Google Related Links aka Google Jumps the Shark
Google seems to have hit the wall when it comes to creative and exciting new ideas. Proof of this is the new Google Related Links from Google Labs. Their tag line is “Provide your website’s visitors with links to useful information”. Isn’t that basically the job of the website developer/writer/blogger? Just for giggles, I have placed Google’s related links boxes in the right column of the blog and on the stocks pages.
What is a little concerning is the “safety” of such an idea. Google got to where it is by being bold and pushing the envelope, but this seems to be one of those ideas that is “good”, but really not great. Don’t even get me started on Google Talk.
I don’t know if it’s a shark-jumping moment, but it’s certainly underwhelming.
When I saw that it wasn’t a payment-generating tool like AdSense, I glossed over it. But I’m concerned about how Related Links could affect AdSense. If Google gets bunches of people to display these boxes for free, what’s to prevent them from reasoning that just as many people will willingly display outright ads for free? Bad news…
Will you make more dollars by doing so?
God bless.
I think you’re right about this google links… It seems just like adsense except google gets to keep all the ad revenue because those are clearly pay sites. I’m seeing optionetics and some market timer’s salespitch on your google links sidebar :/
They’ll be releasing a Gmail-integrated calendar program within 6 months…we’ll see if that brings it back for them.
Hi Helen! Yes - a web-based calendar would be great and I look forward to it - BUT - is it really all that creative? It isn’t like a totally new killer application. Yes, I know - lightning rarely strikes twice (or does it? See Apple). I will stop menacing Google…
I think those Related links thing Google is doing is so pointless. Who’s gonna put a big “ad” looking box on their site and not get any compensation for it? Screw that, I’ll put Adsense in the spot of the related links AND get compensation for it.
Dan - you are spot on. I have them up and they are providing nothing really all that interesting. The AdSense is much more relevant to my pages. The links section hasn’t changed over the past week. Perhaps I will take them off soon - I was waiting for that “Ah ha” moment where I suddenly realized the hidden gem of an idea behind this concept.
Related links is not the same as Adsense.
Adsense serves contextual adds, which announcers pay for and you get money for it.
The “Related Links” means to provide you a way to enhance your reader experience, by showing the reader more pages of interest, regardless of those being payed to be there or not.
In short, it will show the best affinity content with no polution related to adwords bidding - for example, providing excelente context related to yours by some site whose owner never heard of AdWords nor makes any money… (utopic I know, but an example)
If I get to your page about “stock market” I like to see great related links and not the “smart trash” many try to hit on you by smart adwords bidding…
That’s my opinion, but for now, mind you, I tend to change it as I change my T-Shirt… just like Jeremy Clarkson… :-)
Kind Regards,
AMR
http://www.alvaromrocha.com
Yawn…. I got tired of them, so I deleted them. The dang links never changed (at least not on the home page)!
I still need to check out the GCalendar…