Google IPO: The end of good search

[ppeter]

The subject of the Google IPO has been talked about a lot, but I wanted to put this point across:

An IPO will only serve to destroy Google

There has been plenty of talk about how much "Florida" has messed up search results, I have experienced it myself. But it seems to me people are missing the fact that a Google IPO will do much, much worse to results.

We all know Google pushes relvancy. We all know how Google seemed determined to keep paid and natural search seperate. An IPO will change all this. Shareholders won't give a flying AdWord about relevancy, all they want is $$$.

Google will react and start changing there algorithms and AdWords program, to make money. Relevance won't matter anymore. They are actually shooting themselves in the foot with a shotgun (probably take their whole leg off, actually).

I will put money on Google abandoning relevance in favour of dividends for shareholders. The impact will be lower quality of search results and us folk will use Yahoo, maybe.

I implore Google's founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page not to go down the IPO route. The point of a business is to offer a product or a service, not to make money for anyone who has enough of the good stuff to buy shares.

Thanks for reading,
Phil Peter

[SEadvisor]

The following is only an opinion:

Google has changed how the results are shown by changing part of the algo's. This is only temporary and better results will soon show back up. Google does not want to lose it's visitors, or the edge it now holds over other S.E.'s.

If you were not an experienced web surfer and you used Google, what would you do if the results were not what you were looking for? Maybe just look to the right hand side of the page and click on one of the paid results. This would be the easiest and fastest way to get to where you wanted to go.

Google has invested a huge amount of time and money and they are almost ready to make it all pay off. In order to do this, they need to be able to show potential investors, read pre IPO's, how much income they can produce. There are many requirements that have to be met before an undertaking of this size can be done. This is only one small part.

The results are not anywhere close to what they used to be. You no longer get as many quality results as before, and Google knows this. They can live with it for a short time, but another change is on the way. I can't advise what to do as far as SEO is concerned. I can say that there are some very good post on this site concerning what is coming down the pipe as far S.E. changes and how we should all be happy that the day that Google ruled the internet, will one day be a thing of the past.

Keep The Faith. You will succeed!

[minstrel]

Originally Posted by SEadvisor

Google does not want to lose it's visitors, or the edge it now holds over other SE's... Google has invested a huge amount of time and money and they are almost ready to make it all pay off. In order to do this, they need to be able to show potential investors, read pre IPO's, how much income they can produce.

I agree... Google can't make its service attractive to investors by crippling its effectiveness or poularity as a seacrh engine. The current changes Google is undergoing aren't about trying to make more money - they're about trying to protect the integrity of their product - and yes, the reason it's happening now ("why just before Christmas?") is probably because they are looking at the public offering in the new year and want to make sure the integrity of their product isn't compromised as that point approaches.

You no longer get as many quality results as before, and Google knows this. They can live with it for a short time, but another change is on the way.

As far as I can see, the recent/current changes haven't yet been completed...

I can say that there are some very good post on this site concerning what is coming down the pipe as far S.E. changes and how we should all be happy that the day that Google ruled the internet, will one day be a thing of the past.

Everything in nature evolves and eventually dies. I won't be happy to see Google replaced unles something better replaces it and right now I don't see anything except maybe Microsoft in a position to do that any time soon.

On the other hand,I might have said the same thing about Yahoo and AltaVista just before Google popped on the scene - who knows what we'll wake up to tomorrow?

[janeth]

I would not count Yahoo out yet.

[geoffreygag]

Phil,

I don't think that an IPO will negatively effect Google. There will be some changes and which need to get done prior to the IPO.

1- The IPO dollars should assist them in creating newer technologies to take them to next level.

They don't care about us, they don't care who is #1, #2 or #6. Positioning is free. Many don't notice this but the reality is that the page ranking system is an indirect way of offsetting marketing dollars while building and increasing stickiness from the industry. ( if a PR system is important to the experts, then the amateurs will bite into theory)

It's like a game. It's competitive and Google knows that it has a tremendous correlation between your PR and your gross revenue dollars.

2- Due to their marketshare, they were able to shake the tree. In fact, don't overlook the fact that this "Florida" round was intentional from the revenue perspective. I'm pretty sure they have CLEAR financial goals to meet for 4Q 2003. From IPO preparation perspective, this liitle "Florida" bump generated HUGE DOLLARS since it was held within the 90 day PRE-christmas timetable. Most web sites had their christmas marketing plans, budgets and inventories in place. The "Florida" curveball forced many to spend more dollars with Google. If you were #1 in your category and then disappeared to #210 - You had to spend your dollars on Google because your inventory was in place for X amount of sales = all driven by your once held #1 position. While this is going on, Google generated new dollars in order to close its figures for 4Q 2003 and show double digit increases year over year.

3- How many companies can afford to test and know that the test will clean the abuse of cloning sites and make MUCHO $$$.

4- The recent "Florida" shake up didn't negatively effect everybody. From what we all hear, the biggest complaints came from the SEO field. Their business and future bookings were in jeopardy. They could have possibly lost an extensive amount of clients. Their clients don't understand SEO, so they depend on the SEO / webmasters to deliver = Especially for Christmas.

5- Phil, you said "There has been plenty of talk about how much "Florida" has messed up search results, I have experienced it myself."

Not everybody. Some people CRIED and said "JUSTICE".

6- Relevancy will probably just drop a bit. Google understands that their relevancy has made them who they are. The relevancy model and its success is the reason why people will buy shares. Since we expect other players like MSN and Yahoo to reposition themsleves - this is no time to slip on relevancy.

What we will see is a model with enhanced services. A good example is Yahoo's DSL deal with SBC.

[cool1]

what is an IPO
(do not blame for not knowing, i am only 13
years old!)

Ali

[ronniethedodger]

Originally Posted by cool1

what is an IPO
(do not blame for not knowing, i am only 13
years old!)

Ali

Don't feel bad Ali. I am old enough to be your grandpa, and I have no clue what it is either. But I think it has something to do with Google going public on the stockmarket.

[cbp]

IPO = Initial public offering.

ronniethedodger is right - its the initial sale of shares of a company to the public before being listed on the sharmarket.

CBP

[minstrel]

Originally Posted by cbp

its the initial sale of shares of a company to the public before being listed on the sharmarket

...after which, if the company is really successful, they may get to be listed on the Sonny and Shar market...

;o)

[banseos]

Did you remove my post?

If so, why?

[minstrel]

Originally Posted by banseos

Did you remove my post? If so, why?

Hi, banseos:

If you're referring to your post It's hell being on top / Google, you posted it twice, once here in the Google Forum and once in the Search Engine Insider Report Forum. Since I can't moderate the latter forum, I deleted it here.

If you would prefer your post to be in this forum, send a message to either Brittany or Garrett and ask them to move it here, or let me know and I'll request that on your behalf.

My apologies for not sending you a private message explaining this, which is my normal practice - I can only presume I was distracted by something...

[ronniethedodger]

Originally Posted by minstrel

...after which, if the company is really successful, they may get to be listed on the Sonny and Shar market...

;o)

... in which case their future may become Sunny and Fair, with an 85% chance of cloudiness !!!

Of course, I am not a professional Googlerologist -- just a hobby I do in my sh-p-are time.