The syndication Google gadget directory, I once explained, is very different than the iGoogle gadget directory. I suggested that if Google were to turn the syndication directory on for their other Google products and Open Social, it would become a very important directory indeed.

The syndication directory of Google gadgets is now “turned on” for Blogger and the new Google toolbar.

What am I talking about?

Okay when the Google toolbar came out yesterday, you could choose “buttons” for it from the Google custom button directory. A few hours ago the custom button directory changed dramatically.

The change is that now when you search for a button on that directory, you now see results from the Google gadget syndication directory.

In the earlier article I wrote about what the syndication directory is and why it is important I explained that many people who think they have gadgets in the directory actually will not see their gadgets in the syndication directory.

I used Searchengineland and SEOmoz as two examples to show people why it is important to have gadgets in the syndication gallery. I will now do the same exact thing, but this time using the Google toolbar to illustrate my point.

Lets’ go to the Button directory for the toolbar. This is a directory where you can search for things to put on your toolbar. Let’s say I want to add searchengineland to my toolbar. I search for “searchengineland” but nothing comes up…

The reason no buttons shows up is because there are no Searchengineland gadgets in the syndication directory. If there was one in the syndication directory, it would show up here.

I made a gadget for SEOmoz, and I know it is in the syndication directory, so let’s do a search for SEOmoz…

The toolbar button directory lists the gadget I made for SEOmoz. Because this gadget is in the syndication directory. So when people choose that result and throw it on their toolbar here is what happens…

They get a dropdown that shows videos and resources from SEOmoz.

This brings me to a very important point. The reason you should be in the syndication directory is because if you are not, anyone else can do it for you and profit off your brand and/or misrepresent you. Google actually has a system for this that most people do not know about.

If you host your gadget on your own domain, it will be more highly associated for someone searching for your brand.

That means that if SEOmoz hosted a gadget on their own domain, it would show up (in virtually but not all situations) higher than other gadgets in the directory if someone searched for the term “seomoz”. That is some important stuff to know

Now let’s explore why Google gadgets are good for money and affiliates. Let’s search the toolbar directory for something that more people will actual use these buttons for, quick access to tools. If you are often needing information about flights for example, you can join the hundreds of thousands of people who have Orbitz, Expedia, Kayak, or Travelocity gadgets on their iGoogle home page, but you can also just have it on your toolbar…

Just a click and you can search your favorite travel provider from any page you are on just by clicking a button on your toolbar, as shown above. The thing is. That is my Kayak travel search gadget.

Hmmm, I wonder what happens if I search the Google toolbar directory for “Kayak”…

Wow, there are alot of gadgets. I have circled my gadget (the one I make money off of) in the results. It is second only to an official Kayak gadget. I achieve similar results for Expedia, Orbitz, etc.

The reason, I do well in the button directory (and the Blogger directory) is because I do well in the syndication directory. The syndication directory is hugely important, and I once again suggest to all that you ensure that your brand is represented there.

If you don’t, someone else will.

Related posts:
Google Gadget Syndication Directory – What it is and Why You Should Care
Google Gadgets in IE Toolbar – InDepth Look
The Google Gadget Directory Changes