Why Google Shared Endorsements are a Good Thing
Ninety two percent of consumers around the world say they trust earned media, such as word-of-mouth and recommendations from friends and family, above all other forms of advertising, according to a 2012 study by Nielsen.
Recently, Google updated its terms of service so your friends, family and others may see your profile name and photo, and content like reviews you share or the ads you +1’d.
“To ensure that your recommendations reach the people you care about, Google sometimes displays your reviews, recommendations and other relevant activity throughout its products and services. This sometimes includes shopping contexts, like the Google Play music store, and ads. Your profile name and photo may appear with the recommendation.” – Google Support
Everyone is quick to find reasons to opt-out, but the biggest misunderstanding about shared endorsements is that everyone in the world will see your activity.
The truth is only the people you’ve chosen to share content with can see your activity and recommendations.
Shared endorsements are a great reason for brands to take advantage of their advocates and kick-start word of mouth marketing programs, but consumers benefit, too.
Think about the last time you were deciding where to dine, or which vacuum you should purchase. Did a brand’s advertisement or Facebook status weigh heavily on your decision? Probably not. A recommendation was, most likely, the biggest influence on your decision.
When you allow your networks to see your reviews and recommendations, you’re serving as a trusted source for them to base their decision and vice versa.
If you don’t want anyone to know what you like, where you buy it from or why you love it, it’s not a smart idea to put it online – Google is taking advantage of what’s already out there.
Update your Google preferences here, opt-in and help a friend.