Complements of the OmniGoogle
September 8, 2008
Nick Carr gives an excellent explanation of Google’s ever-broadening range of activities.
The way Google makes money is straightforward: It brokers and publishes advertisements through digital media…
For Google, literally everything that happens on the Internet is a complement to its main business. The more things that people and companies do online, the more ads they see and the more money Google makes. In addition, as Internet activity increases, Google collects more data on consumers’ needs and behavior and can tailor its ads more precisely, strengthening its competitive advantage and further increasing its income. As more and more products and services are delivered digitally over computer networks — entertainment, news, software programs, financial transactions — Google’s range of complements expands into ever more industry sectors. That’s why cute little Google has morphed into The Omnigoogle.
Chris Anderson quotes rather more extensively than I have, but still recommends that you read Nick’s whole post. I’d go further and recommend the comments as well.
September 14, 2008 at 9:22 pm
[...] But there is a vital point missing from the analogy between Google and these other firms. It’s not clear how any of them are as well placed as Google to benefit from such activities. Pretty much all the markets and other conversations on the web – even those that have yet to start – are complements to Google’s ad business. [...]