Archive: June, 2008

Quick trivia question… “Why did Google innovate the AdWords advertising system?”

There are a number of plausible answers to that question but the only true answer is, “To make a lot of money.” The plan worked. Google is making so much money, they can afford to take an enormous risk on a fairly safe bet.

A better and more challenging question might be phrased, “Why did Google invent the AdSense advertising distribution system?”

There is only one true answer to that question. Google invented AdSense in order to erect as many digital billboards as digitally possible. AdSense is the program allowing private webmasters to receive income when web users click on Google Ads which are displayed on that webmaster’s pages. The more webmasters sign up, the more billboard space Google enjoys.

The coolest aspect of AdSense for Google is the extraordinary levels of interest and creativity on the part of private webmasters. Google AdWords are contextually delivered, meaning the ad almost always fits the content found on the page they are displayed on. In general Google search results, a query for Blue Widgets will produce any number of blue widget focused AdWord ads, along with several organic references to websites about blue widgets. Choose one of those organic sites, and you might be served a private page about blue widgets that also displays Google advertising. Click on one of those ads and Google splits revenues with the webmaster.

It would be impolite and remiss to miss noting Marty Weintraub’s appearance on yesterday’s episode of Webcology.

Marty is a social media marketing expert with a knack for helping brand ambassadors like Betty Crocker find their voices online. Marty is very good at what he does, so good in fact, he courts a unique sense of controversy. You can check his writing at the aimclear blog.

He gave us an interview that needed far more time that we had to be complete. I’m hoping he’ll come on another show in the future. Marty’s segment can be heard approximately 35 minutes into the episode.

I host a weekly webmasterradio.fm show called Webcology. Last week, WebmasterRadio asked if I would be part of a special series covering tech industry concerns and the coming US election. They didn’t need to dangle the promise of a couple high-powered interviews in front of me though it was nice of them to do so. They had me at, “Would you…?”.

We are working to create some truly interesting media files while getting a far deeper understanding of the real issues the tech industry faces over the next four to eight years. The most prominent and likely most complicated is that of Net Neutrality. It is a terribly important issue, if only for the energy being invested in both sides of the debate.

Net Neutrality is a set of principles which proponents want to see enshrined in law. One of those principles is that all data should be treated equally, regardless of file size, content type or source. Another principle states that Internet service providers should not be able to limit or deny access to content coming from a competitive source or be granted the right to charge extra fees for access to content sourced from other networks.

Two days from now, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates will officially retire, leaving the largest software corporation and most profitable company in the world in the hands of Steve Ballmer.

During the thirty years he ran Microsoft, Gates managed to change the world on more than one occasion. Now he wants to save it. Once considered the world’s richest person, Gates has donated much of his considerable wealth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the global charity he founded and now plans to lead.

Though Gates will be leaving the executive offices he will remain active on the board of Microsoft and retain his 9% stake in the company. He will also take part in special initiatives and company priorities such as its quest to compete in web search.

While Ballmer takes over many of Gates administrative responsibilities, Ray Ozzie is widely viewed as the person to take over Gates duties as chief software engineer, a position Gates has held since Microsoft’s earliest days.