Want the absolute most up-to-date information on any hot or trending topic? Just Google it. Google’s new real-time search feature means you get more than the latest news, images and web content – you access conversations.

The real-time search function launched December 2009, and originally included Twitter, blogs, news, Web sites, Yahoo Answers and MySpace. Google added Facebook fan pages weeks later.

The stream doesn’t currently include public Facebook profiles, which limits the feedback from individual users. However, companies can keep a finger on the real-time pulse of what followers of fan pages are saying about them – the good, the bad and the ugly.

While having what people are saying about you take a front-and-center spot in the world’s most popular search engine might seem scary, being able to monitor and participate in those conversations so efficiently should be an exciting new possibility for marketers. More importantly, including Facebook fan pages in results will help publicize the pages to new potential fans.

Labels: Facebook, fan page, Google, real-time search, social media, social media tools

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