Google dictates we listen, vice versa

Posted by multippt

Google has so much influence over the ordinary user that any action Google does will be almost immediately noticed. That’s because aside from being the most visited site of all time, Google has the ability to control what users see. Actions such as habits, news, and adding features will be certain to get a large population of Internet users to notice. After all, Google is the most visited.

Google as the dictator

Google has the ability to implement new standards that most people will have to accept, somehow or rather. Take the nofollow movement for example. Google has been widely encouraging webmasters to use nofollow for paid links (which by Google, is defined as any link that would not have been there if not for any sort of blatant compensation).

Don’t do what Google says, and there are some consequences that you certainly will not want to have. The possibility of a non-rule-abiding site being banned in itself is enough to get people to follow by its rules - because Google is so big, it’s near impossible to ignore Google entirely (even Yahoo acknoledges Google). Any sort of penalty that gives a disadvantage at Google will be disadvantageous to anyone.

We as the dictator

Google rose to popularity because of… popularity. The reason of its success is that Google made something people want. So, Google had traffic and major support. Being a website, Google is powered by the community and those who uses its services. Thus in return, it is willing to provide what the community wants, or at least do something about it. That’s a probable reason why Google happens to be one of the few commercial entities to interact with the community actively and listen to its needs.

Google gave its users a voice - be it a simple contact form, or a discussion group (called Google groups), or for that matter an entire blogging platform (known as Blogger). There are many ways to keep in contact with Google, although the more publicized ones are from conventional E-mails to a well-known celebrity in Google (Matt Cutts is one of the many). If some fellow(s) were to say something that catches Google’s attention, Google will be likely to take it into consideration.

Of course, Google doesn’t always listen (similarly for the converse) and still employs some unpopular decisions. But that is still in the best interests of everyone.

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So, what does this say? We are listening to Google, at the same time Google is listening to us.