I have to say, the concept of “+1” is actually pretty geeky. Lots of people have pointed out how close to net-speak +1 really is, although Google has the right idea with it. Saying “+1” is usually a way to affirm that you agree with what the person said (kind of like saying “signed,”) and support their sentiment. Google wants to take it to the next level by giving you a way to +1 search results, services, products, and good results from Google so they can improve their search results.

It’s not Google’s first attempt at leveraging user input to improve search results, but this one might catch on because it has a lot of things in common with Facebook’s beloved “Like” button. The end goal is that you can put a “+1” button on your Web site to get a little more exposure, and to have people click to prove to Google that your site is a good one and full of good information.

The down-side though is that it’ll be difficult for Google to separate the wheat from the chaff on this one: a number of tech pundits I know have already pointed out that SEO specialists and marketers have found ways to exploit and leverage virtually all of Google’s social search tools and techniques up to this point: why would this one be any different?

I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.

Here’s Google’s video describing exactly what the +1 button is and how it’ll work:

[ +1’s: The Right Recommendation Right When You Want Them — In Your Search Results ]