Could using our homepage Google +1's site wide harm our website?

[TheDude]

Hello Moz!

We currently have the number of Google +1's for our homepage displaying on all pages of our website. Could this be viewed as black hat/manipulative by Google, and result in harming our website?

Thanks in advance!

[paints-n-design]

I do exactly the same thing on one domain - I show the +1 for the Site on all pages in the footer (since one year) and the site has best rankings and organic traffic, no loss in that year, its getting better and better. So I guess, Google doesn't care

[TheDude]

Thanks for the response. I would guess doing this isn't an issue, but wanted to make sure. Does anyone have any info with a source stating using the same Google+ 1's site wide is ok to do?

[EricaMcGillivray]

This shouldn't be a problem because Google says that they don't use social signals -- even their own G+ network -- to directly affect rankings. While we found there's a strong correlation in +1s and rankings, correlation doesn't equal causation.

I would consider only displaying that number in relevant places when considering what signal it sends your visitors.

[TheDude]

Thanks for the insight Erica!

[EricaMcGillivray]

Glad to help! Hope you have a great New Year.