Search engines and social networks: A match made in virtual heaven

Bing-Facebook search results

Teresa Elliot discussed Bing’s integrating Facebook into your results when logged into Facebook.  This search-social integration allows you to use your friends’ recommendations to enhance your search results.

Bing’s union with Facebook allows you to personalize your search results according to your social network.  Twitter real-time results are also available in this application.

Social-search integration example

1. You are craving a delicious steak in San Francisco.
2. You go to Bing to search for steakhouses in the area.
3. While doing so, you log on to your Facebook via Bing to see friends’ recommendations on steakhouses in San Francisco.
4. Bing will then deliver results to you according to what your Facebook friends have liked in the San Francisco area.
5. And voilà, a personalized search courtesy of Bing and your friends.

Who knows you better than your friends?  Take advantage of your social network to help you make the best decisions.

For further information on the Yahoo/Bing transition and more of Teresa Elliott’s insight on the topic, view Designated Editor’s post “Bing and Yahoo search integration complete: What’s the impact on paid search?”