The search giant may be making another step in the social arena with a reported update asking users to connect to their Twitter accounts when they conduct searches.

Brafton recently reported that Google expanded its social search options, letting signed-in users see friend-generated results in standard searches. The search giant may be making another step in the social arena with a reported update asking users to connect to their Twitter accounts when they conduct searches.

According to BIA/Kelsey, one user reported an update to Google’s results pages, where he was encouraged to identify his Twitter account to see which results “friends are talking about.” Although we can't replicate the invitation, searcher Jordan Muela provided a screenshot depicting the social update.

His search for “techcrunch.com it guy” yields a result that was shared by one of his Twitter connections. Under the Tweet data, Google asks him, “Are you jordanmuela?” with the promise of showing more socially recommended results if he answers “Yes.”

This could be another move by the search giant toward a more social experience. If it comes to pass, it will reward marketers for sharing content on Twitter and catching retweets. (Notably, the company is already promoting social media as a broadcasting platform for quality content.)

Plus, there are other potential social updates rumored to be on the horizon. As Brafton has reported, there is buzz about a potential Google Circles service that is supposed to enhance users' sharing options.

While marketers will want to monitor Google's social upgrades, they may also want to be on the lookout for search developments from social giant Facebook. A Facebook patent that surfaced last week indicates Mark Zuckerberg’s site has the rights to certain “visual tags for search results,” and, as Brafton reported, makes clear that the company has had its eye on the search market since 2004.

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.