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Faq:
[answers.google.com...]
- trying to increase their understanding of natural language to improve google search.
- creating a knowledge base to use in theming / ranking (one of the suggested components of an answer is links)
I can see a "See the expert's answer to this question" link above the SERPs in a few months.
I wonder if the searchers have to log their searches in pursuit of each answer, along with which ones are actually helpful (it seems that the most useful URLs are available). That will be a truly valuable resource.
websites that depend on members visiting forums to gain PR via poularity and thus get paid advertising to support the website well in the near future have to pay me to ask qustions to keep the website active.. ;)
Good point. Now that Ask Jeeves has entered their turf with the purchase of Teoma, they may be in a mood to return the favor. :-)
I signed up to be a researcher as soon as i visited i was probably one of the first to apply. But I only wrote a two paragraph essay and they wrote me back asking for more information and examples and now i'm feeling lazy.
I apply to be a Researcher. I answer questions that relate to my site. I give legitimate answers to questions with links to my site. The answers are stored on Google pages, which include the links to my site, so I increase my pagerank.
No?
You're spot on there. If they integrate those q and a's into search results intelligently then, watch out, if you think Google is good now then imagine it with that kind of info.
Fact of the matter is that most people are looking for that kind of info when they search so it's a huge asset for them if they build a good database.
hmmm... very innovative!
and now they're charging - Like I said few weeks ago - They're goin' downhill...
If Google feels that they are TOP in the data gathering arena, then it would only be natural for them to offer a service where people could ask for information on a certain subject, and Google would provide a service where THEY would do "research" on their own data records and compile a knowledge base for that client of the research. They probably feel that people don't "use" their SE, to it's full potential. So they should, and make some money while doing so.
This is a very efficient "trickle-down" of their core business. And this kind of service is quite expensive.
My last job, we had a group that we would call and ask them to research X and they would compile a package and mail it to us. Google can have a point-of-difference in this arena, if they can do it digitally.
Good Idea! Sorry I did not think of it first. Why should a CEO spend time searching online, when he could just call into google and get it done. Cut through the other 128,892,101 pages of garbage.
Spinner
Had to check though...
This resource has to be a way for them to train their AI. I am sure that this is what they are doing. They have to charge so they don’t get flooded. They want to see hard questions but not tons of stupid questions.
Personally, This is an excellent resource for hard questions. Like Law/Legal questions! Lawman, looks like you are out of work.
Who has jurisdiction in a commercial real estate right-of-way if the former occupant is now defunct and bankrupt but they left environmental waste. Please cite case law and exact RCWs.
I guess a search function within these questions and answers will be turning up soon?
I can imagine people adding the number of answers and their average rating to their curriculum vitae.
Forsee new job description adverts arising:
Nokia is looking for a Google.answers researcher.
On the upside:
- think of the first researcher living only from this service! Specially in low wage/high education countries like India.
- this should give many new ideas on what type of new pages or subjects to add to your site.
On the down side:
- Imagine your employees spending hours making a few bucks for themselves in your expensive time. I guess employment contracts will have to be rewritten.
- Spammers will be asking questions and answering them as well.
- People will get sued sooner or later for false advice (even with disclaimers in place).
But will the average person pay $4 and up for help in searching with Google
creating a knowledge base to use in theming / ranking (one of the suggested components of an answer is links)
"Question 5: What if I don't like my answer? Can I get a refund?
If you are not fully satisfied with your answer for whatever reason, the first step is to request a clarification of your answer from the original Researcher. If you are still dissatisfied after clarification, you can request your question be re-posted once again. If you receive a second answer and are still not satisfied, you may apply for a full refund, less the non-refundable $0.50 listing fee, using our refund request form. Finally, you can give the Researcher a poor rating. If you want a refund, you'll be asked to explain why you were unsatisfied with your answer, and this information, along with the question and returned answer, will be posted on the Google Answers website. Google grants full refunds for all reasonable requests."
"Question 14: I posted my question and a registered user answered it for free. Can I cancel my question to the paid Researchers?
Yes, you can cancel your question to Researchers at any time, as long as the question has not been locked or answered. You will still be charged the $.50 listing fee, but you will not need to pay the price to answer the question. To cancel your question, log into to your account and go to "My Account". When you see the list of questions you have asked, click on the question you wish to cancel. Then click on the "Close Question" button at the top of the page. Confirm your decision by clicking "Yes, Close Question." "
[wired.com...]
and "clever" students paying for their homework :)
One student in Quebec, dismayed by a response that offered only background research for a paper on religion, pleads, "Make it into an essay, not just links and quotes. I need this asap PLEASE! 2500 words is the minimum."
Macguru? :)
interesting article, i acctualy thought there would be more researchers.
I was not convinced by it or GA. I guess the main reason is that there are so many people out there willing to answer easy questions for free.
If I have a question I like to ask a relevant web group (like webmasterworld) and I get a lot of answers and opinions. I'm sure that GA would be a most similar experience, except I'd have to faff about with a few $ transaction.
Now if there were a free Q/A service alongside the paid for service I think this could work. Probably 99% would end up being free discussion group questions like webmasterworld, but there would be the occasional 'hard' question that obviously required considerable research. Here there could be $s involved. After all the combination of free service with a thin froth sponsored links is Google's way.
Precisely ... you don't think all those PhD's are content to sit around and cook up conventional algorithms ... if you want to create a demand resume you better get out on the leading edge and artificial intelligence is one way to do it. After all, the bleeding edge folks have milked the AI black hole to death for fifteen years and it still can muster the attention of both the HR folks and the financiers.
You never know, though, if there's one place AI might find a reasonable nitche it could be in web searching where less than perfect results can be accepted. Has anyone asked Jeeves about this? :)
