Forum Moderators: phranque
I guess to use the analogy of a high-street shop; a referral from a search engine is equivalent to a passer by, whereas a paid referral is akin to traditional advertising.
Are there web businesses out there that could not make a living if "passers by" were no longer able to reach their "front door"?
But I'd be fine and still make a living. I sure would miss Google though...
Pink
Just to clarify further, the big difference that "got me thinking about this" was that a bricks and mortar company that relies on passing trade is a much safer bet than the dot-com equivalent. The simple reason being is that dot-com passing trade relies on _another company_.
This basically leads me to the conclusion that a sold web based business must be profitable entirely upon referrals from paid advertising (both on the web and in "traditional" media).
Of course being in business involves an element of calculated risk in all sorts of areas; and I suppose a reliance on search engine traffic is a risk that many may be prepared to take.
But if Google were gone, I do not think anyone would search any less, they would just search somewhere else.
For me, I would not care a whole lot- we are well positioned on all the SE!
dave
:-)
Best idea yet!
dave
Most people are talking along the lines of "there are other search engines"... etc. etc., but that's not really what i'm getting at.
My fault for using the "Royal Google". I really meant search engines in general. What if they all stopped directing traffic to commercial sites tomorrow.
You are relying on another commercial entity to direct traffic to your commercial site out of the kindness of their own hearts.
Is, therefore, the use of a search engine to discover commercial websites of vital importance to their (the search engine's) business model - i.e. would enough people visit a search engine if all it was useful for was finding "information", not "shops"?
i.e. would enough people visit a search engine if all it was useful for was finding "information", not "shops"?
Two problems:
1. How to let an algorithm define what is commercial and purely (non-profit)informational?
2. Some of the best information is only found on commercial sites.
The contingnecy plan should already be in place by all serious webmasters. Make sure you are well placed in Inktomi, ATW, Teoma and Wisbot as well. They are the only ones i reall worry about, but its nice to be well placed in the third tier engines as well.
Ways that people can find information and objective non commercial content like news is an indispensable element of the Web. If people could not do that, they would stop using the Web. There will always be an oppportunity for that.
You say:
>>would enough people visit a search engine if all it was useful for was finding "information", not "shops"?<<
Of course, thats why people go to the web, not to go shopping. Mind you, they can be convinced to go shopping on the side. They go onto the web mainly to check email, chat and look for info from what I have heard. If they cant find that in admidst the shopping mall environment, they will turn off the web in droves.
People who sell off the web, must realise that it is in their interest to look after the web as a whole so people keep coming, and then buy their stuff. much like a percentage of lesses in a shopping complex pay or support the complex as a whole in terms of say playgrounds for children, entertainment, the right mix of coffee shops, and the comfort of ALL visitors.
People who sell off the web, must realise that it is in their interest to look after the web as a whole so people keep coming
A very profound statement chiyo! As with most things which provide freedoms to the masses, the web is frequently (understatement) abused to the detriment of us all.
Those webmasters who regularly spam and knowingly break search engine rules instead of just learning to be really good webmasters, working within the rules ... hold the nail guns for the www coffin. What they are actually doing is forcing government intervention which could result in the formation of some kind of www regulatory body.
Those game players who break the rules and/or push the limit to the breaking point seemingly care nothing about repercussions.
The notion that Google or all search engines (as we know them) might suddenly vanish makes my blood run cold. Paid advertising is the only alternative and I suppose I would jump on that band wagon along with droves of others. If paid (and regulated) advertising is what is in store for the www, then so be it.
The up side of a regulatory body (should one be formed) is that thousands of editorial jobs would be created. Maybe I'll apply for a position and forget about working 7 days a week trying to eke out a living from my web site!
