Technology, business and change
Could search engines be the best business model for the Web?
About 10 years ago, a young company called Google completely changed the game. With their PageRank algorithm, Google found a way of automating what Yahoo! was mainly doing by hand: indexing Websites and finding the most relevant websites by analyzing their backlinks. Now, this is all history and Google is part of our daily life: most people use Google everyday. The most important part of this is that Google also found a way to monetize its search service by providing very targeted ads to the users. Now, Google is without a doubt the most profitable business in the Web industry. Google killed it, with a search engine.
Web 2.0 and not making money
Then came this new social web trend or the Web 2.0 as some people like to call it. Google quickly jumped into this with “Blogger”, “YouTube” and a couple of other social networking initiatives like Orkut, to eventually find out it wasn’t as profitable as they first expected. To date, YouTube is still not making money (profit), despite its HUGE user base. But still, social media is so big, it’s important to be part of the game, no matter how much money you lose.
Then, social media exploded. But I mean, exploded. Still, social media is not as lucrative as everyone expected even though the user base is huge. Take Facebook for example, which is probably the biggest social network at the moment, they are failing at monetizing the service. They do make money, but for a 200 million users service, they’re not. It is the same story for a lot of social networking sites: lots of users, no money.
Back to search engines
About three years ago, a service called twitter came out and quickly became the “standard” of micro-blogging. Today, twitter is growing at a rapid pace and while it is still not making money, most people agree that twitter will be extremely profitable because of one single thing: their realtime search engine (search.twitter.com). More than 10 years later, after a lot of trials and errors, could the best way to monetize social media be a search engine?
I think search engines are the answer to a big problem on the Web at the moment: filtering information and giving a purpose to social networks.
Social networking with a purpose
Personally, with twitter, this is the first time I see such an interesting opportunity for businesses. There are a lot of benefits for a company to be on Facebook, but twitter is offering a lot more value with the search engine. In fact, LinkedIn also understood this “added value” concept by providing paid services for recruiters. Via a search engine, recruiters can rapidly find interesting people and get in touch with them. With twitter search engine, businesses can rapidly find customers, learn about their needs, get their feedback and get in touch with them. On top of that, twitter’s search engine offers an added value to “average” users as well with trending topic and the possibility to find more about “what’s happening NOW”.
You see the similarities between the LinkedIn business model and the twitter business model? Search and giving a purpose/added value through this search service.
Filtering information
Filtering information is the biggest challenge at the moment on the Web because of the uncontrollable flow of information. Being able to filter information with an added value and bringing people together all at the same time is the key. So, more than 10 years after Google changed the Web with a search engine, are we about to see some big changes and another very profitable company based on the search engine business model?
The search engine business model might just be the best and most profitable business model for the Web.
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These are definitely interesting times, Ben. And with something like "twitter" being mentioned every time I turn on the radio, it's clear to see we're riding a wave of change. I read somewhere that posed the question if we've become accustomed already to getting our news in twitter form. Gosh I hope not. Sure, it may be good as a supplement, but we've already become a society of distant people. I shutter to think of all the social skills that are eroding because of it.
I think you're right. I so love twitter and what I can do with it, but it just seems some people are on it like 24 hours a day. Do they have a job? a family? friends? I don't know, but they surely are neglecting a lot of things in real life.
It's like anything, balance is the key. But overall, twitter is certainly a good thing and shows that some important changes are taking place at the moment.
Thanks for commenting!
The search engine business model is indeed the most profitable one
It is if you're able to make it work. And then somehow find users. It's not that simple. There's only couple search engines that managed to stay on the market.
i think search engine business is the best to earn more money…..
Search engines may be profitable but I don't think it will work for everyone. It needs great mind, hardwork and luck to succeed in this kind of business.
Nice post, thanks for sharing your opinion.
Please keep on blogging such articles…
Best regards.
I totally agree with you. It's also true that a lot of search engines have failed, but most of them where competing directly with Google. More targeted SE like twitter offer a lot of potential. But yes, it's not that simple.
a great post… search engines play a vital role in the life of students.. who learn a lot only thru the search engines like google… and the latest twitter is on its peak. I follow many people(twitter) who inspired me to learn from them… google search engine before, now the twitter SE… so SE are the best business model… i wonder what kinda thing would rule the web2.0 in future…. (iam a starter with web2.0 business)
awesome Ben! Twitter is crazy, I absolutely LOOOOOOOOOOVE the search features of it. So easy to find people you have something in common with, or people with a problem to which you can provide a solution.
It's crazy!
We'll see what happens man.
Keep bringin the goodness bro!
Thanks man!
You are right my friend, the power of twitter is finding people that have the same interests as you OR are looking for something you can offer them. All of this, done by building a relationship. Sounds like personality marketing…rings a bell?
Luckily I'm not addicted with twitter but I'm agree that twitter is the most powerful microblogging that can help us spread our site easily.
Hey, thanks for dropping a comment, we haven't talked in a while. Hope things are going well for you and keep visiting!
The Internet business is extremely unpredictable and nobody can tell what will be the next big thing. I probably would've laughed at you three years ago if you had told me a service spreading information 140 characters at a time would change the game…
Thanks for the comment!
Hi Ben, Yes really missing you
(just kidding). Yes, hope to talk with you soon.
just started reading your blog… (you dont know that iam following you thru twitter) hope to learn a lot from people like
keep posting useful stuffs ben… and others do comment…
just started reading your blog… (you dont know that iam following you thru twitter) hope to learn a lot from people like you
keep posting useful stuffs ben… and others do comment…
Oh sweet, I have two things to say to you:
1. Thanks for following me on twitter
2. Thanks for reading my blog
Honestly, thanks for your comment and yes, more good stuff is coming
The great Google is really great. And twitter is so lovable.
Google is indeed a part of our daily online lives. Searching, checking and earning, they can be found in Google.
that's really great i think so search engine played a good role in every business
The search engine business model is indeed the most profitable one
Great article Ben. Me personally I can't live without google. It is my number 1 visited website. Anything can be found on google, and it is absolutely awesome!
Thank you for your comment Salwa. Google did achieve something big and I think they are going to get some serious competition in t6he coming years. Maybe not direct competition, but more targeted search engines for sure like twitter…
I get the feeling that the internet is feeding itself. seo people are making money off other seo people, and ultimately it will all implode?
1 out of 3 blogs that I've read in the past days mentions Twitter. Twitter has been almost around for three years now but it is only now that it became a phenomenon. I've read that Google wants to buy Twitter? I'm not sure
Cheers,
Meg
yes… you are right. I have also read that google wants to buy twitter… the value of twitter is around 250 million $ (read it on the net)
It will be interesting what ideas people come up with to actually make profits out of these social networking sites. Whoever comes up with it first is going to reap in cash big time.
Cindy
so far it worked and companies like Google for example are making huge profits every year whatever they say
twitter=250 mil?
might be true but it's still shocking for me
twitter posted that they are having conversations with a third party but didnt confirm yet that its with google.
Interesting post! The info is inquisitive.There is much to think it over.
I love every word of your posts.
Twitter is no doubt expanding at very fast rate. Here you will not be able to get website url only, with such website you will see a person and I think this is making a difference. But however people are also using it in a negative way.
I mean today we are not getting such information with a single click … we have to see 6 to 10 websites … thanks to the skill of SEO who can push irrelevant website above.
But I just want that twitter should be very strict … as this one is the reliable source now.
Yes, But it's take too much time to make it profitable. Internet user like new ideas & technology like twitter, twitter is next generation search & social network. need this type of invation. Must Unique
Very funny. Microsoft have not copyright whole internet. It's time to next generation Mr. Gates
Probably.Since google and yahoo is so popular and dominates the whole search engine group.I believe there are more people coming up with algorithms to compete with them
Hey,
Lots of great info in this thread. Thanks Guys.
Keep it up.
Every Search Engine is important on their own way. Business market their product and website to get traffic and customer from search engines which increase their revenue. Its really helpful for them
This is something very helpful for webmaster.I guess in future also we are going to get really important information like this.
Search engines are the best business model for the web and social network like facebook also helps alot in success of web based business.
Google has almost officially taken over the world. Search engines are becoming the ONLY way of getting any business online. If your banned from Google, your banned from online business.
I agree with you Google has made a difference when it comes to being a search engine. Google holds almost every transactions online. Especially on online business.