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It seems Google can't please anyone these days.
What is the root of it all?
a) The Florida update?
b) Big - just plain bigness (everyone loves to pick on the big guy)?
c) Poor management?
d) Public relations dept screw up?
e) Competitors planting seeds of division?
f) All of the above?
For webmasters:
- They don't respond to inquiries like they used to. This is probably a function of their growth in popularity, but I just don't get responded to like I used to and probably others don't, either.
- Florida update and see the next point.
- Disappointing results - I don't know if I am more attuned to poor results from Google since Florida, but I have had more searches with unsatisfactory results than prior to November. The general public probably has seen this, too.
In general:
- The same mindset that says "McDonald's made me fat, I'm a victim, sue them" is at work here. Google is now seen as a big company with deep pockets, so "sue them and get rich."
- In a similar vein, Google is wildly successful. For some reason, there is an element in our society that sees being successful and making money as a crime. Unfortunately, in the current environment Google's success works against them as far public relations, although the envious should blame themselves, not Google. Google is innovative, came up with a great idea, and are successful because of that. More power to them.
The News section represents complete power over internet news and the ability to set the agenda in Googles favor/image net wide.
I think that the key to all this uproar (other than the whiney webmasters that got knocked down) is that business types just can't believe that Google will not abuse the power that they have gained, because if they had that power, they would abuse it.
Well, so far, Google hasn't abused its power for commercial gain. They have used their power, but they have not abused it.
Yesterday in part of a talk to a large group of business owners I said 'business owners need to decide if they will send email to a gmail address (as your email will be surrounded by ads for your competitors)'. You could have heard a pin drop!
I am amazed to find my views changing so fast. Last year I believed Google could do no wrong. Now Google are begining to look like the Microsoft of the internet. It seems they want to possess the whole thing and push everyone else out so only Google can make money from the web.
C'mon Google, its not too late to stop this mess. Its fine if you're biggest and you make money, but don't prevent everyone else while your at it, help them, like you did before.
He said many reporters and shops feel threatened by it. The News section represents complete power over internet news and the ability to set the agenda in Googles favor/image net wide.
I would love to hear more background on this reporter's comment.
How does Google news represent "complete power over Internet news?" In what context did he say that? Does the reporter understand that Google News is all algorithmic-based, and the stories that get major play aren't chosen manually? The stories that get major play on Google News get it because so many online news sources are reporting that story -- which, in essence, puts the power in the hands of the news sources.
News organizations, generally speaking, have felt threatened by the Internet for a long time now. "You mean people don't have to wait for our 6pm news or our morning newspaper to find out what's going on?" "You mean people can actually become publishers in their own right and publish their own news online, refuting our version of the story?" "You mean people actually read this Matt Drudge character?"
Google News is not the real threat to the news media. You can argue the counterpoint that G News helps traditional media by keeping it in front of the faces of millions of users. And that's why I'd love to hear more about the background and context of this reporter's statement.
I do agree 100% with the previous comments about the media building up and then knocking down. Very common. As a wise man once said to an inquiring CNN reporter: "You people -- the media -- you need heroes. You need to create heroes. But if I take the job, you'd kill me. So, I'm backing out." I don't think Google can back out now, though. They just have to deal with it, and make a much more concerted effort to improve their PR efforts.
Spam filter? - don't make me laugh.
Just say it - explain!
(I've got this horrible European simplicity about me - can't help it - it's not cynicism, it's closer to logic. Just me and my monkey...,.)
Yesterday in part of a talk to a large group of business owners I said 'business owners need to decide if they will send email to a gmail address (as your email will be surrounded by ads for your competitors)'. You could have heard a pin drop!
And anyone that decides not to send e-mail to gmail for such a stupid reason will deserve the drop in their sales.
Think about it for a minute.
- There is a good chance that the customer has multiple connections in the area that they deal in. They already know there are options out there, and there is a better than even money chance that they are already dealing with those companies. That ad will not be news to the customer.
- You are telling a business not to put their name in front of a cuatomer in a good, personal, high content way, for fear that a small blurb and link from a competitor might possibly show up.
- That customer probably gets other mail related to that subject. They will get the competitor's ads, but without having 7/8 of the screen showing information about you in the message area.
- Go ahead and tell your customer that you disapprove of their e-mail address, and make it so dealing with *you* is a hassle for them. But your competitor that advertises on Gmail welcomes them.
Privacy concerns are all well and good, but from a business perspective, what you should be telling them is to:
1. Make sure that your e-mail communications are all top notch so that the ad that pops up next to their letter will have no impact.
2. Advertise on Gmail to try and steal your competitor's customers.
Not sending e-mail to Gmail for *that* reason has got to be one of the stupidest moves an online company can make.
I hope google/googleguy don't think I'm coming down on them too hard. I still love Google.
Why do you feel the need to say this?
It's totally illogical / bizarre.
Either they get it right, or they get it wrong: where does this puke-making loyalty come from?
Even Google apologists temper their admiration of Google in some way - but declarations of love?
I think Google is still a good search engine, but it is no longer a great one, because the results aren't 'clean' anymore.
But for heaven's sake - digging its grave, or putting our collective tongues in its mouth is not helping anyone.
Google is trying to capitalize on their success, much to the displeasure of those who bought into the whole “Don’t be evil” mantra. And there is nothing wrong with that. Why can they not be rewarded for their hard work? (Evidently, from some of the postings here, Europeans see making money as a bad thing.)
Now, through the Florida update and other actions, many others lost their previous positions and lost money in the process. So, they too, are crying foul.
It’s business folks, get over it. Adapt and overcome. If it’s not working, find another way.
Google is going to do what Google can do to make money. After all, those Segway’s don’t come cheap.
Maybe SearchKing was right.
Good points, born2drv. I do think that if you look at the history of what Google has done over the past few years, we've been experimenting with how to make search and Google better.
Here's an admission: when I first heard about Google Labs, I wasn't sure it was a good idea. If you know an idea is good, why not push it all the way out to product launch? Would it just give competitors ideas? But looking back now, I see that it was the right decision. It keeps Googlers thinking about fun 20% projects. It gives a peek behind the curtain at the ideas that we're thinking of. It gives us good feedback on what people like and it even provides a pretty good source of job leads as people see the interesting things you can do with a copy of the web and want to come to Google. So I appreciate the feedback that I've gotten from WebmasterWorld about things that folks want to see. :)
