'Google+ gmail bias' as explained by Rand doesn't seem to work

[Smeets-Graas]

One of the reasons we are using Google+ is the email via gmail bias. Rand says the following about this mechanism: Gmail is another way to get this same sort of bias. You can see it in there if you're logged into your Gmail account, and you can see "Hey, I'm not following this person on Google+. Oh, we've exchanged emails, so they're showing me these results higher that they've +1'd."

​We just started using Google+ and are determining which email address to use for this functionality to work. Of course we need to use the email address which we use for customer contact, but it's not very obvious which one that is from a Google+ bias point of view:

We are using Google Apps for email hosting. We log in with our 'backoffice@company.nl' email address, which no customer of ours will ever know about. And we send emails with this backoffice account on behalf of our info@ourcompany.nl email address, which is the email address we use for all our customer contact. Both of these email addresses are 'users' of this same Google Apps account. Emails sent to info@ourcompany.nl also appear in backoffice@company.nl. So we actually never login to info@ourcompany.nl, everything is being done in backoffice@company.nl. But for the outside world (our customers) it's all about info@ourcompany.nl.

Which account should we use for making our company Google+ Page? The 'backoffice' one, or info@ourcompany.nl?

I have been testing to find out which account offers the bias, but neither of them showed any sign of this. I hope somebody can help me out here.

Wouter Olthof

[Christy-Correll]

Hi there, and thanks for your question! First off, I would like to clarify a couple of things:

1. Are you using Google Apps for email hosting, or are you forwarding your "back office" email address to  info@ourcompany.ni?

2. There are a few ways that gmail can help you use Google+ more successfully. What exactly do you mean by the "Google+ email contact bias"? (I just want to make sure we are on the same page before proceeding.)

Christy

[Smeets-Graas]

Thank you Christy for your quick reply.

1. Yes, we are using Google Apps for email hosting. Both email addresses are 'users' of the same Google Apps account. (I clarified my post a little bit)

2. I mean the Google+ bias resulting from email (gmail) contact as explained by Rand in this Whiteboard Friday.

Wouter

[JCurrier]

Hi Wouter,

I think you might be mistaken on what is actually happening with Google plus. It doesn't matter which account you use. What is being discussed is when someone is logged into G+ or their gmail account, the search results give bias towards sites plus'ed by the user and people the user has circled. Essentially, the idea is that if you or a friend have plus'ed something (essentially saying that it is valuable), then you will probably like that search result.

For example, you are logged into Google with whatever account is associated with your Google plus. I am in one of your circles and have given a plus to a certain website. When you search for something related to that website, it will likely show up in your results since you are logged in, but might not have shown up if you weren't logged in. Since I, who am in your circle, have plus'ed a page or site, it follows that we are friends and you may find it useful too.

So, if you can increase the number of people in your market who have plus'ed your page, content, and/or site, the likely hood of other people in your market (eg. their friends) seeing you in search results increases.

[Smeets-Graas]

Hi JCurrier,

I am aware of the mechanism you are talking about. However, there is another mechanism which is independent of circles. Rand says the following about this mechanism:

Gmail is another way to get this same sort of bias. You can see it in there if you're logged into your Gmail account, and you can see "Hey, I'm not following this person on Google+. Oh, we've exchanged emails, so they're showing me these results higher that they've +1'd." in this Whiteboard Friday: http://moz.com/blog/using-google-plus-to-appear-in-the-top-results-every-time-whiteboard-friday

This means that if I post on my Google+ and my post has +1s, and you and I have email contact without circling each other then the Google search results will give bias to my post when you search for something related to my post, if you are logged in to the gmail account you used for contacting me by email.

[Christy-Correll]

Thanks for the clarification, Wouter. Given that information, I would go with info@ourcompany.ni. As it is gmail-hosted (and not forwarded), and the only email address that the public interacts with, it should give you the greatest advantages described in Rand's video -- and any that Google+ may roll out in the future. Best of luck!

Christy

[Smeets-Graas]

Thanks Christy! Do you perhaps have an explanation on why I cannot reproduce this bias with either of these accounts/email addresses (not even with the info@ourcompany.nl)? I have been testing this bias with multiple accounts already.

[Christy-Correll]

Hmm... what is your process for trying to reproduce the bias?