What I Learned from “What Would Google Do?”

In my quest to understand how Internet-based companies function and how I can use my strengths and talents to help a company like this grow, I read “What Would Google Do?” by Jeff Jarvis, who also writes Buzzmachine. Since 85% of my job is bowing to Google and making it happy, it’s important for me to understand how Google thinks and acts in everyday business.

It took me over a month to read, (business books really aren’t my favorite) but I came away with better understanding of how my boss makes decisions and what’s important about doing business in a Web 2.0 world.

1. Data is king - As a writer, I relied mostly on hunches and “hey wouldn’t THIS be cool?” and what we’d like to see written. If you work for a newspaper or a magazine, you’d get a little more direction, but not that much. In Google’s word, data is king and you NEVER come to a meeting without data to back you up and you NEVER, EVER say “I have a hunch that this would work…”

At times, I find this approach incredibly freeing. Other times, stifling.

2. Being free is the new business model - Hulu announced recently that it will start charging for content. Bummer. Hulu should look closely at what Google has done. We don’t pay for any Google services: Gmail, Calendar, Search, Documents, Reader, etc. Does Hulu really think people will stick around and pay a subscription fee? Everything I watch on Hulu can be watched on regular TV or I can get through Netflix. I’m not going to go so far as to say that this decision will make Hulu go out of business, but I don’t think it’s the right move.

Well, you might be asking, how is a company supposed to make money then, if you give away everything for free? Google makes money hand over fist with its network of ads. Find a new, different ways to generate revenue.

3. We can all learn something from Google - business AND personal - Thanks to the Internet, the power to control your image is in your hands. But your image can be in anyone’s hands. I’m not big on branding myself but I am big on image control. What gets presented is only the best of the best, just like Google.