Very interesting article from Search Engine Land which you can read in full here:
Google faces threats from all sides, says Executive Chairman - Search Engine Land
Eric Schmidt the Google CEO has made a speech in Berlin to try and win over some of Googles biggest critics, answering some of the most common arguments.
I've got to be honest, he made some interesting points and argues his case well. I'm not sure how much sympathy "we are under threat from all corners" argument will get.
Not going to paraphrase the whole article, but there were notable takeaways:
- "Searching on a mobile device is very different from a desktop computer. Speed and simplicity really matter. It’s why the best answer is quite literally … the answer"
- "last year almost a third of people looking to buy something started on Amazon — that’s more than twice the number who went straight to Google."
- "the most popular app in the world — including in Europe — is … Facebook"
- "Don’t regulate us like a utility: No one is stuck using Google."
- "A Google killer is almost inevitable: someone, somewhere in a garage is gunning for us. I know, because not long ago we were in that garage. Change comes from where you least expect it . . . The next Google won’t do what Google does, just as Google didn’t do what AOL did."
The full article is worth a read, but what do people think? Does the Google boss make a fair point or is it a well orchestrated PR campaign from a heavy weight giant?
