nti-Google sentiment is on independent of other data, might
the rise. Web pundits have be non-threatening or irrelevant
tossed around monopoly to someone doing analysis, when
theories and privacy advocates combined with other data Google
have warned of a day of has access to, it can paint a
reckoning. While Google has made very clear picture of how, not
friends on Wallstreet, it has only individual companies are
disappointed the technical performing, but the aggregate
evangelists who were once its data could possibly paint a
fiercest followers. Google has picture of how entire business
grown into a big scary company sectors or industries are
and web watchers are expressing performing.
their concerns about the
information Google gleans from The big question is how will
their various services. Google use this information? Will
it affect search engine ranking?
Google Analytics is free, no one Will it influence keyword costs?
can beat the price, but what is
the real cost? The cost is your Paranoia? Lauren Weinstein
data. While not terribly doesn't seem to think so, her
important when analyzed alone, blog post entitled "The Dark Side
when aggregated with other of Google"
information Google has access to, http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/
it could be damaging. Data mining 000108.html , paints a very clear
has made the collection of data picture of the danger of a single
meaningful. It has become easier entity possessing all of the
to find patterns and trends in data.
large volumes of data.
According to a recent USA Today
While any of that information article "In just seven years,
Google has emerged as one off the like it or not, data is a
most influential companies of the commodity. Google will likely use
21st century, a multinational the data from their various
whose recent forays into ventures to develop new
classified ads, book publishing, technologies and personalize
video, Wi-Fi and telecom make its content. Conspiracy theorists
data empire ever more powerful." believe that the Google's
The article goes on further to aggregate data will also be used
quote Jeff Chester, head of the to optimize the fees charged for
digital Center for Digital pay-per-click, influence organic
Democracy saying "Google could ranking or worse yet sold.
easily become the poster child
for a national public movement to Unbeknownst to many users,
regulate data collection". privacy advocates say that
Google's technology give Google
Lets take a look at Google's new the ability to collect enormous
analytics tool. As a reporting amounts of data about interests
tool, Google Analytics offers and online habits of web surfers.
good features and functionality. That said, Google's growth will
Google Analytics tells publishers continue to motivate privacy
who their website referrers are, advocates and those in the
what pages visitors are viewing, technology field behind the
the length of the visitor stay, Attention Truste movement to work
what items are purchased. Google together, to improve how personal
Analytics data can be used to information and subscription
develop new technologies, and information is used online. I
optimize pay per term influence expect we will see a lot of
ranking. energy and effort in this arena.
Google wants to make money, and Lets face it, Google wants to
make money; no, now that they are that it is far ahead of
public they *need* to make money competitors. All of this has
and like it or not, data is a motivated privacy advocates and
commodity. Whether Google will eyes are on and will continue to
use your data or not is still to be focused on Google and the type
be determined, but the fact of data they are capable of
remains they can if they choose collecting.
to. Google's storage capacity, is
as deep as its pockets, meaning
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.
Read more articles by:
S. Housley
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