This week in social and search (Small Business E-commerce Link Digest – July 8, 2011)

Because, y’know, you needed more evidence that social and search are joined at the hip, here’s what caught my eye this week:

• Christopher S. Penn shows how to track Google+ in Google Analytics. The basic steps would apply equally well to other analytics tools, too.
• A recent Nielsen report shows that 64% of mobile users prefer gaming over any other app category. But social networking is right behind at 56% and ahead of search, maps, navigation, news or entertainment. A friend of mine recently said that “mobile is a situation, not a screen.” And it looks like that situation is inherently social.
• Of course, not everything is rainbows and unicorns on the social and search front. For example, up until last Friday, Google drew content directly from Twitter as part of its Realtime Search service. However, the two companies parted ways. Search Engine Land takes a look at the consequences of the two companies’ split. I wonder which company felt more strongly they didn’t need the other (but I have a hunch it’s our friends at Big G, particularly if they’ll get their own “firehose” from Plus).
• SEOmoz is looking at whether the Google-Twitter separation will impact SEO efforts. (Hat tip to Danny Sullivan for the link).
• Despite Google and Twitter being “on a break,” you can still do very well with Twitter. And Mashable offers a great look at 7 Twitter marketing campaigns you can learn from.
• Speaking of breaks, summer break is rapidly drawing to a close. Microsoft’s adCenter blog breaks down back-to-school search trends, insights and optimization tips.

Speaking of breaks, I’m going to take a break from writing. But only until Monday. Enjoy your weekend Big Thinkers and I’ll see you right back here next week.

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