Anyone use the Toolbar voting buttons?

How does Google use the data?

[Monkscuba]

I just reinstalled the Toolbar with some different options (just to make a change) and included the Happy and Sad faces.

So what happens if I like WebmasterWorld and click the Happy face? How does it help WebmasterWorld? What use does Google have for such data?

I imagine it can have no effect on ranking and can't be shown in a SERP as it's a bit easy to just click :) on your own site and then :( for your competitor. So why are these buttons there?

[Sinner_G]

This feature is in testing; for now, you will not see any immediate effects by voting for or against a page.

From the Google Toolbar Buttons Help Page [toolbar.google.com].

[Monkscuba]

Thanks for that. So it seems they're looking to see if real people will use them, or just dirty SEO's trying to get some happy points for their site.

It also just occurred to me..How many "real" people use the Toolbar? Is it in common use? Is there any data on this? I guess Google must have some idea, since the Toolbar sends data back to them if the Advanced features are turned on.

Well, I'll give WW a :) anyway! It can't hurt.

[Sinner_G]

There was a thread about that some time ago, but I can't find it. It might have been in the Foo forum.

Anyways, as far as I can remember, most people who ever used it tried it on their own site and here on WebmasterWorld, but not more.

[TheDave]

I have started using the :( to report spammy SERP and web pages. I don't know whether it does any good but it makes me feel better to give that sad face a bash when I get a load of spam :P

A couple of times I've gone to vote happy on a page and accidently voted sad :P So then I hit the happy button 10 times or so just to let them know I didnt mean it :P Hope that works too lol wouldn't want to ban some of my favourite sites. Don't worry, WebmasterWorld definately got a smiley :) And another one just now for good measure :)

[nativenewyorker]

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