Weekend Wrapper : More thoughts on GOOG database; the drag on internet performance from the bot armies; and SVW readers get discount to upcoming Churchill Club Mossberg/Swisher gadget fest!
The Google database is the logical next step in the creation of a second, proprietary internet. Upload your content to the GOOG, the planet's largest computer.
Why host your own site? Just dump it into GOOGbase, the search algorithms will organize it for you, and for your customers/readers/users.
Content owners such as craigslist, won't dump their content into GOOGbase. But many smaller sites will--because they are desperate for clicks and get excited when the GOOGbot comes around every three months. No waiting--just dump it in.
I've often said to the fine Search Engine Optimization folk out there: Let the search engines optimize themselves to find the sites, it's their job; concentrate on optimizing for your customers/users--not the bot.
Now, no need for the bot. And no need for the SEO most probably. Because the GOOG knows what is located where--if it's hosting and holding the content.
And this also is the best way to stop the masses of online scams and fraud. Google can argue that it can track every bit of the bytes that cross its network, from start to finish. (It is a shame AOL went open--the right move at the right time, again ;-)
The burden of search sites on the internet
But, do we still need GOOG? Search engines don't drive much traffic to sites--direct bookmarks do and those are the ones you want. This is repeat traffic. You get them by optimizing for the user not the bot.
Let me say again: you do not want to rely on search engines to bring you your traffic. That traffic comes from people that don't know where you live or what you do. You want repeat traffic, from people that know you, trust you and know where you live. They don't come in through a search engine. So optimize for the user-not the bot.
BTW, I would love to see how much the bots, crawlers, scrapers etc are using up in terms of internet bandwidth. I wonder if anybody has done a study of the amount of traffic and server performance degradation that they cause?
It would not surprise me if the number is gobsmackingly high. Can anybody do the math? Let me know...
In SVW's case, for example, the MSN and all the other spiders and bots, used up about one third of our bandwidth, and provided less than 4 per cent of the views. And degraded the performance of the site for others.
Coming SF Event:
SVW Readers get the member price. Please contact Julie Crabill for details: jcrabill at shiftcomm.com.
Tuesday, November 8, 2005
Making a List: What's Hot and What's Not in Personal Technology
Walt Mossberg, Columnist, The Wall Street Journal
Kara Swisher, Columnist, The Wall Street Journal
Sponsored by Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Tuesday, November 8, 2005
Time: Registration/Buffet: 6:00 PM Program: 7:00-8:30PM
Location: San Francisco Marriott, 55 Fourth Street, San Francisco
Registration Members: $60 Non-Members; $75
