The Google Phenomenon: Greatest Hits Collection

As my readers know, I've been one of Google's harshest critics. However, I'm also a firm believer that it's okay to criticize, as long as it's justifiable and fairly balanced with deserved praise.

Hence, in this article, instead of criticizing, I will be saluting Google and several of its many accomplishments.

According to the dictionary, the definition of phenomenon is:

"A remarkable development or occurrence. A marvel. "

I think we would all agree that definition fits Google like a fine tailored suit.

In 1998, singer Janet Jackson was the biggest star on the planet. On September 7, 1998, Google Inc. opened its door in Menlo Park, California. The door came with a remote control, as it was attached to the garage of a friend who sublet space to the new corporation's staff of three. The office offered several big advantages, including a washer and dryer and a hot tub. It also provided a parking space for the first employee hired by the new company: Craig Silverstein, now Google's director of technology.

Already Google.com, still in beta, was answering 10,000 search queries each day. The press began to take notice of the upstart website with the relevant search results, and articles extolling Google appeared in USA TODAY and Le Monde. That December, PC Magazine named Google one of its Top 100 Web Sites and Search Engines for 1998. Google was moving up in the world.

The name "Google" is a play on the word "googol," which was coined by Milton Sirotta, nephew of American mathematician Edward Kasner, and was popularized in the book, "Mathematics and the Imagination" by Kasner and James Newman. It refers to the number represented by the numeral 1 followed by 100 zeros. Google's use of the term reflects the company's mission to organize the immense, seemingly infinite amount of information available on the web.

Anyway, the rest as they say is history, as Google continues to write its remarkable history with each amazing new achievement.

Let's detail a few of Google's more recent achievements:

Froogle

In December 2002, Google introduced a beta version of Froogle, a play on the word "frugal," a product search engine that enables users to search for millions of products across the web.

Google AdWords

In October 2000, Google announced its new content-targeted advertising program. Google AdWords was a huge "out-of-the- box" success, boasting well over 100,000 advertisers to date.

AdWords Select

In February 2002, Google launched AdWords Select, an updated version of the AdWords self-service advertising system with a number of new enhancements, including cost-per-click (CPC)- based pricing.

Google AdSense

In June 2003, Google anounced AdSense, a program designed to maximize the revenue potential of a website by serving highly relevant ads specific to the content of the page, launches with initial partners, including ABC.com, HowStuffWorks, Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc., Lycos Europe, Knight Ridder Digital, About.com, CNET and others.

Google Deskbar

In November 2003, Google announced the Google Deskbar, a free software download which enables users to search Google without using a web browser.

Gmail

On April 1, 2004, Google announced a new web-based mail service called Gmail that will include a gigabyte of free storage for each user. The service also includes a powerful search engine to locate and retrieve messages, which are displayed in a "conversation view" that chronologically arranges all emails sent or received with the same subject line. Gmail also includes relevant advertising delivered with the same technology that scans web pages as part of the AdSense service.

To say that Google has had a meteoric rise to stardom would be an understatement. Years ago, who would have thought that the little search engine with the funny name would reach such massive heights that a monolith like Microsoft would find it tough competing.

So, what's next? Only Google knows for sure. However, I for one would like to see it tackle the current click fraud problem with the same excellence, zeal and determination its shown in its other remarkable achievements.

About The Author

Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: dean@lets-make-money.net

Visit his website at: http://www.lets-make-money.net

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


How To Avoid The 3 Biggest Title Tag Mistakes With Search Engines

Your title tag is the most important 3 to 12... Read More

Search Engine Metrics: Organic Search vs. Paid Placement

Let me preface this report by citing advertisers in 2004... Read More

What You Did Wrong With Your Domain Names!

Trying to improve search engine rankings is just like a... Read More

How You Can Easily Compile A Gigantic Keyword List

It doesn't matter what kind of marketing you are involved... Read More

Google Page Rank - Important Or Just Another Number?

In my last newsletter I wrote about how your websites... Read More

Look Out MSN Search, Here Comes Gbrowser

It is official, the search engine wars are in full... Read More

Give the Folks at Google What They Want

Recent developments on the Google front have web marketers and... Read More

7 Search Engine Resources You Should Be Using Now

Ask any business person who's website is at the top... Read More

All You Need to Know About Your Website Traffic is Contained in 5 Key Stats

You built that content rich web page optimized for your... Read More

Sitemaps 101 - Back to SEO School

Sitemaps are without doubt one of the most often ignored... Read More

Anchor Text Optimization

Anchor Text (also called phrase linking) can significantly improve your... Read More

Meta Tag Tactics - Give Your Website Traffic a Boost with the Meta Tag Basics

Getting your site noticed by the search engines and rewarded... Read More

Search Engine Optimization for Everyone

There are many facets to SEO and the search engines... Read More

How Search Engines Connect Sellers and Buyers

Maggie knows how to find what she wants. She lets... Read More

Great Site Ranking in Google The Secrets Out

How many years did you register your domain name for?... Read More

Web Site Copy is about More Than Keywords

Let's say you are writing a web site to sell... Read More

Use Keyword Articles for Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization is very important for your online business... Read More

Professional SEO: Hand Off to Bob or Outsource the Job

We are often asked if professional SEO (search engine optimization)... Read More

Basics to Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization popularly known as SEO.SEO is the process... Read More

Google Patent Application ? Linking

The recent patent application filed by Google details numerous items... Read More

Designing a Website So the Search Engines Will Like You

Before you go and spend big money on a professional... Read More

The Google Strategy

Webmasters across the Internet were totally floored by what happened... Read More

Choosing your Meta-Keywords

Introduction This article assumes you already know what... Read More

Spamglish; A Search Engine Comedy With A Language All Its Own

When the movie Spanglish hit the screens in 2004, it... Read More

Finding Profitable Keyword Phrases

So you have a site concept developed that you are... Read More

Using Blogs for SEO

Why Start A Blog?I knew about blogging and blogs for... Read More

Google Has No Content On Page

One of the post from My SEO world Meet Up... Read More

Learn about the Google Search Engine Tools

Think you know everything about searching with Google? Think again.... Read More

Submitting Your Site To The Open Web Directory: Some Dos And Don?ts

One of the most important steps in any site's publicity... Read More

Search Engine Optimization - A Beginners Guide

Getting your site listed in the top search engines, such... Read More

Keywords, Choose Them Wisely

By now you have likely heard that keywords and keyword... Read More

The Myth of Search Engine Submission

Contrary to what most people think, it is not necessary... Read More

Finding The True PR Of A Page?

I had an email "conversation" this last week which I... Read More