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What happens when Google goes bad. Or, why Google and Verizon’s vision of net neutrality is a joke

by Tim on August 11, 2010

I have many friends who are attorneys. And despite the old joke that says it’s just 99% of the lawyers making the rest look bad, most of the time, most attorneys are good, decent human beings. That said, Verizon and Google’s recently released Legislative Framework Proposal is something only a lawyer could love. One of the ones in the 99%.

Seriously.

Who hates it? Well, Huffington Post announced the document with the headline Google Goes Evil (HuffPo clearly assumes Verizon already is Evil). Twitter was all, um, a-Twitter about the document, largely in the negative. And Jeff Jarvis compares this agreement with Britain, France and Italy ceding the Sudatenland to Nazi Germnay prior to World War II. No word on whether Jeff thinks Google or Verizon plays the part of the Nazis in this picture, but you get the idea.

I won’t parse the document line-by-line; plenty of others are doing a fine job of that (though I do have to say, the mobile provision is laughably bad, or would be if it weren’t so disturbing). However, the document is the largest collection of weasel words, caveats and head fakes I’ve seen in a long time. Effectively the document says, “We can do whatever we damned well please. But we’ll try to make it sound like we’re acting in your best interest.” I’ve embedded the entire document below for reference. If you think I’m wrong, well, that’s what the comments section is for.

Businesses of all sizes depend upon an Internet that allows all consumers equal access to all content. And sometimes the open, transparent nature of the Internet means you’ll lose that customer to a competitor who is just a click away. And, yes, network providers, the costs of increasing bandwidth requirements keep increasing. But, no one benefits when competitors can completely shut out others. We used to have that years ago. It was called AOL. It was called CompuServe. It was called Prodigy. And we all know how well those turned out for everyone. The Internet today is a level playing field because that’s what worked best for everyone. Works best for everyone. Anything that tilts that level playing field is a Very Bad Thing.

Google and Verizon’s document, despite its brevity, is far too long. If they were serious about maintaining an open, vibrant Internet, the first clause is all they’d need:

“Consumer Protections: A broadband Internet access service provider would be prohibited from preventing users of its broadband Internet access service from–

sending and receiving lawful content of their choice;

running lawful applications and using lawful services of their choice; and

connecting their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network or service, facilitate theft of service, or harm other users of the service.”

What more needs to be said?

Verizon-Google Legislative Framework Proposal

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Google, google, internet business, jeff jarvis, mobile, strategy, Verizon, Net neutrality

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Tagged as: Google, Mobile, mobile internet, net neutrality, verizon

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Why should you care about Twitter’s “Promoted Tweet” advertising platform?

by Tim on April 13, 2010

in Search, Social Media, twitter

For all the discussion about Twitter’s new advertising platform today, I’m amazed that no one is talking about October 23rd, 2000. It’s a significant date in history and one that Twitter no doubt had in mind when launching their “Promoted Tweet” offering.

Sure, you can learn how Twitter’s new search-based advertising system works and why your business might be interested:

“When a Twitter user searches for a word an advertiser bought, the promoted message will show up at the top of the results, even if it was written much earlier. The posts say they are promoted by the company in small type, and when someone rolls over a promoted post with a cursor, it turns yellow.

The ads will also be a way for companies to enter the conversation when it turns negative. Several companies have created tools to measure sentiment on Twitter, but until now, businesses can do little with that information. Even if they write a post in response, it also quickly gets lost in a sea of complaints.” [Emphasis mine]

And, you can learn that Twitter plans to include “Promoted Tweets” in individual users’ Twitter streams in the future:

“The advertising program, which Twitter calls Promoted Tweets, will show up when Twitter users search for keywords that the advertisers have bought to link to their ads. Later, Twitter plans to show promoted posts in the stream of Twitter posts, based on how relevant they might be to a particular user.” [Emphasis mine]

You can hear read that many Twitter users aren’t thrilled with the new feature, even though most people haven’t seen it yet:

“Not surprisingly, most of them don’t like the idea of ads being inserted at the top of their Twitter search results and eventually into their personal Twitter streams.”

You can also see how Twitter understands its future depends on business customers. Clearly, I’ve been bullish on using Twitter for your business for some time. But, in addition to launching this advertising platform, Twitter is offering businesses an overview of its service, and some best practices and case studies to help you get more out of your activities on the site.

So, what does any of this have to do with October 23rd, 2000? That’s the day Google – which, to that time, had built up tremendous traffic and few revenues – launched its AdWords platform, permitting businesses for the first time to advertise within its once pristine search results.

While no one, not even me, will guarantee Twitter can repeat that success, the company has demonstrated its value as a service to its users. Just like Google did. They’ve grown huge by offering consumers a great way to connect with information they care about. Just like Google did. As long as Twitter can keep the attention of its users, I suspect they’re sitting on a compelling advertising platform for your business, too. Just like Google did.

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Tagged as: Search, search engine marketing, sem, social, social marketing, social media marketing, social search, social strategy, twitter, twitter search marketing, twitter tools

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Well that didn’t take long: Google Buzz leads to class-action lawsuit

by Tim on February 18, 2010

in Google

Yesterday, we took a look at how Google’s Buzz screwed with its customers’ privacy. Well, it turns out Google’s customers are screwing them right back, hitting the search giant with a lawsuit. Um… whoops.

Facebook learned this one the hard way, with its Beacon program, which “only” cost the company $9.5 million dollars. Plus lawyer’s fees, of course.

You want customers to follow you on Twitter? Friend you on Facebook? Then remember that in the age of social marketing, it’s important for all companies – whether you’re a local retailer, a social media hub, or the biggest search engine in the land – to treat your customers like they’re your friends, too.