IndustryGoogle Articles Archive

Google Articles Archive

Archive of articles generally about Google.

PLEASE NOTE!!! ARTICLES FROM MID-SEPTEMBER 2004 ONWARD ABOUT GOOGLE ARE NOW AUTOMATICALLY CATEGORIZED INTO ONE OF MANY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

PLEASE VISIT THE GOOGLE SECTION OF SEARCH TOPICS FOR MORE RECENT ARTICLES THAN THOSE BELOW. IF THERE ARE OLDER ARTICLES RELATED TO ANY PARTICULAR SUBTOPIC ABOUT GOOGLE, YOU’LL BE DIRECTED TO THE APPROPRIATE ARCHIVE PAGE. OTHERWISE, PAST ARTICLES ON ANY PARTICULAR TOPIC WITHOUT A SPECIFIC ARCHIVE PAGE CAN BE FOUND BELOW.

Brin, Page Interview in Playboy
Search Engine Watch Forums, Aug. 12, 2004

A recent interview with Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin in the famous men’s magazine caused panic when it appeared just before Google was about to go public. The interview happened before the filing was announced, so really shouldn’t have been in violation of “quiet period” rules. Nevertheless, the company decided to reissue its filing papers, citing the article as something that shouldn’t be read in isolation in terms of an investment decision. In what’s got to be a first for an SEC filing, it included the entire text of the Playboy article. You can read it here, if you want to sit through the long download. Now that it has been placed in the public domain, others are also reposting the article itself, such as here.

Googlers rest from road show at blowout bash
San Jose Mercury News, Aug. 9, 2004

Google held its third annual “Google Dance” in conjunction with the SES show — and it was bigger than ever. What underscored it for me was the engraved map of the “Google Village,” outlining all the event areas. There were gripes that the beer flow ended before the party did — and Yahoo planted an Easter Egg dig within its search results about this. It no longer works, but Search Engine Roundtable shows how “Never run out of beer” briefly came up at Yahoo for a search on “ses party rule #1,” . There were plenty of other parties at after-hours events, as well. A reporter’s recap.

Google Accused of Elderly Discrimination
Forbes, July 23, 2004 (sorry, link no longer works)

Google’s former director of operations claims he was fired because he didn’t fit into the company’s youth culture, with stats saying just 2 percent of the company is over 40 years old. Google denies the claim.

Google Launches Official Google Blog
SearchDay, May 11, 2004

Google has launched its own official blog, promising much insight about the company though not yet delivering much.

Google IPO To Happen, Files For Public Offering
SearchDay, April 29, 2004

As many expected, Google filed to go public today. In this story, a breakdown of facts and figures from the financial information the company has now published for the first time.

Google In Controversy Over Top-Ranking For Anti-Jewish Site
SearchDay, April 25, 2004

Google has added a disclaimer to the search results that come up in a response for a search on jew, to counter complaints about an anti-Jewish site that until recently ranked number one.

Welcome To The Google Desktop?
The Search Engine Report, April 2, 2004

Will Google’s new Gmail free email system be just the first of many things we begin moving to a new Google Desktop? If so, Microsoft might have a lot more to worry about than web search. But might concerns over privacy prevent Google’s success?

Is Google telling lies? Just who is Google’s customer?
About Web Search Guide, March 24, 2004

Google’s customer isn’t just the searcher. The site owner and the search engine advertisers are also important clients.

What Is Added Value in Search Capabilities?
Always On, March 16, 2004

Google cofounder Sergey Brin comments on challenging Yahoo’s portal stickiness, calls for paid inclusion listings to be disclosed, discusses the impact ranking changes can have pro and con on businesses, says he’s “not quite satisfied” yet with Google News and says Google will deliver video search at some point in the future. In two parts, with link to first part at bottom of story.

Googlemania!
Wired, March 2004

I must have talked with four different Wired writers as they prepared this big special issue earlier this year to coincide with what many assumed would be the announcement of a Google IPO. But that IPO — plans of which Google has never formally announced — seem to be on hold according to recent rumors. No solace to Wired — the printing presses have already rolled.

There’s a big giant article on surviving an IPO, none of which is really enlightening about Google itself. The Googlossary has terms that may or may not actually be real. Google Dance? Yes. Google Juice? I dunno. Kilogoogle? Perhaps in some alternative universe I don’t inhabit. Lots of little snippet articles on quotes, people with a connection somehow with Google and future scenarios for Google (I’d say between gBay and Google!), then some additional short articles on various other topics.

Overall, you find yourself wishing it had been just one big decent article — and an article about the state of search, not just Google. In fact, Wired’s been noticeably lacking on search. There’s been maybe four big articles on search since Wired existed. One way back in something like 1995 was pioneering, all about the technology, a really in-depth look at how the new tools were emerging. Then I think we had one two years ago talking somewhat briefly about Overture. Last year, there was a good piece on the challenges facing Google and an outstanding one on the Internet Archive.

Overall, I want another piece like they did back in 1995, rather than another jump on the Google bandwagon. (permalink to this item)

Google prospects party like it’s 1999
Reuters, Feb. 27, 2004

One of the many fronts in the search war is vying to capture new engineering talent. A look at a Google recruitment party held in Santa Monica, as a way to win the hearts and minds of future Googlers.

Google Is Searching for the Perfect Hit
Always On, Feb. 23, 2004

Interesting comments from Google CEO Eric Schmidt on trying to get search right. Google doesn’t always get it right, he readily admits. The search problem is also going to get worse, as more material flows in, yet even more material remains inaccessible to search engines. The lack of knowing about users personally is raised. No revelations on big breakthroughs going forward.

Google’s House of Cards
ClickZ, Jan. 5, 2004

Advertisers and publishers are upset at Google due to falling ROI on ads and lost rankings from free listings. Advertisers also continue to want AdSense offered as a separate purchase and at a lower cost. Is this Google’s House of Cards, where large revenues may suddenly disappear. Could be. It could also be an opportunity for the company to finally do what advertisers want and win back some lost friends by rolling out a separate program.

By the way, I’d counter that Google is indeed in danger of losing its sterling reputation with users. Twice over the holiday break, I’ve picked up popular magazines discussing how Google is losing its relevancy. Some of the arguments were incorrect, but readers may not understand this. Instead, the word of mouth going around is that Google has lost its shine — and upset advertisers and web site publishers will only add fuel to looking for proof of this.

Google makes friends in high places
News.com, Dec. 16, 2003

Scroll down, and you’ll find an item about a recent visit by former US president Bill Clinton to Google, the latest in a list of celebrities and politicians to make the stopover. Gwyneth Paltrow, former US president Jimmy Carter and former US vice president Al Gore have also been by. Current US president George W. Bush, the victim of two Google Bombing pranks, not surprisingly hasn’t called by.

Digital revolution leaves Google feeling quite flush
San Francisco Business Times, Dec. 14, 2003

More information than you ever wanted to know about new digital bidets at Google. The real question is whether they can project current searches happening at Google on the stall door while you, um, wait.

Google Testing New Look
Google Weblog, Dec. 11, 2003

See a screenshot here of a new search results format for Google that seems to be appearing for some users. You’ll note a reverse bar indicating the type of results you are viewing, such as “Web,” as well as the removal of colored boxes around the sidebar AdWords listings. The listings do remain segregated from unpaid results by a vertical line. Tabs have also disappeared, replaced by simple hyperlinks above the search box: Web, Images, Groups, Directory, News and a new “more…” link.

I was also emailed screenshots from a reader that show a results page almost exactly like that shown at Google Weblog. The only significant change is that there are still two “above the fold” sponsored links placements for AdWords, the “text banners” that were traditionally filled by the Premium Sponsorship ads. So, these aren’t going away — though they do get combined into a single box.

A home page screenshot also reflects that tabs are gone, replaced by simple text links similar to those on the results page.

Google Buys Sprinks, Plans IPO
Search Engine Watch, Oct. 2003

A “Fireside Chat” with Google’s Sergey Brin
Search Engine Watch, Oct. 2003

The search engine that could
USA Today, Aug. 26, 2003

Google’s about to turn five. A look at how the company has grown and challenges it faces.

Gwyneth, the Grateful Dead and Google
News.com, July 24, 2003

Gwyneth Paltrow’s just one of the latest famous people who have paid a visit to the Google headquarters.

Sergey Brin and Larry Page on TV: A Conversation at a Recent Conference
ResourceShelf, July 6, 2003

The Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg interviews Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page. ResourceShelf’s Gary Price provides a transcript and comments. Agree entirely with Gary’s surprise to see Mossberg assume that all search engines other than Google “disguise” paid listings. Also note the contextual ad horror stories that Gary provides, such as ads about airline tickets showing up on an Amazon page about a Sept. 11 book.

Google gamers’ word pairings a creative addiction
San Jose Mercury News, May 26, 2003

Revisiting Googlewacking, the nearly two-year old game where you try to find a word that brings up just one Google match.

The World of Google
SearchDay, May 12, 2003

Puzzled by PageRank? Dying to be invited to the ‘Google Dance?’ A new directory features links to hundreds of resources covering all aspects of the world according to Google.

Google’s Schmidt Takes On Moore’s Law
AlwaysOn, May 2, 2003

This is the fourth of a series of interviews with Google CEO Eric Schmidt and the least Google specific. But links to the other parts can be found from this. Part 1 covers the purchase of Pyra Labs and suggests Google wanted the technology team more than the Blogger.com business. But Schmidt is big on the concept of blogging as the next big wave of communication on the internet, following on web page building and email. Part 2 touches on Google and search privacy issues generally, while Part 3 covers revenue. Earners are the well-familiar ones: selling ads on Google, providing search listings and ads to others, providing enterprise and site search services. No breakdown of which segment is the biggest is provided. In the past interviews I’ve had, advertising has been cited as earning between 50 to 75 percent of Google’s revenue.

Golden Google
Reveries.com, May 2003

Interview with Tim Armstrong, Google’s VP of advertising. He describes Google as the first company to have a large scale ad network, thinks banners will still survive despite the growth of paid listings, comments on the Blogger purchase as being a “natural” fit with existing efforts by Google to distribute ads on content and says Google will ultimately remain best known as a search engine rather than an ad network.

Google Finds a Good Analyst
Fortune, April 29, 2003

Google has hired former CSFB analyst Lise Buyer to be its “director of business optimization.” Buyers job is to watch that the rapidly expanding company is not making business mistakes, along the way. But is another duty going to be preparing Google for an IPO, Fortune wonders.

In Searching the Web, Google Finds Riches
New York Times, April 13, 2003

Reports from insiders say Google’s revenue will rise from $300 million in 2002 to $750 million or more this year. The company now has 800 people employed. The story suggests that Microsoft might try to challenge Google by adding search capabilities to the Windows operating system. Microsoft effectively did that years ago, making its own search engine the default choice within Internet Explorer. That has helped make MSN Search one of the most popular search engines on the web — but Google has thrived, in spite of it. Story recaps more of the growth of Google and competition in the market, all likely a familiar story already to readers of this newsletter.

Google Buys Applied Semantics
Search Engine Watch, April 2003

Google And The Big Brother Nomination
Search Engine Watch, April 2003

Search Privacy At Google & Other Search Engines
Search Engine Watch, April 2003

How Google Grows…and Grows…and Grows
Fast Company, April 2003

Profile of Google and how it aims to serve its users, with a special look at comments from Google staffers on the front lines of assuring quality. Also a great glimpse into the internal workings of the company, where product developments are more likely to come through serendipity and personal interest, rather than from top-down direction.

Distress Is in the Mail
destinationCRM, Jan. 2, 2003

How does Google handle all of the email it receives? With the help of a product called Trakken.

Cranberry Relished and Google Fights
New York Times, Nov. 28, 2002

Every day, another site that makes use of Google in some way seems to be launched. This column mentions briefly GoogleFight.com (which term is more popular?), Googlism (what does Google “think” about something?) and ways to cook with Google.

Google Follows the ‘Yellow Brick Road’ to Oz
High Search Engine Ranking, Dec. 26, 2002

Q&A with Google on its plans in Australia, following the recent launch of the Google Australia web site.

Google opens up in the land down under
News.com, Dec. 20. 2002

More on the Google Australia opening.

Google Sued Over PageRank Decrease
Search Engine Watch, Nov. 4, 2002

Google finds itself now being sued by a site owner who saw a decrease in the PageRank score reported to those who use the Google Toolbar.

Ten Questions with: Cindy McCaffrey
SearchEngineBlog.com, Nov. 2002

Google’s great relevancy has been core to its success. However, one of Google’s other great assets is the company’s exceptional ability to publicize itself well. Google’s Cindy McCaffrey heads up one of the search engine industry’s best PR and communication teams. An interview with her.

Google: Can The Marcia Brady Of Search Stay Sweet?
Search Engine Watch, Sept. 3, 2002

Does search dominance by Google mean that the company is destined to be hated, in the way that Microsoft endures a poor reputation due to its dominance of operating systems, office software and browsers? Such a fate is not preordained, especially given that Google faces plenty of competition.

Yahoo To Go With Google?
Search Engine Watch, Sept. 2002

Google’s Gaggle of New Goodies
Search Engine Watch, May 22, 2002

Google has enhanced its already indispensable toolbar, and is offering an intriguing peek inside the kimono through Google Labs, a ‘technology playground’ for ideas that aren’t quite ready for prime time.

Overture Files Patent Lawsuit Against Google
Search Engine Watch, May 2002

Google Makes Scientology Infringement Demand Public
Search Engine Watch, April 2002

Google Embroiled In Scientology Debate
Search Engine Watch, April 2002

Google’s New High Protein Diet
SearchDay, Mar. 25, 2002

Google is harnessing the collective computing power of its users to help model complex proteins, a project that could lead to the development of cures for Alzheimer’s, cancer, AIDS and other diseases.

Google takes on supercomputing
News.com, March 22, 2002

Another look at the distributed Google Compute project.

Google, Open Directory Get Foolish
Search Engine Watch, April 2, 2002

Another first — search engines playing April Fool’s Jokes. Yesterday, Google posted news of its new PigeonRank technology that employs — you guessed it — hundreds of pigeons pecking away to rank web pages.

Google: No Pop-Ups
Search Engine Watch, Jan. 2002

A New Sport for Searchers: Googlewhacking
Search Engine Watch, Jan. 2002

Google: No IPO Imminent
Search Engine Watch, July 2001

Make Room For Teoma
Search Engine Watch, July 2001

iLOR Makes Google Even Better
Search Engine Watch, April 2001

Google Acquires Deja Newsgroup Services
Search Engine Watch, March 2001

Google Gets Out Of Beta
Search Engine Watch, Oct. 4, 1999

Counting Clicks and Looking at Links
Search Engine Watch, Aug. 4, 1998

Location and frequency have long been key factors used to help search engines rank results. Some new techniques may be about to change that. The idea of leveraging links as a means to improving results is making a comeback. And later this month, one search engine is going to enhance its service through clickthrough tracking.

Resources

The 2023 B2B Superpowers Index
whitepaper | Analytics

The 2023 B2B Superpowers Index

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Data Analytics in Marketing
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Data Analytics in Marketing

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The Third-Party Data Deprecation Playbook
whitepaper | Digital Marketing

The Third-Party Data Deprecation Playbook

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Utilizing Email To Stop Fraud-eCommerce Client Fraud Case Study
whitepaper | Digital Marketing

Utilizing Email To Stop Fraud-eCommerce Client Fraud Case Study

1y