitter’s Blog, “For publishers and brands, adding the Follow Button to your Website and using Twitter to stay connected with your audience is a powerful combination. People who follow your account are much more likely to retweet and engage with your Tweets, and to repeatedly visit your website.” Google’s response to Twitter’s new button came less than 24 hours later, when Google launched “+1” on Wednesday. The “+1” button isn’t technically new, as Google has been testing it on their own services for the last couple of months. The “+1” is similar to a “thumbs up” for a site, and by clicking the “+1,” a user can begin to create more personalized and useful results – at least that’s what Google hopes. The real potential for the “+1” button seems to lie in marketing and advertising, where Google can improve their already robust ad platform by further tailoring results to individual activity and browsing histories. Although the Twitter “Follow” button and Google “+1” button don’t really share much common ground, both could have quite an impact if users adopt them at a high percentage. Twitter’s “Follow” button is likely to be extremely popular among users for practical reasons, while the Google “+1” button is poised to make a more indirect impact from an advertising standpoint. Regardless, both will have quite an uphill battle ahead of them to dethrone the reigning king of Internet buttons, Facebook’s “Like.”Facebook’s “Like” is no Longer the Only Button on the Block
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