Google has begun the rollout of Google+ sidebar widgets for websites to promote the new brand pages. It's only visible to members of the Google+ platform preview group, which anyone can join, but Google is not yet launching this feature to the public. There is a publicly visible configuration tool to create badges and preview badges.
The widget displays a +1 button and an 'Add to circles' button for the chosen Google+ page. Google+ is joining Facebook and Twitter in providing sidebar widgets for users to promote their social media pages from their own websites. But Google+ badges come with a bonus: they enroll the page in Google+ Direct Connect, so users can find them with a Google search using a +, like "+ReadWriteWeb".
In addition to letting page owners promote their Google+ content from their own websites, using the Google+ badge qualifies the page for Google+ Direct Connect, the service that lets users go straight to a Google+ page by searching for "+[name]" on Google.
As of yesterday's launch, only select partners have access to this new keyword search. Once Google+ badges are available to the public, enrollment in Direct Connect will be a strong incentive for Google to drive adoption of badges.
Don't forget to add ReadWriteWeb to your Google+ circles.
What do you think of Google+ pages so far?
