Comments on: What a new search engine should be about http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/ Nic Brisbourne's view from London on venture capital and exploiting change in technology and media Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Hoover http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-3013 Hoover Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:56:08 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-3013 I'm sure this will sound childish and off-base, but to my mind the trick to beating Google is simple. Bear in mind that Google has invented the wheel. But the gap between inventing the wheel and building the car you drive is immense. When I search for something, I want only one page. Only a lunatic could want 15 million pages, so I've no idea why they boast about finding so many results. One page, and one page only. It's that simple. The gap between Google's product and a search engine that will offer me that one page is immense. Google is primitive. The way to beat it is to imagine the difference between inventing the wheel and building a car. Google's competitors get nowhere because they say "Google may give you a blue wheel, but we offer a red one". Nobody cares. I only want one page. Ever. I’m sure this will sound childish and off-base, but to my mind the trick to beating Google is simple.

Bear in mind that Google has invented the wheel. But the gap between inventing the wheel and building the car you drive is immense.

When I search for something, I want only one page. Only a lunatic could want 15 million pages, so I’ve no idea why they boast about finding so many results.

One page, and one page only. It’s that simple. The gap between Google’s product and a search engine that will offer me that one page is immense.

Google is primitive. The way to beat it is to imagine the difference between inventing the wheel and building a car.

Google’s competitors get nowhere because they say “Google may give you a blue wheel, but we offer a red one”.

Nobody cares.

I only want one page. Ever.

]]> By: Hoover http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-11443 Hoover Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:56:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-11443 I'm sure this will sound childish and off-base, but to my mind the trick to beating Google is simple. Bear in mind that Google has invented the wheel. But the gap between inventing the wheel and building the car you drive is immense. When I search for something, I want only one page. Only a lunatic could want 15 million pages, so I've no idea why they boast about finding so many results. One page, and one page only. It's that simple. The gap between Google's product and a search engine that will offer me that one page is immense. Google is primitive. The way to beat it is to imagine the difference between inventing the wheel and building a car. Google's competitors get nowhere because they say "Google may give you a blue wheel, but we offer a red one". Nobody cares. I only want one page. Ever. I’m sure this will sound childish and off-base, but to my mind the trick to beating Google is simple.

Bear in mind that Google has invented the wheel. But the gap between inventing the wheel and building the car you drive is immense.

When I search for something, I want only one page. Only a lunatic could want 15 million pages, so I’ve no idea why they boast about finding so many results.

One page, and one page only. It’s that simple. The gap between Google’s product and a search engine that will offer me that one page is immense.

Google is primitive. The way to beat it is to imagine the difference between inventing the wheel and building a car.

Google’s competitors get nowhere because they say “Google may give you a blue wheel, but we offer a red one”.

Nobody cares.

I only want one page. Ever.

]]> By: There is space for innovation in search, but challenging Google will be tough | The Equity Kicker http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-3003 There is space for innovation in search, but challenging Google will be tough | The Equity Kicker Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:16:42 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-3003 [...] response to the launch of Cuil last week I wrote that a post entitled What a new search engine should be about in which I suggested some areas in which a search startup could make some headway against Google [...] [...] response to the launch of Cuil last week I wrote that a post entitled What a new search engine should be about in which I suggested some areas in which a search startup could make some headway against Google [...]

]]> By: nic http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-2980 nic Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:40:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-2980 Hi Azeem - I agree, the trick is to pick off a corner of the market which Google underserves and then build out from there. Going head to head would be suicide. Alex - I agree that links have been heavily gamed - that is what attracts me to social search, as that is inherently game proof (at least as long as you keep good company...) Hi Azeem – I agree, the trick is to pick off a corner of the market which Google underserves and then build out from there. Going head to head would be suicide.

Alex – I agree that links have been heavily gamed – that is what attracts me to social search, as that is inherently game proof (at least as long as you keep good company…)

]]> By: nic http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-11442 nic Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:40:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-11442 Hi Azeem - I agree, the trick is to pick off a corner of the market which Google underserves and then build out from there. Going head to head would be suicide. Alex - I agree that links have been heavily gamed - that is what attracts me to social search, as that is inherently game proof (at least as long as you keep good company...) Hi Azeem – I agree, the trick is to pick off a corner of the market which Google underserves and then build out from there. Going head to head would be suicide.

Alex – I agree that links have been heavily gamed – that is what attracts me to social search, as that is inherently game proof (at least as long as you keep good company…)

]]> By: Alex Kelleher http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-2979 Alex Kelleher Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:20:16 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-2979 It does occur to me that Google's fundamental idea (who links to you) can be fragile (I've seen too many SEO hacks that are successful!). Other variables - popularity, social search as you say, relevance and so on may eventually be more important, and less spam-able. My business is all about targeting and relevance, so I am biased, but it's where lots user benefit can potentially be found. Google's brand is a real barrier in main-stream search, so I'm intrigued that Cuil doesn't seem to have done anything that special with their branding - or made the design very appealing. It does occur to me that Google’s fundamental idea (who links to you) can be fragile (I’ve seen too many SEO hacks that are successful!). Other variables – popularity, social search as you say, relevance and so on may eventually be more important, and less spam-able. My business is all about targeting and relevance, so I am biased, but it’s where lots user benefit can potentially be found.

Google’s brand is a real barrier in main-stream search, so I’m intrigued that Cuil doesn’t seem to have done anything that special with their branding – or made the design very appealing.

]]> By: Alex Kelleher http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-11441 Alex Kelleher Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:20:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-11441 It does occur to me that Google's fundamental idea (who links to you) can be fragile (I've seen too many SEO hacks that are successful!). Other variables - popularity, social search as you say, relevance and so on may eventually be more important, and less spam-able. My business is all about targeting and relevance, so I am biased, but it's where lots user benefit can potentially be found. Google's brand is a real barrier in main-stream search, so I'm intrigued that Cuil doesn't seem to have done anything that special with their branding - or made the design very appealing. It does occur to me that Google’s fundamental idea (who links to you) can be fragile (I’ve seen too many SEO hacks that are successful!). Other variables – popularity, social search as you say, relevance and so on may eventually be more important, and less spam-able. My business is all about targeting and relevance, so I am biased, but it’s where lots user benefit can potentially be found.

Google’s brand is a real barrier in main-stream search, so I’m intrigued that Cuil doesn’t seem to have done anything that special with their branding – or made the design very appealing.

]]> By: Azeem http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-2969 Azeem Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:36:25 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-2969 Nic There is also always room for an alternative way to solve the IR problem, which is what <a href="http://www.trueknowledge.com" rel="nofollow">True Knowledge</a> is doing. I think it is tough to pretend to be a Google-killer because there is such depth to their offering and it is dumb to attempt to attack them on exactly the same or similar enough value axes that they excel at.Sometimes sidestepping the competition is also a sensible move (to be played out...) aa Nic

There is also always room for an alternative way to solve the IR problem, which is what True Knowledge is doing.

I think it is tough to pretend to be a Google-killer because there is such depth to their offering and it is dumb to attempt to attack them on exactly the same or similar enough value axes that they excel at.Sometimes sidestepping the competition is also a sensible move (to be played out…)
aa

]]> By: Azeem http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-11440 Azeem Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:36:00 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-11440 Nic There is also always room for an alternative way to solve the IR problem, which is what <a href="http://www.trueknowledge.com" rel="nofollow">True Knowledge</a> is doing. I think it is tough to pretend to be a Google-killer because there is such depth to their offering and it is dumb to attempt to attack them on exactly the same or similar enough value axes that they excel at.Sometimes sidestepping the competition is also a sensible move (to be played out...) aa Nic

There is also always room for an alternative way to solve the IR problem, which is what True Knowledge is doing.

I think it is tough to pretend to be a Google-killer because there is such depth to their offering and it is dumb to attempt to attack them on exactly the same or similar enough value axes that they excel at.Sometimes sidestepping the competition is also a sensible move (to be played out…)
aa

]]> By: Charles Knight http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-2958 Charles Knight Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:17:25 +0000 http://www.theequitykicker.com/2008/07/29/what-a-new-search-engine-should-be-about/#comment-2958 Thanks for the mention! Yes, we have itemized hundreds of cool alternative search engines, but always with this caveat: they are "alternative" in the sense that they usually do 1 thing better than the major search engines. We have always maintained that because of that, there is no 1 Google killer, and so the individual alternatives have not made much of a dent in (US) market share. But doesn't that leave an obvious option untried? (What if the fight was 100 to 1?) Charles Knight, editor AltSearchEngines.com Thanks for the mention!

Yes, we have itemized hundreds of cool alternative search engines, but always with this caveat: they are “alternative” in the sense that they usually do 1 thing better than the major search engines.

We have always maintained that because of that, there is no 1 Google killer, and so the individual alternatives have not made much of a dent in (US) market share.

But doesn’t that leave an obvious option untried?

(What if the fight was 100 to 1?)

Charles Knight, editor
AltSearchEngines.com

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