Would Top Sites Really Opt-Out Of Google Based On A Microsoft Bribe?
from the doubtful dept
Every so often, internet pontificators try to come up with ways to "kill Google." It's a silly game, but in an oddly timed move, three people (who have all put forth "how to kill Google" ideas in the past) all suddenly published similar ideas, yet again. Jason Calacanis, Mark Cuban and Tom Foremski all posted similar ideas about how certain sites (such as the top sites in the top search results) could all choose to opt-out of Google and, say, join another search engine like Bing. It's one of those ideas that sounds good for about 5 seconds. And then you actually think about it. First, the numbers being tossed around concerning how much it would cost, say, Microsoft, to convince most of these sites to opt-out of their number one driver of traffic is significantly higher than what's being mentioned in these articles. Many of these sites rely on Google traffic to make a ton of money, and they're not going to throw that away easily. At least in Calacanis' plan he suggests Microsoft offer "50% more than they make in Google referrals" which certainly beats Cuban's idea that many sites would opt-out of Google for $1,000.Here's the thing, though. Most of those sites worked hard to get to the top of Google for a very good reason: they understand the value of being easily findable. As such, they also recognize that it makes little sense to make themselves less findable at almost any price. Getting anyone to opt-out first (other than suicidal sites like Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.) is going to be nearly impossible. Who would want to risk that? Because the instant they opt-out, someone else would take their place. Quickly. And decisively.
There's value in being found these days, and to be found you need to be easily findable from anywhere if someone's looking for you. Not only would traffic decrease, but so would basic reputation. Even if Microsoft pays you a ton to drop out of Google, people are going to search for your business in Google and when they can't find it, they're not going to care how much Microsoft paid, they're going to think you're a small-time nobody. The best strategy these days, as most web site operators know, is to be as widely available as possible. Opt-ing out of Google because someone pays you some money is a lot more costly than just the lack of traffic.
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Filed Under: bribes, news, opt-out, search
Companies: google, microsoft
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Mayor wants best tools to run his city. Investigates Macs and iPhones.
I could see it going either way: the number of GNU and FreeBSD-based tools such as MySQL, MAMP, and office suite available for MacOS, along with less admin work to upkeep patches and antivirus. At the same time, Microsoft may make an offer he can't refuse.
http://www.9to5mac.com/seattle_mayor_goes_mac_30072
http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2009/11/ seattles_new_mayor_is_a_mac.html
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Re: Mayor wants best tools to run his city. Investigates Macs and iPhones.
Sorry for the mixup.
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Re: Mayor wants best tools to run his city. Investigates Macs and iPhones.
Sorry for the mixup.
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Re: Mayor wants best tools to run his city. Investigates Macs and iPhones.
Techdirt has a story submission form, you know.
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Re: Re: Mayor wants best tools to run his city. Investigates Macs and iPhones.
By chance, are you implying this is a management problem?
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Re: Re: Re: Mayor wants best tools to run his city. Investigates Macs and iPhones.
I mean, he sent me my CfW+RTB swag in a box labeled "Extra Strength Cooling Mint Antacid". If you have a problem with that, then well, you sir...
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Mayor wants best tools to run his city. Investigates Macs and iPhones.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Mayor wants best tools to run his city. Investigates Macs and iPhones.
Bahaha!
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Re: Mayor wants best tools to run his city. Investigates Macs and iPhones.
I mean, if something is cheaper (and includes soft costs such as upkeep) it should be looked at. Not that long ago, I worked for a company that had a team of ten that substantiated their jobs by managing anti-virus and patching applications alone.
I'm a linux person myself, and have long advocated moving to alternative platforms. Good for Mike McGinns.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010007179_mcginnlaw06m.html
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The answer to this one is actually really simple:
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The answer to this one is actually really simple:
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Re: The answer to this one is actually really simple:
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I thought it was unbelievable too
Suddenly the magic idea doesn't seem so viable, as that'd be in the potential trillions for the top thousand as i'm sure they make more than a mil a year.
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So what happens when an aggregate search bar pops up? You search all the search engines instead of Google, or Bing, or Yahoo?
What if Google just makes their search an aggregate search? Or are they forbidden from presenting a link to Bing.com showing the searcher where to go?
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The answer to this one is actually really simple:
The simple answer is this: if you have to pay people to use your search engine (indeed, most products), then it's over, you've lost.
Google is Google because they're extremely good at what they do coupled with the fact that they have both a large number of dedicated users and the kind of name to product recognition that other companies salivate over. While it's not done globaly, how many people do you know who, when referring to conducting an internet search, simply say they are going to "Google" it? It's like people that call all sodas Coke.
It's going to take something far more disruptive than mere monetary bribes to dethrone the Goog.
I suggest BJs, they work wonders on politicians....
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Re: The answer to this one is actually really simple:
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Re: The answer to this one is actually really simple:
How would you know this?
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This would be true for a small, unknown site, and a little true for medium-sized companies. Microsoft is not targeting them. Microsoft is targeting well-known, large companies.
If I could not find, say, CNN on Google, I would not assume that CNN is a small-time nobody. I have already heard of CNN. I would assume (though incorrectly) that Google was having an issue. If I couldn't find Dell, I would not say, "Golly, Dell must be a small-time nobody." I would wonder, "What's up with Google?" Then I'd probably look at the robots.txt file from a Dell site, see if they have blocked Google.
I don't think offering a $1,000 to a whole bunch of smaller sites would do it. I'd throw a million at the top 100 on Alexa or something like that.
I don't think this is a particularly great strategy in general, but until Windows 7 starts sucking back market share (probably with Bing! popping up as soon as you log in to your new box), a lot of people are unaware that Bing! even exists. Plus, Microsoft has to deal with inertia. People still use Yahoo! Search, after all.
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Yahoo search is bing now anyways last i heard.
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Microsoft is actually taking the only realistic strategy, build a better value. They're not succeeding wonderfully, but clearly with both Windows 7 and Bing, they're trying to offer better value to consumers.
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So, having got the information they wanted from the first 20 entries or so, they will make the assumption that
a) Dell does not provide a sub $800 laptop or
b) The Dell product is in some way inferior, since it didn't appear in the search.
So, exactly how is this situation going to boost Dell's bottom line, even with a 'paid to move' scheme?
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Joining Micro$oft might be hazardous to your rep.
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I use Google, and have done so since its infancy, simply because I find it consistently gives me the best results. I have tried others and found them wanting in several material respects. Microsoft's Bing, for example, thus far falls far short of what I expect from a search engine.
In short, if someone wants to displace Google he/she had better come up with something that surpasses what Google has to offer.
My preference notwithstanding, I would be remiss if I did not mention that Google's expansion into certain areas does give me some concern. I applaud Google for its Google Books efforts, but have to wonder what downsides loom on the horizon. I have no problem with the Library of Congress as a repository, but have a nagging concern in the back of my mind that the Library of Google may prove problematic.
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This is, by the way, why Bing image search gets users - even Google hasn't cracked the problem of image search.
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http://www.techdirt.com/article.php?sid=20091028/0348476705#c72
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Rewarding Effort
that when customers use gives them a BIGGER BING $$$ at the checkout ...... Cha - Ching!
All the heard will follow and use a search facility that rewards its loyal customers.
Yeah I know, it was a stupid idea that was more wish full thinking ........
But what about those dumb credit card reward scams?
Everyone thought that was dumb and look at all the sheep flocking for those!
Why not partner a few of these up?
Watch how fast Google reacts to this!!!!
Being dumb has its rewards ;)
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Anywho, this is just evidence that the rich and the powerful hate anyone who innovates, especially those who innovate without intellectual property.
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Please don't feed the troll
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