Today Google merged its search engine and your Google+ social graph in searches.  This update is called “Search plus Your World”.  Search engine results pages will now display search results from your social circles as well the internet when performing a search while signed into Google+.

This is a significant step forward in blurring the distinction between your personal social circles and the rest of the web.  Google+ results will be included with traditional search results, but will be clearly labeled as Google+ results.  This will clearly give Google+ a boost as no other social networks are currently included in the update.  Sorry Facebook and Twitter!

While this update is a great step forward in search, it is another step in Google’s efforts to exercise more control over its main asset- Search Data.   Google compiles search data when a search is performed while signed into a Google service (Google Analytics, Google+1, Gmail), but no longer reports the query terms.   This hampers the efforts of SEO professionals as explained the October 2011 blog post Google turns its Back on SEO.

Google+ profiles will also now be a part of the search query box.  Google will try to finish your search queries with the most likely match in your circles as long as you’re signed into Google+.   The inclusion of search results from your circle can be toggled off for a more traditional search.