Dear Google,
This is a letter written to the staff at Google, fellow Google users, and anybody who happens to take a glance at this blog. Greetings.
First of all, I’d like to commend you on your world class product of Google.com. The internet is all about connecting Point A to Point B, and you have made this possible in a variety of ways that have increased the efficiency and lives on hundreds of millions of users. If every hour saved is an hour added to one’s life, I believe Google has added many more years to our lives than any health care solution could ever dream of doing. I commend you!
However, there are a few suggestions I would make when it comes to the services you offer users. Well, just one suggestion, really. Google is much more than a simple search engine; it is a universally accessible solution that increases the efficiency and productivity of its users; from email to calendar, documents to Google Labs, Google Code University to the Google App Marketplace, Google has defined our lives.
Athletes may inspire others to work hard. However, Google has inspired and personally helped hundreds of millions of users work harder and better. Rather than offering a young kid a pair of $249 shoes to somehow improve his game, Google has provided users with free services, software, and really unique gadgets/widgets programs that actually help our lives. Some may melt when they meet a professional athlete, but I get a techie cold sweat when I think of the two Founding Fathers of Google. All hail! I would easily classify them in the Top 10 people who have changed the world. All things considered, that’s quite the accomplishment!
However, and there is my first and final “however” in this post, there is a need to be filled by Google that has yet to be touched. No, this is not me griping about a service they are not offering that would help Aaron Plaat have an easier life. This is a suggestion that falls in line perfectly with the business line they have successfully built their empire upon. It’s almost a shame to call Google an “empire” because their universe is much greater than any earthly empires man has ever – or will ever – build. Think about it.
Google has successfully launched and developed its AdWords platform, a paid form of advertising that helps consumers find what they are looking for. Consequently, this was a revenue stream for Google of over $24 Billion dollars in 2009. While most advertising is annoying and non-relevant, AdWords have targeted direct user searches, with the advertisers offering users something very relevant and, oftentimes, more affordable or superior to what they had originally searched for. I have saved thousands of dollars by using Google AdWords when searching for products, services, or other things to waste money on online.
What Google did with AdWords, and forgive the weak explanation, is monetize an action or behavior that its users would have done anyway; users were already using Google to have greater searches. And they would continue to use Google with or without AdWords. However, Google took this opportunity to generate an incredible income stream for their site and also continue to make the lives better of those who use the product.
Google takes things that users already use in their behavior and it finds a way to monetize it, while also making that behavior easier and more efficient for their user.
So, Google, why not start Google University? I propose – and humbly request – that Google bequeath one of the greatest gifts in the world to its power users; the gift of quality education! With the cost of US Accreditation running under $500,000 in the United States (though I wouldn’t find it necessary to be US Accredited) Google could easily gain respectable accreditation and hire on top teachers from Ivy League schools to teach live or recorded video lectures made available free-of-charge for its users.
This would be a universally accessible solution, with international students having access to Google University, through the use of tools such as Google Translator and Google Books.
How would Google monetize such a service? Well, through a built-in affilate program with a textbook provider. However, I would think that Google should go above and beyond the call of duty by providing free textbooks to its users. With complete analytics, user profiles, and demographic information available with all of these downloads, Google would be a greater force to be reckoned with in the field of demographic information, targeted marketing, and direct consumer advertising.
The benefit of US Accreditation is that it would allow students the ability to take out Federal Student loans, which can also be repaid by things such as the GI Bill, or through many employers. Offering free education would not solve the problem of users having to pay their bills while they are working to pursue a better life. However, there are intelligent ways of going about financing your school and cost of living that Google could easily provide for its users.
So, to make a fairly long letter short, I would implore Google to continue going the extra mile for its users by offering Google University to the public.
As a diehard loyal “Power” Google user, I want to thank you for what you have done and continue to do in changing and improving the lives of those you serve. You are worth every penny that you have earned and I gladly support your vision!
Best,
No Comments