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Since they seem to be keeping the lid on what the "fresh" thing is all about ... I get the feeling they are just teasing us with this new innovation and once we get to expect (like, depend) on it, they'll have their hands out looking for payment.
Along the same lines as Brett's Crystal Ball thread ... what do you all think is in the future for Google, Teoma and Wisenut? Will they remain free? Which ones will start charging and when?
I am concerned about both Teoma and Wisenut because I can't get into Teoma for the life of me and Wisenut seems to have an algo which is somewhat different from both Google and Fast. A search phrase which is #1 on Google and #3 on Fast is #15 on Wisenut. Not much hope of closing that gap successfully without ruining my Google and Fast positions.
I'd be interested to know what everyone thinks the future of these "free" engines are. (yes NFFC ... we know you don't think of them as free ... but for lack of a better term ... ) Which way will they go?
Wisenut still needs to do some work. They need to do some more marketing and advertising to get the name out there before they can contend with the other big guys. Wisenut could be the next Google with the right moves.
Teoma needs to actually be released! ;) I think that with Ask Jeeves behind this operation that there is a very good chance that Teoma will go PFP.
But we believe the issue of advertising causes enough mixed incentives that it is crucial to have a competitive search engine that is transparent and in the academic realm.
The Anatomy of a Search Engine [www7.scu.edu.au]
Thank you for giving us your ear. You all have a great search engine. To maintain your integrity, it is imperative that you do not monetize your listings. There was a rumor going around that Google has in the works a paid inclusion program. If you denied this claim, it would make me your advocate.
littleman [webmasterworld.com]
I'm not a spokesgoogler. I can't go out on a limb and say "Google will never ever do this," but our "don't charge webmasters" program has been very popular so far.
Googleguy [webmasterworld.com]
Their USP is integrity, I think they would find it very difficult to continue to grow without it. Alltheweb are in a similar position, "All the web, all the time", it will be very interesting to see how their PFI works out. Personally I don't have a problem with PFI, if done well it will draw the $ out of the big players and thus subsidise the free listings. The crunch comes if they stop spidering and adding the free stuff, I can't imagine that G! and Fast would be that stupid especially when they have the advantage of seeing the decline of Ink.
Pay for placement is exclusionary and will force the little guy out of the game and also drive product prices up in order to cover the cost of advertising.
The reason I asked for predictions about these three engines in particular (and I should probably have included Fast as well) ... is because many of us seem to be in the same position. We all have our eggs in Google's basket which is never a healthy situation for any business. One change in their algo could be devastating for a small business.
I would like to try to cover my bases better, but frankly, there just doesn't seem to be anywhere to go. With the advent of Yahoo's new placement programme, the whole Inktomi debacle, Excite going down the tubes, Alta Vista's dismal hits ... etc., etc. It seems we are all in a very scary situation.
Just trying to figure out how to protect my little business now that it is finally operating relatively well.
