What is social search?

Question

I have heard so much about social search, social networking, organic traffic on the internet. Can someone tell me what they mean.

Answer 1

Ask any industry guru about the hottest topics in search this year and the buzz words "social search" will inevitably creep into the conversation-- it has been called the next big breakthrough in search. Social search has many definitions, and the origin of the term seems to be a debate in today's new-buzz-word-each-day techno language.

Google has been attempting to tap into the world of consumer information sorting habits with its release late last year of Google Base. Yahoo! is betting the future farm on expanding beyond ranking criteria from web masters by shifting more control to users with Web 2.0. Then you have independents like Eurekster observing and collecting data anonymously with its brand of social search called Swickis.

However you might be referring to it, social search, community search or behaviorally targeted search, the idea of consumers entering data into search results has far-reaching implications for advertising models and how users perceive -- and ultimately use -- their information resources.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Search by social to find the information you need.

Social Search instantly matches and retrieves the latest consumer identifying information reported on the input Social Security number from Experian's File OneSM database. Reach hard-to-find individuals who may have changed their names or moved without a forwarding address with Experian's social-based search logic.

Improve your collections and recovery efforts
Instantly get the latest address information reported on the consumer associated with the input social to help you make a connection or uncover movers who did not leave a forwarding address.

Verify your account information
Social Search delivers up-to-date name and address information to help you confirm applicant information or detect potential fraudulent activity associated with a Social Security number.

Eliminate manual investigations
Use Social Search to save time and money spent on manual investigations when a current address is not known.

Find consumer with name changes
Locate maiden, alias and misspelled names or consumers who have changed their identity with Experian's simple and comprehensive Social Search product.

Answer 2

Apparently an action that is unique to Yahoo! and complex social thinkers who study uses of the internet relative to social networks and blogs.