Blog - Google

Yes, I'm often very critical and/or sarcastic about Google's ongoing mission to take over the world.   The truth is that the reason they're so close to fulfilling that mission is that they are so good at so many of the things they do.  Google Alerts is a good example. 

I set up alerts to help track my and my clients' digital reputation (online profile), and to keep up with current events and news that are important to me.  Unlike my feed reader (also on Google), which help me keep up with specific websites and blogs, the alerts allow me to track search terms such as names keywords relating to specific news stories.

Setting up alerts is easy.  Go to alerts.google.com, and enter your search term.  Preview the results, and either broaden or narrow down your search to a level that makes sense.  Select your desired frequency, and enter your e-mail address (it doesn't have to be Gmail.)  If you're not using Gmail, and/or you're not signed into your Google account, you'll receive an e-mail asking you to confirm the alert. 

After that, you'll receive alerts daily or several times per day (depending on the frequency you have selected) with blog posts, website articles, discussion forum posts, and social networking discussions containing your search term.  Since Google pretty much crawls everything now, the results are pretty comprehensive. 

If the story is one you only want to track for a short period of time, you can always stop the alerts at any time by clicking on the link provided with each e-mail. 

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

I wrote about Google Voice back in August, and how it might be giving VOIP services like Skype some competition.  Well, now, according to the Google Voice Blog, the service is getting an early Christmas from Santa Claus, and making some kids very happy in the process:

If you or your kids have a special request or message for Santa, you can leave him a message at his Google Voice number: 855-34-SANTA. Although he’s too busy to return messages himself, you can always create one on his behalf at the Send a Call From Santa site.

Ready to spread some holiday cheer? Listen to a sample message, and visit sendacallfromsanta.com to send a message of your own.

And don’t forget—if you want to keep up with Santa as he travels around the globe delivering presents on Christmas Eve, you can track his journey on Google Maps, on Google Earth with the plug-in and on your mobile phone, too.

I just sent one to a friend, and I thought it was adorable.  I customized the nicknames used, added some other personal touches, and even chose which "holiday" we were celebrating (in this case, Christmas, but I could have sent a Chunukah greeting, or one of several others).  The message can be sent by phone, e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter - all for FREE.  Yes, it's an advertisement for Google Voice, but that's only fair, no?

Ho ho ho!

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

Google is trying out a new look (see above).  Over the years, we've become accustomed to Google modifying it's  logo to honor holidays and current events (see Google Doodles).  But now, it seems it is trying to update its navigation bar.  There's only one problem.  This look really isn't "new." 

Google trying to look more like it's wanna-be rival, Bing, is the equivalent of Facebook trying to look more like MySpace.  Seriously, you would think that with all of the geniuses working at Googe, SOMEONE would have been able to come up with something more creative.  Oh, well, apparently, this is just an experiment  (See TechCrunch).  Maybe it'll get better.

Oh, and with all of the excitement over making their front page look more like Bing, it seems some of the folks at Google forgot about the time change.  I've been getting my once-a-day Google news alerts an hour early every day.  Did anyone else notice this?

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

Last Spring, I wrote about a lesson I learned the hard way about letting Facebook download my e-mail contacts.  Well, apparently, I wasn't the only one unhappy with what Facebook was doing.  Google decided to block this handy-dandy "feature."

Now, as TechCrunch is reporting, Facebook has found a work-around Google's block, by "allowing" users to download their own contacts to their own computer, then upload that file to Facebook - all in a couple of clicks (in a similar way to the way photos are currently uploaded). 

Both companies would like for you to believe they have the users' best interest at heart. [Insert laugh track here.] 

We are in the information age, and information is power.  Follow the money trail, and remember, the social networks, search engines, and online e-mail providers do not  work for the users, who are using their services for free.  I'm sorry if this sounds cold and cynical, but the only value you (or I) provide to these social networks is our personal information - and that of our contacts.  The social networks get their money from their advertisers and investors, who want that information.  The networks are simply a conduit.  Think about it - if the largest search engine and the largest social network are fighting over YOUR contact information, it must be pretty valuable.  Guard it wisely.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

Remember the Google Buzz debacle? I've written about the privacy issues, and used as an example of why an online search engine perhaps shouldn't be in charge of storing our medical information?  Well, a bunch of users did more than make snarky comments on their blog; they filed a class action lawsuit, and won.  Here's part of the e-mail I received today:

...Shortly after its launch, we heard from a number of people who were concerned about privacy. In addition, we were sued by a group of Buzz users and recently reached a settlement in this case.

The settlement acknowledges that we quickly changed the service to address users' concerns. In addition, Google has committed $8.5 million to an independent fund, most of which will support organizations promoting privacy education and policy on the web. We will also do more to educate people about privacy controls specific to Buzz. The more people know about privacy online, the better their online experience will be.

Just to be clear, this is not a settlement in which people who use Gmail can file to receive compensation. Everyone in the U.S. who uses Gmail is included in the settlement, unless you personally decide to opt out before December 6, 2010. The Court will consider final approval of the agreement on January 31, 2011...

Here's a copy of the official notice (.pdf download), so you can find out if you are involved in the lawsuit.  According to the press release, here is a summary of your options, if you are a qualifying Buzz user:

• EXCLUDE YOURSELF - This is the only option that allows you to bring your own lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against Google about the legal claims resolved in this Settlement. You must mail your request for exclusion so that it is received no later than December 6, 2010.

• OBJECT - Write to the Court about why you do not like the Settlement. Your objection must be received by January 10, 2011.

• GO TO A HEARING - Ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the Settlement. Send your Notice of Intent to Appear so that it is received no later than January 10, 2011.

• DO NOTHING - Give up your rights to sue Google about the legal claims in this case and thereby accept the terms of this Settlement.

For more information, visit BuzzClassAction.com

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

I received an inquiry from a reader this week about the new Google Instant.  Above is an example of how it works.  I typed in "this is" and...hey, wait a minute...that is not very nice?!  What's going on here?

Those of you who need an extra 2-5 seconds in your day will be greatly relieved to find out that Google Instant added a feature last month that tries to guess what you're searching for, and auto-fills in the Google Search field for you, to save you some seconds (and clicks).  Actually, Google has been autocompleting the search box for years (e.g. HERE - notice the date), but now they've made it a publicized feature...and made it sound really "magical" with this passionate video.

But don't just think of this in terms of yourself.  Google has estimated the global time-savings of this amazing feature: "If everyone uses Google Instant globally, we estimate this will save more than 3.5 billion seconds a day. That’s 11 hours saved every second. (more)"

If you're still not quite understanding how you can save 11 hours every second by Googling exactly the same way you have always Googled, don't worry.  Here's the real news.  While making the world aware of this feature and pretending it was new, Google actually put some safe-guards into search to keep itself from suggesting sexually explicit search terms to children.  Of course a huge cyber uproar ensued, then fizzled to nothing, when it was discovered that you could simply get around the so-called "censorship," by adjusting your settings.  Mashable has more on the "blacklisted" words.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking.