Time for Google to Learn New Tricks?
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Written By Reprise Media | March 4, 2005 | Share This
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If Google really is a one-trick pony, as some analysts have been saying, it’s a good thing the sole trick they’ve mastered has made them rich. Very rich.
Google’s “laser-like” focus on search may eventually do them more harm than good, according to this article in Business Week. Despite the launch of auxiliary products like Gmail, Google remains heavily dependent on search - 98% of its sales are derived from text ads. That’s a little troublesome for a market that is expected to drop in growth as much as 30-45% this year, according to Forrester.
Compare Google to Yahoo!, who has their hand in multiple pots, with 1/3 of their revenue coming from display ads and another chunk from subscription services shilling stuff like online personals and fantasy football.
On another, Google-related note, Scobleizer points out a fun search option for Google Maps that may be able to help out singles on the prowl. Check it out here here. It’s not foolproof though - my search for “good looking guys in Brooklyn” turned up a career site and a health food restaurant as the top 2 results.
And if you haven’t seen it already, CNET has a great article on what makes Google tick.
Topics: Advertising: Behavioral, Advertising: Contextual, Advertising: Distribution, Search: Innovations |