Dear Google Friends,
March blew in like a lion at Google and shows no signs of leaving any
other way. The Googleplex is jumping with new people and new products
and the energy level ratchets up just a bit more with each passing
day. Already this year, Google has:
- Created AdWords Select, a new advertising service based on cost-per-click pricing with several unique enhancements
- Launched the Google Search Appliance, an integrated hardware and
software Google-in-a-box for corporate networks
- Improved the basic functionality of Google Search to make it even
more comprehensive and accurate
Read on to learn more about Google's latest news and offerings.
Why we sell advertising, not search results
One thing you'll never see for sale on Google is better placement in
our search results. While we do offer advertising above and to the
right of the web pages our search finds, it's always clearly set
apart and labeled "sponsored links." No one can buy positions
in the results themselves. We believe it's essential that you and
other Google users be able to distinguish what's been paid for and
what hasn't. To read more on this topic, go to:
http://www.google.com/honestresults.html
We also don't run pop-up advertising on Google. If you see it there,
it's most likely because another program on your computer has
inserted it onto the Google page. We have some suggestions about how
to identify programs that do this and how to remove them if you're
so inclined. You can find that information here:
http://www.google.com/help/nopopupads.html
For more information about our advertising program, visit:
http://www.google.com/ads/
Keyword: Results CPC Pricing and Google's AdWords Select
Google advertisers already know what we mean when we say "It's all
about results." Google's keyword-based text ads have averaged 5
times the number of clickthroughs of traditional banner ads
elsewhere. Now, Google offers another way to get a message across:
AdWords Select.
AdWords Select ads also use keyword targeting to ensure
relevance, but can be purchased on a cost-per-click basis.
This means an advertiser only pays when someone clicks on
the ad they've purchased. And like the original AdWords
program, AdWords Select is entirely self-service and can
be purchased with a credit card. Moreover, ads go up instantly.
Fast, highly targeted and easy to use. You might say it's
the Google of online advertising services.
Try AdWords Select or learn more about it at:
https://adwords.google.com/select/main?cmd=Login
Don't Be Just a Google User, Be a Googler: We're Hiring
Do you like challenges? Want a chance to make life better
for lots of people on a daily basis? Know how to play roller
hockey or have an extensive lava lamp collection? If the
answer is yes, consider joining the team at Google. We're
hiring in most of our departments and need talented engineers,
sales people and user support representatives. If you'd
like to enjoy the collegial camaraderie, tasty treats and
rewarding work that abound in the Googleplex, check out
our jobs page and send us your resume.
Our current openings can be found at:
http://www.google.com/jobs/index.html
Coding for Fun and Fabulous Prizes: Our First Programming Contest
Do you get your kicks writing code? Would you like to run your ones
and zeroes across Google's extensive index of web pages and pick up
a hefty chunk of change in the process? Then you'll want to check
out Google's first annual programming contest. Just throw together
a bit of code that does something interesting with our data and ship
it our way. If your effort is the best we receive, you could win:
- $10,000 in cash
- VIP visit to Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California
- A chance to run your prize-winning code on Google's multi-billion document
repository (circumstances permitting)
All the details are available online at:
http://www.google.com/programming-contest/
Meet the Guy Who Does the Doodles: Our One-Man Art Dept.
"During the Olympics, when a speed-skating fox, a bear pushing a curling
stone and other cutesy images adorned the Google logo on
the popular Internet search engine, hundreds of users wrote
in to compliment the art department. That provoked a lot
of laughs at Google headquarters, because the "art
department" is just one guy: Dennis Hwang, a 23-year-old
Web programmer, who whips up the doodles in his spare time,
usually for holidays.
So began Associated Press writer Brian Bergstein's profile of
Google's assistant webmaster. The story appeared in newspapers
and online news sites around the globe and gave a great inside
look into how the Google logos are developed. Not to mention
giving recognition to one of Google's hardest working unsung
heroes.
Find a link to the AP story and a selection of other Google news
at: http://www.google.com/press/press.html
Check out Dennis' past logo creations for the home page at:
http://www.google.com/holidaylogos.html
Google in a Box: Introducing the Google Search Appliance
Google's got a new look. It's long, lean and yellow. We're talking
about the new Google Search Appliance, an integrated hardware and
software product that searches corporate networks.
Ever since Google began, users have opined that they wanted search
for their company networks that was as fast, accurate and easy to
use as Google. Now they have one. The Google Search Appliance takes
only a short time to set up and searches web pages, Microsoft
Office documents, PDF, PostScript, and dozens of other file types.
Feedback so far has been universally positive and Google Search
Appliances are flying out the door as quickly as we can build them
in our Box Office.
To learn more about the Google Search Appliance or to order one for
your network, visit http://www.google.com/appliance/
The Google Store Re-Opens for Business
The Google Store is back in business after a short hiatus. We've
moved hosting of the site to our own servers to ensure it's open
every day (and night) for your Google goodie needs. You'll find all
your favorites there, including Google Gel-oogle pens and the
Googleplex Polar Fleece Vest. If you've never given a Google gift,
now's a great time to start.
Are you feeling shoppy?
https://www.googlestore.com/
This year is off to a great start for Google. Our thanks for your
interest and support as we continue to grow. We look forward to
sharing news with you throughout the coming months and wish you
the best.
The Google Team