Craig Burton

Logs, Links, Life and Lexicon

Craig Burton header image 2
← →

Google is NOT a “Search” Company

October 15th, 2009 · Comments

That’s right Google is NOT a search company. Stick with me, let me explain. At times it becomes necessary to define a company by its direct source of revenue.

From that perspective, Google is an Advertising as a Service company. Because Google spiders everything, it can provide rudimentary context-based advertising as a service to its side-business–search.

Search is just a lost leader to its real business, advertising as a service.


Tags: Daily Thesis

  • Could agree with you more, Craig. All these "free" services are paid for by their advertising. Their business model is stay dominant, get more people using the web, thereby more people use Google, and advertise. That's why Google Maps, Android, Chrome, etc. exist.
  • I think I first realized that back in 1999. I asked Google back then if they offered an ad-free, subscription version. When they said no, I saw the writing on the wall.
  • When Google was founded it was search company but now they OWN internet.
  • You're absolutely right, and this is true of many companies if you think about it. For example, a company that manufactures a product may be called a manufacturer, but they have no revenue if they don't market the product, so the majority of their operations and really the driver of the revenue is the marketing. On the other hand, there would be nothing to market without the existence of the product.
  • From that perspective, Google is an Advertising as a Service company. Because Google spiders everything, it can provide rudimentary context-based advertising as a service to its side-business–search.
  • jerrycarter
    Search is just a lost leader to its real business, advertising as a service.

    I agree with this. Since Google generates revenue by providing a platform for advertisers, it can be considered an advertising company. But I believe that it is a search company as well for its search services are really excellent. I think Google is really the best search engine.


    rice military houston
  • Couldn't agree more... Its all about business these days and Google is looking for newer ways to harness the potential of the widespread Internet.
  • I do not agree with the other commentors that Google owns the Net. Yahoo is there to give them the stiff competition they deserve.
blog comments powered by Disqus