Bing Adds Foursquare to Search Results

This May, Bing began integrating social media results with their regular search results. Their current search results page now consists of three columns: the first and largest column is organic results with a few paid listings; the second is paid listings; and the third is social results. In the social results column, Twitter and Facebook posts have been used to display results tailored specifically to the user through their social media accounts. Last week, Bing rolled out their newest edition to the social results: Foursquare.

Through Foursquare, Twitter, and Facebook there are many opportunities to influence search results through Bing. As search engines continue to integrate social media into search results these opportunities will only grow. Here are a few ideas to increase your exposure on search through social media:

1. Foursquare: If you have a business, especially a consumer-facing business, you must be on Foursquare. If you do a simple search for your business, you can claim it through a link in the bottom right. This allows you to easily edit the information for your business and enables you to begin the process of promoting specials to Foursquare users. Foursquare has given business owners extra exposure in the past by allowing users to link other social media accounts to their Foursquare accounts, resulting in check-ins being displayed through other social media sites (Twitter, Facebook). Now Bing has increased that further by using Foursquare in search results through tips left on specific venues. For example, if a search is done for “coffee shops,” Foursquare friends who left tips for coffee shops will appear in the rightmost column with their tips. For business owners, this means it is more important than ever to provide great products and customer experiences. Providing incentives for customers to check in and leave tips will also be highly beneficial for businesses now that Foursquare has even greater potential to advertise your business.
2. Facebook: Make sure that you have a Facebook page and encourage people to like it. Facebook is by far the most prominent social media site, and gives you the greatest chance for additional exposure. Facebook friends and pages they have liked will appear in the right column for related searches. This gives your brand – and your Facebook page – additional exposure and could encourage someone to try you instead of a competitor.
3. Twitter: Some of the benefits here are the same as those above. As people mention and respond to you, it could increase your visibility. However, with Twitter, you can also increase your exposure simply by tweeting about things that are important to you or relevant to you. It is not even necessary to be repeatedly mentioned or have high degrees of interaction. Bing is using tweets and account profiles in their results if the search topic and your tweets are related. For example, a search for “movie reviews” brings up results for a movie critic and four other people who tweeted about movie reviews. Similar to a blog, writing about things that are relevant to your business on twitter can bring you higher in the search results and increase exposure.

Bing may not be the most prominent search engine now, and may never be in the future. But, with social media on the steady incline, it is only going to have an increased effect on search, and Bing seems to be paving the way in this area. Don’t get left behind when other search engines finally catch up and are able to integrate social media on a larger scale, or if Bing begins to grow as a result of its new changes. Start doing the little things now that will increase your exposure and have potential big returns in the future. If you want help increasing your social media presence, give our NJ online marketing team a call. We’d love to help you out.

About The Author

We specialize in b2b, supporting the clients who are the "The Brands Behind the Brands." These are the supply chain partners of brands, either in Tier 1 or Tier 2 positions, who drive value through the delivery of goods, services and technologies. We enjoy blogging about all things related to Branding, Marketing, Inbound, Tradeshows, etc... And we're always happy to talk about any ideas you may have that might Get You To Your NEXT!