Google +1

Back in December 5, 2010, the first rumors surfaced on the social aspect of Google that is to be incorporated in searches: Google +1. This new Google initiative is said to take over what was rumored to be called "Google Me".

Yet, unlike the rumors, Google +1 is not set to kill Facebook, it's only competing with social networks' "share" buttons, the digital version of word-of-mouth and an epic weapon for viral marketing. Google +1 will certainly shake the digital world, at least from a marketing perspective, social sharing has reached a new peak by being incorporated in searches.

I was happy to hear that Google +1 will not be directly affecting SEO (awesome), the only effect it might have would be an increased traffic to certain recommended sites which will indirectly affect the rankings (very fair).

Check this video, it was posted on Google's official Youtube channel... and if you would like to test this Google service first-hand, join the experiment, I did.

#uniteLB for a #unitedLB

Trending on Twitter lately, are hashtags with many MENA countries, all "leading" their own revolutions/ reforms, or should I say "supporting"? Given the mayhem in the dictatorships and monarchies around, Lebanon, a democracy, was left out. For once, appearing serene and free from turmoil, for once, Lebanon was the safest in the region.  

...and then suddenly we were starting to identify opinion leaders in the region. Suddenly, we saw the power of the Twitter platform. Suddenly other media were quoting Twitter activity... and consequently people were interested in Twitter.

Well, we have seen @Ghonim among others tweet for Egypt... What about Lebanon? who can lead a revolution here? Lebanon might be "quiet" lately, but this does not mean that it has gotten rid of its problems... and we all know, Lebanese like to take part in the action; so #uniteLB for a better Lebanon.

Well, it seems like we have our own thought leader in Lebanon, one, as famous as it gets to the online community, even if not as a tweep, @habibh simply being the founder of http://www.yamli.com gives him enough authority. 

...So why the hashtag? No, we are not stupid enough to think that a tag can change the world. Yet media has its role to play, if it does not break systems, at least it builds hope and motivates people. What more does the media do anyway? ...and yet we refer to it as the "fourth branch of government".

The Viral Marketing Revolution - Leads a Real Revolution #Egypt #Jan25

Jan 25, 2011 Egyptain Revolution:

Trigger

It all started with a protest on a Facebook page for Khaled Said, said to be killed by the Egyptian police (denied by the government). Organized on Facebook, and spread through viral marketing; the Egyptian revolution is the first of its size that takes full advantage of social networks.

Leaders

When we talk about a revolution, we talk about Leaders; and real leaders have followers. ..So what better place than Twitter for an online revolution?

Following the Egyptian revolution on Twitter is all the more touching - with the hashtags #tahrir,  #Egypt and #jan25. My personal favorites were the Lebanese @bloggerseif and @sarahkaram1 *ok, I am biased*. Here are some exerpt tweets:

 Action

This time around, it is not only the journalists that the government fears. No.  This time around, the torch of freedom is held by bloggers, twitter users and social media community leaders such as  @Sandmonkey and Google Marketing Manager Wael Ghoneim. 

Reaction

No wonder the internet got disrupted in Egypt following the #Jan25 revolution. This comes only to attest on the great role the techsavvy youth is playing in this upheaval.