In Chapters 7-10 of The Search, it describes how it can do both. Many small Internet companies started seeing dollar signs because of the traffic Google generated to their site. These companies made up about $25 Billion dollars of the Internet business. How? One simple word…Google! The magic of Google and its , E commerce power is ruled by a complex ranking system. Companies that are able to come up on the first page of Google’s organic search stand a good chance of making money. Google has gone to great lengths to consistently update its indexes to try and punish spammers and penalize those who are gaming the system. In doing this, many Internet businesses have suffered because they no longer find themselves at the top of Google’s organic searches.
John Battelle raises some good questions about Google’s search results, “How does [Google] make these decisions? How do you draw a line between pure, organic listings and paid listings?” Google has not given a straight answer to these questions however; it does reserve the right to make adjustments to their indexes. These adjustments can be made whenever and however Google sees fit. The problem is that we as consumers trust that Google will always be fair. How can we be sure? Who is policing the policeman? All we can be sure of is that these two questions permeate throughout all of Google’s business dealings.
Search engines such as Google have had profound impact on our economy and on our industries. For example, the Real Estate business has completely changed because consumers can now type in their location, preference, and amenities and find property instantly. This process bypasses the need to go through a Realtor or property manager. Other industries such as the travel, music, retail, banking, and entertainment have all been affected by the power of search.
Google has also had to wrestle with its own issues. Over the relatively short life of Google it has grown in ways that were unimaginable. It has found its way into China (not without difficulties) and to the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Both of these roads were rough for Google as it had to make decisions contrary to its culture. As Google looks towards the future its growth and power will be monitored not only by its stock prices but, also by its users… Or will it?
Although Google has record of our private searches and interactions, I cannot imagine life without it. The search engine has become the easiest and fastest way to find information, news, and email. Yes, Google has incredible power and limits our privacy but, are we really ready to give it up or limit its use?
