Google has posted a job on LinkedIn that indicates the search giant is entering the social gaming space – and internet marketers should be on the lookout for opportunities to partner with the search giant in online games.
The LinkedIn job posting indicates that the company is looking for a product manager to “drive Google's gaming strategy.” The job description makes clear that games will “significantly” influence Google's social platforms.
Google's moves into social media have intensified since Larry Page took over as CEO, with Page even stating that workers' bonuses will be tied to social success. The company's most recent development is Google +1, which brings recommendations to search engine results pages.
The job listing for a product manager for Google games may be new, but rumors of Google's foray into social gaming began last summer. The company was reportedly in talks with Zynga – the developer of FarmVille.
If Google comes out with a search/social/game product, internet marketers might want to consider contributing branded content to such games. It will be itneresting to see if Google ties in-game mentions to search results, and – as it stands – games are shown to boost social marketing efforts. At the recent ad:tech San Francisco conference, Manny Anekal, director of brand advertising for Zynga, said that one business partner went from 45,000 Facebook fans to 1.9 million in a single day thanks to in-game FarmVille content.
