Search engine Blekko claims its slashtags help users cut through the spam on the web, and now searchers can use the site's filters to find results exclusively recommended by their […]

Search engine Blekko claims its slashtags help users cut through the spam on the web, and now searchers can use the site's filters to find results exclusively recommended by their Facebook friends. Users can log in with Facebook connect and use the "/Like" slashtag to find only friend-approved websites in results.

In an announcement from the company, Blekko officials assert that this Like feature is a revolution in the search landscape – and it may actually be.

Brafton has long reported on the emergence of social search options, from Bing's announcement that it would be incorporating Facebook data into search results, to the development of brand-new online services that offer social search experiences, such as RockMelt. But the Blekko tool represents a new level of social filtering within search results.

Where Bing's social data allows users to see which results friends like, Blekko now lets users see results based on whether or not they have merited Likes. "Friends don't let friends like spam," the company says.

While Bing's Facebook integration is not yet at this level, it may be moving toward a pure Like-based result offering. Just yesterday, the company announced a series of new search features, including an expansion of the Facebook data shared in search results. Plus, Google is continuously developing new social recommendation features that display in results – it, too, seems to want to offer a social search experience.

With this in mind, marketers must remember to create content that acts as Like-bait. Investing in unique content that catches social recommendations can pay off in search campaigns. According to an eMarketer report, 44 percent of brands say social efforts have improved their general search results.

Katherine Griwert is Brafton's Marketing Director. She's practiced content marketing, SEO and social marketing for over five years, and her enthusiasm for new media has even deeper roots. Katherine holds a degree in American Studies from Boston College, and her writing is featured in a number of web publications.