Perhaps it’s because most people truly are good people (that’s another question all together), maybe people just like to look smart, more likely it’s because when you have a passion you want to share that passion.  But the bottom line may be even simpler: because we can!

We can share.  We can share information, knowledge, ideas, and anything else we can think to share.

So skipping ahead quite a bit in the evolution of the internet to today; Facebook and Twitter are the current best examples of this concept of sharing.

So what does all this have to do with SEO?  Search engines have always wanted to give their users (you doing a search) the best possible results.  They’ve always struggled (and are constantly tweaking) to figure out the optimal way to determine the VERY subjective decision of “best”.   What they have figured out is that they certainly aren’t the only one who should decide this answer, and maybe not even the best to decide.  We are.  And since we can’t tell Google directly what we like best – at least not every single one of us can, all at once; Google has figured out a way to get that answer without us telling them.  How?  By learning what we share.  What we find enough value in that we’re willing to risk our reputation as a trusted friend, colleague or family member to say – I like this, you may like it too.  Most of us don’t take this lightly.

What do we link to?  What do we post on Facebook?  What do we Tweet about?  What do we comment about on other’s blogs?  What blogs do we subscribe to?

So have I lost you again?  What does this have to do with SEO?

Everything.

As I sat in session after session on a variety of topics of best practices, tips and guidelines for better search marketing it was ultimately all SEO.  It was all to improve SEO.  Even if most people don’t recognize that.

Why do we work so hard to create great content?  So people will like it.  Why do we want them to like it? So they’ll share it.

Why do we tweet about our products, latest news and sales?  So people will know about it.  What will people do if they find something they like?  They’ll share it.

Why do we update our Facebook status – sometimes entirely too often?  Because we want to share with people.

Why do we do press releases?  So people will know about our latest news.  What do reporters do when they have noteworthy news – they share it – it’s their job.

Why do we do PPC?  So more people will come to our site – the more people that come to our site the more chances someone will share our site with someone else.

Why do we put Like, Tweet, Digg and Share This buttons on every page of our website?  Well, if you don’t know by now I’m done.

So for the last time: What does this have to do with SEO?  I think you’ve figured out.  If everything we do on our websites (even off our websites) is so people will share it and a hugely important factor (although obviously not everything – there is no SEO magic bullet) for search rankings is how popular we are, and that popularity is determined in large part by how often others share us, the math is simple.  It’s all about SEO.

Most times the snippit in a SERP is pulled from the meta description tag of the page when present.  This means the often-overlooked meta description tag has the potential to increase the click through rate of a website’s organic listings in search engines.  While this may not be a startling revelation to some SEO’s, the importance of this tag is too often dismissed by some.  This is likely due to the fact it is widely considered search algorithms to not equate meta descriptions into their rankings.  What this study has validated is that a compelling and informative description tag can drive more traffic to your site by enticing the user to click.  Since click through rates are thought to be a component of search engine algorithms, in a roundabout way the description tag might actually improve your site’s rankings.  An interesting next step for this study would be to analyze when the snippit uses the same keyphrase as the query how does that increase the click through rate?  How does it impact the user’s engagement with the snippit?  The study is translated in English and summarized at Dynamical.biz.

Here’s a list of some things that have changed in the new version of Digg, so you can decide for yourself:

• Added the ability to “follow” your friends as well as brands/publishers
• Connected with Facebook, Twitter and Google so it’s easy for you to find your friends
• Included a suggested user list that makes it easier to find brands/publishers you want to follow
• Added a “My News” stream that shows the stories users you’re following digg
• Put a “Digg It” submission bar at the top of your homepage to make it easy to submit content
• Included new tools to make it easier to share content via Twitter, Facebook and email
• Added some new features, including one that lets you save a story for later

Plus, Digg is also working to improve its content by recruiting big brands, promising to “help publishers drive traffic and revenue, including improved analytics and reporting, additional incoming feed capabilities, and improving the discovery process to ensure all publishers are being found and followed on Digg.”

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So, what’s the verdict? Will you use Digg more? Less? Do you think Digg will be more successful overall?

During our wait, it occurred to me that we needed some kind of app with a cotton candy button. When we press the cotton candy button, we’re prompted to enter our section and seat number. The app would alert the cotton candy guy who is also logged into the same app, but viewing a graphic of the stadium seating chart. When our call for cotton candy comes through, a blip on his radar appears and he can start heading our way. He could even send us a quick message that he’s on his way, maybe even an estimated time of arrival. This way, we won’t get weak and settle for the $1 dollar candy bar instead of the $5 cotton candy.

Of course, such an app could be used for hot dogs and nachos too, and it may even change the way the vendors work together. Who knows, maybe more $5 cotton candy would be sold – bringing in higher revenues for the vending company.

Until then, my son and I will just have to wait for the elusive cotton candy man. What? I could get out of my seat and get my own cotton candy? No, sorry, couldn’t possibly do that. I might miss some exciting Royals action.

First, customers go to 4food.com and select ingredients to make their custom burger. Next, they share their creation on Twitter and Facebook. (Remind anyone else of the Wonder-izer?!) When their friends see their creations, they can’t help but get hungry.  They make their own burger on 4food.com or order their friend’s creation which earns him or her 25 cents off his or her lunch. Smart, right?! And that’s not even the only way customers can rack up serious discounts. 4food also has an in-restaurant leader board “menu” which features the most popular burgers and helps their creators get even closer to those free lunches.

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Image: 4food.com as cited by The New York Times

A number of key themes are emerging in the reaction to the launch.

1. Privacy – this feature, and its perceived privacy issues add to the continued discussion and concern around Facebook and its handling of privacy
2. Local – local is big, its a growing source of discussion, technologies and investment. Facebook with its massive audience, is the 500lb gorilla in the room in many digital arenas, local is no different. Its entry is going to help bring Gowalla & Foursquare type functionality and usefulness to a much broader audience. How other players sit alongside Facebook will be interesting to watch.* Importantly for marketers this will bring this exciting space to maturity faster.

*Gowalla & Foursquare where present at Facebook HQ for the announcement and are partnering with Facebook in the Places product.

Features Include:

1. Check into a location
2. Tag a friend at a location
3. See people who are at the same location (people are displayed for a limited time period)
4. Read comments from friends who have been to a location before

• More than 400 million active users, 50% who login each day
• Average user hases 130 friends
• Average user spends more than 55 minutes per day on Facebook
• Average user becomes a fan of 4 pages per month
• Average user “Likes”9 pieces of content per month

We’ve been given the extreme opportunity to actually talk with our community

From my vantage point we, as marketers, need to embrace what it is we’ve been given… We’ve been given the extreme opportunity to actually talk with our community, converse with our customers, and build solid relationships that, if nurtured correctly, can turn into passionate advocates about our company, brand and products. This amazing phenomena doesn’t come without a pricetag. Not a monetary figure but one of time, understanding, and effort. We must pay this price to build the trust needed to develop lasting relationships and bonds that will only continue to grow stronger with each interaction.

Now that many companies are “dipping a toe” in social media, we continually hear, “How do I build trust within my community?”

eMarketer recently released some amazing facts and figures about what and how people trust in social media.

As we see above, trust from consumers depends on several variables; some that you may have control of, some that you may not. There is no magic charm for success in social media; however there is a simple formula to building passionate supporters:

1.    Build Trust
2.    Drive Loyalty
3.    Empower Advocates

1. A quick response can go a long way
2. You may have to respond as you, not your company
3. Give yourself more than 140 characters to respond
4. Let someone else respond for you (your fans for instance)
5. Know when to let it go

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The most amazing use of multitouch I’ce seen to date.