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Google, the worldĄŻs No.1 Internet search engine company is preparing to expand its business in Korea, hiring a regional chief for its new affiliate company which is expected to open in Seoul within a few months. ....The company is also hiring product managers, marketing managers and finance managers who will operate Google Korea. Currently, it only has a few sales representatives in its liaison office in Samsong-dong in southern Seoul, while its Korean services such as the search engine and e-mail service are all developed and managed at its headquarters in the United States.
full article:
[naestar.com...]
about freakin time. they were starting to make me look bad the way I've been saying for I don't know how long that they would...one day...make its REAL move here.
getting a PROPER full team on the ground is right way to go.
the Google korea blog is much of the same with an interview Google bigwig Teymour Farman-Farmaian about their plans in Korea. Nothing surprising in the content...localize, hire right people, yada yada... just interesting and nice to finally see stuff out in the open.
but I can say this ...for all the groundwork and hype...
they got a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGGGG way to go in this market.
Last I checked:
Google search market share: 0.48% +_+
if they do pyscho, insanely, incredible here...I'd expect about 20% top (at least as the market environment stands now and for some time to come).
I wonder if this has anything to do with recent comments of people like Jack Ma of Alibaba vowing to crush Google in Asia. Google doesn't really have a stellar track record here. It's easy for local companies to snipe at them while they're lacking a local presence.
Like you Grendel I don't really see them rocketing to the top of the Korean market. However, they could learn a lot by simply doing business and competing in Korea. Working with one of the most connected and advanced cultures on the net could be good practice for the upcoming battle in China.
Looking back on things do you think the whole 'Google bus' campaign was a success?
Looking back on things do you think the whole 'Google bus' campaign was a success?
yes and no. more no (imo).
it probably did better than expected...for a while....but then fell off fast. That is, I have a feeling it had the same impact as some of my company's product first releases... big fast jump in hype/sales(whatever) at first release and big fast drop after initial hype. (but there remains a good possibility of picking up again steam again later as it becomes "established".) For many internet products (whatever it is), Korean's love new and interesting things, but the attention span is that of an MTV video and... if it fails to offer lots of supporting and continuing marketing/pr efforts to keep the level hype up.... well... its gone in a puff of smoke. then back to the normal business cycle of adoption (early adopters, later adopters etc etc.)..
if it can last that long. (which G shouldn't have a problem with).
I suppose that's true anywhere actually...but seems especially so here where the internet is so portal dominated and everything is super fancy, cool and trendy.
so, the G bus could be good foundation brick to long-term "mindshare" penetration. I mean I assume they still HAVE the bus (then again, maybe it was a rental? lol that's kinda funny when you think of it) and focusing on hitting the student market was/is smart. That's good long-term thinking as catching students now and familiarizing them with the fine points of Google is good groundwork for any larger campaigns they will have down the road. And bringing out the Google bus again wouldn't be a bad thing.
it'd actualy be a shame and wrong way to go about it (imo) if they are just trying something here and there and stopping quickly if nothing comes of it. they are really going need to think longer-term and KEEP hacking away at it....consistently and progressively. EVen cyworld took YEARS to finally reach critical mass. It was pluggin away at a loss (from what I hear) for a couple years until it really took off.
so if the G bus was part of a long-term plan to start educating the market on the wonders of G, so to speak, (and is still around) then I'm sure it did..does fine for what it is.
But if it was supposed to be thing that busted Big G into the market, well..... then it was APTLY painted all in "white". (*ahem* refer to old thread on the bus to see what I said people thought the bus looked like o_0) lol
However, they could learn a lot by simply doing business and competing in Korea.
absolutely correct. which is why I think they really need to have a loooong term view of korea. getting the right people will help them avoid some of the more obvious trial-and-error stuff...but as everyone knows....
even the best laid plans often don't mean crappola when the "rubber hits the road". should be exciing to see what they early efforts vs later efforts will be out here.
Working with one of the most connected and advanced cultures on the net could be good practice for the upcoming battle in China.
exactly. or even back in the N.America/European markets. ;)
