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5 Google Apps Worth Considering (Part 2)

Posted by Guest in Process | on May 19th, 2010

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When Google officially gained predominant (search engine) market share in 2000, the world wondered what they would do with such a vast audience. The answer?

Get more users.

While Google continues to (and should) consider itself primarily a search company, it has continued to increase its user base via its collection of communication tools, web apps, and mobile products. Of course this is no real surprise when one of the primary tasks of Google’s engineers is to create and implement new applications (via Google’s “20% Rule”).

The playground for this creative space is better known as the Google Laboratory, where popular products such as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Earth, and Google Maps (to name a few) were all birthed into existence. In fact, the Google Labs are spitting out new apps and reworking old ones at a rate that often makes it difficult to keep up. So, rather than have you waste a few hours (as I did) playing in Google’s playground, here are a few worthy of (seriously) considering putting to use.

#1 Google Places

Ever wonder how businesses show up on Google Maps when you do a basic Google search? It’s all dependent upon whether or not a business is appropriately listed via Google Places – Google’s local business center. Here’s why you this should be your first stop. It’s a free listing on Google!

Here’s the deal. Google’s algorithms are like the Coke formula, nobody “officially” knows what it is. However, those familiar with Google’s “ways” understand that Google gives preference to those who play by their rules and with their toys. Ready to play? Start here.

TIP: Be strategic about listing your 5 categories. List categories in which you believe might best match someone’s search string (i.e. Design Agency, Graphic Design, Creative, etc…)

NOTE: Many third-party services, such as DexKnows often list your business without you being aware. You might want to make sure you have control over what information and categories that are listed.

Check out the Google Places video

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googlething

It was a mere 10 years ago this month that Google launched its MentalPlex product – one of Google’s first side projects that allowed users to simply “think” a search term that prompted a more timely and accurate query than ever before. Of course, this was also Google’s first foray into its annual April Fools hoax – a move that left thousands of users both captivated and perplexed. Pranks aside, this sentiment is actually not too far from Google’s core (search) philosophy. According to Google’s (once-upon-a-time) Chief Information Officer Douglas Merrill, “Our goal is to have the top [search] result be not just what you asked for, but what you should have asked for – what you meant.”

This “type of thinking” is at the heart of Google’s innovative environment. There is no doubt this mentality alongside Google’s capabilities scare a lot of people. I mean… its ultimate mission is to take “all the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” And fortunately (or unfortunately depending on your disposition), I think they are serious. But, we must not forget that Google has not always been the behemoth entity that it is today. It was only a little over a decade ago that Google began implementing some of the simplest, yet innovative, ideas of the last century. And as TED would say, these are “ideas worth spreading.”

Here are FIVE Google philosophies worthy of integrating into your own business/organization.

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Creativity IS a habit

Posted by Guest in Process | on October 20th, 2009

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At a conference like AIGA’s Make/Think Conference, it’s impossible to boil down the few precious days into one sound byte, but there has been a quote going around that, if we were to be so bold, could come close to summarizing the very purpose and reason the conference exists:

“Creativity is a habit. It’s not something the happens in the shower.”

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