My Name is Karina, and I'm A Googler

(After 2 posts for our Info Systems class in which I’ve clearly stated my positioning as a nincompoop when it comes to technology and all things techy, I think it’s safe to move forward without any more hedging and with the faith that anyone reading this knows I am not a technological genius. What I’m trying to say is that I’m not going to excuse my knowledge any more because it’s starting to sound a bit ridiculous.  On that note, just remember that this is all new to me so if I say something that sounds obvious to you, remember that it took the parting of the red sea and the opening up of the sky for me to figure out what was going on.)

So, Google.  Let’s swan dive right in to this evolving simplicity.  Back in 2004 when Google first filed as an IPO, they took on their motto, “Don’t Be Evil” and claimed that their goal was to “develop services that significantly improve the lives of as many people as possible.”  That is quite a hefty goal.  I think God may have even said something along those lines.  Well, mine did at some point somewhere in the Bible and I know after all my years of catechism I still have no clue where in there it is.  So, even if that motto no longer exists, lets see if we can analyze 3 major issues with Google that either helped or hindered it’s ability to achieve it’s goal.  I’m going to focus on privacy, advertisement and future projects.

Privacy is a touchy subject and a big one these days.  One of the main issues that hold people back from going fully online is privacy. We see this everywhere from paying bills online, to online shopping, to using Facebook to Foursquare to Buzz.  My mother, for example, refuses to pay her bills online because she is afraid of identity theft.  As I understand it, however, most identity crimes initiate from paper-based sources and not online hackers.  So, if that says anything, it’s that doing things online may be safer than the old fashioned way (kind of like keeping money in a bank is safer than keeping it under your mattress…another concept that some used to have trouble accepting).  So, how did Google risk losing our trust through loss of Privacy.  Turns out, when Google launched Buzz, their application created to compete with Twitter, they didn’t quite catch the privacy flaw.  Essentially, the people you follow and those who follow you were able to access each others profiles. On top of that, the Buzz mobile application was publishing address and telephone information.  So, Google is clearly working on the issue, but maybe not fast enough.  In situations like these, it’s hard to regain the trust of the consumer.  Google will still be used by most of these consumers, but Buzz will be long gone from the lexicon.  So, based on Issue #1, I don’t really have much of an opinion on Google. We all make mistakes and they were bound to come across some sooner or later. Let’s see how they clean up after that one.  

Advertisement is another major point for the internet and Google definitely shines here.  Unlike any other site, Google has mastered how to advertise online in a way in which they can profit. The are 3 main ad programs: AdWords, AdSense, and AdMob.   AdWords are the ads that pop up on the side panel when you do a search on google.  They are generally related to the search you are initiating.  The company advertising on Google pays according to how many times their ad is clicked.  Pretty much anyone can advertise there and the order upon which you are placed is according to how much you are willing to pay per click.  AdSense, on the other hand, is when an organization or individual allows Google to advertise on their site.  So, for example, I run AdSense on this blog. Every time someone clicks on the ads, Google gets money and I get a miniscule percentage. Finally, AdMob, a mobile advertising application.  Google recently finished the $750 Million deal (much to Apple’s chagrin) which will enable them to expand into the world of advertising in the smart phone arena and battle it out, head to head, against Apple (who recently bought Quattro when Google outbid them for AdMob).  The stakes will be high here, and it will be interesting to see how users respond to these ads.  Thus far, the ads are being positioned in a positive way, insinuating that people are annoyed they can’t see the ad and the site or the application they were using and this will help solve that problem.  Personally, the issue has never been running two programs at once…so much as just never having to receive the 2^nd one. I understand the benefit of ads, however, so I’m interested to see where this will take us.  Either way, Google does win on this end. 

When it comes to innovation, Google is always coming up with new programs and applications.  A recent one which has been commented on in nearly every blog is Chrome (which is a speedy home base, application running, life enhancing web browser).  What I found most fascinating, however is how they are investing their own money on the trading floors.  As Douglas MacMillan put it, “The bottom line: Google built a state-of-the-art cash-management system to improve returns. It may use that money on future deals.”  OK, so not quite Gordon “Google” Gecko in the Greed is Good sense, and they aren’t sitting on a pile of apple cash like Jobs does, but they are playing it somewhat safe in a risky environment to make sure that the future allows for more innovation.  That, in and of itself, seemed like the core of innovation and like a promising jump off point for a company I would now totally and 100% invest in.

Fast Company did a nice financial breakdown in which they compared Google to Apple and Amazon.  Based only on this, I would say that it would be smart not to allow your eyes to wander too far from Google.  On top of that, on a more personal level, I use Google for GMail, GChat, Google maps, Google blogger, Google reader, Google sites, Google calendar, Google books, Google translate, and probably more than I even realize.  I feel that these “issues” or just subject matters related to Google are not enough to hinder me from investing in the company. If anything, they draw me to the company more as they serve as proof of its constant attention towards change and innovation and improvement for the user. They help me feel connected and like I have so much more to learn and explore.  I’m still a fan. I can’t help it!