Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Google SWOT


Strength:

Google’s simple page makes it easier for customers to find search bar easily, which they actually want to find at Google. If we see Yahoo’s search page, we can see too many things appeared on one page. That would defocus customers’ concentration, and as a result, make customers feel annoyed. Compare to other search engine, we cannot find ads pictures on Google result pages also. Simple is what Google stand for for customers. Also, I like changed styles of Google logo soooo much! It's more like a art design and always give me surprise.

High tech is also a strength since every result searched by Google is pure automatically and would be ranked by clicks. This would make the search more accurate and fed what customers exactly needs.

Google also have high income, which can give them more power to run company well and invest new technologies, and good image, which can bring Google plenty of talents.  The good enterprise culture and comfortable work environment are also attractive. I heard about that “Googlers” can swims and work out in their office and have cookies for free every day! And nobody would push them to work. They can wear whatever they like, do whatever they want in their office! Wow!

Weakness:

Since Google has simple page, they cannot add too many features on home page, which means, people can hardly reach their new product although Google try very hard to create more Google products. However, Google cannot add these products on home page easily since people already get used to its simple images. Google will lose costomers by careless changes.

What's more, fewer ads will lead to fewer revenue.

Opportunities:

Recently Google bought MOTO, that make Google more competitive. Google can develop its acquisition strategy and be stronger.   

Google developed and released Android System really successfully. It became the most popular mobile system now. If Google make some more development on Android and cooperate with mobile companies appropriate, it will generate more market share.  

Treads:

There are so many search engine appeared recent year, and how to keep strength is critical for Google. Bing- which is owned by Microsoft could bring higher quality of pictures and product search. Baidu- which is Chinese Google, benefit by government support and own market share overwhelming. How to compete with those different kinds of search companies is quite important to Google.

Also, almost 90% of Google’s revenue came from searching, but the growth of market is slowing down. Google need to think about another good method to feed itself as soon as possible.



4 comments:

  1. Very nice job on the analysis. I think your focus is right on assuming that the search engine and advertising is their leading revenue maker. I kind of think of the Google homepage as second nature at this point. For me, I am more interested in their product that they are currently rolling out, such as their mobile OS and new Hardware (Nexus 7). Do you think that this second nature could be good or bad for Google? For instance, Google is not on my mind if I think about searching, I just go there. I sometime think I separate Android and Google search as two different companies. Do you think there is an opportunity to try separate marketing entities and function as almost two separate companies (much like Netflix did with their dvd and streaming service - and failed miserably)? Reading your post made me think of these questions. I do like your personal insights into their products. Perhaps something that my blog could benefit from as well. Nice Job!

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    1. Nice work Nan and great feedback Daniel. There was a big to-do about Google actually using their usual "white space" search engine page for advertising for the first time to promote their own tablet. Anyone have any feelings on this? Are they "selling out" on their own bread and butter to promote a risky product?

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    2. Thank you Daniel, I also learn a lot from your blog! For me, actually, I didn’t know that Android was made by Google before I wrote this article (so embarrassed). But I think there are a lot of people who are like me. Maybe Google already tried to separate this two and I totally agree with this strategy due to the same reason---Google already built a simple image in customers’ mind. Combine all products together will only damage this simple image. What’s more, customers would doubt whether a search engine can manufacture a good real product professional.

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    3. Kris, I also think it's a risk to change the white space simply. I can't say whether people would like tablet for sure. So I think Google should do some market research and let statistic tells. What's more, every movement for Google right now is risky. But it has to take some risk since its competitive advantage is becoming smaller and smaller. If Google just stays the same and dose nothing, sooner or later, there will be another energetic company replace it. Just like Daniel said, " Google is not on my mind if I think about searching, I just go there".

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