I recently try Google Sidewiki out after reading about it in Warriors forum and watching the promotional video on Google blog. From what I can gather, Sidewiki is all about sharing your opinions and insights about any particular page on the web with others who are passing through. Many people are looking for the same information as you and many others might have done the same research as you do too. So, isn’t it great if we could have added knowledge along the way? Truthfully, not really.
How Does It Work?
You need to install Google Toolbar to your browser. For now, it only works with Firefox and Internet Explorer, but Google will add more browser supports (to Google Chrome and probably Safari). After installing and restarting your browser (in my case Firefox), you’ll have Sidewiki button on your toolbar. Just click it when you’re on a site, a frame will appear on the left side of the browser. Using the form inside the frame, you can write what you think about the page, and publish it. It’s as simple as that.
What’s The Good Thing?
You can share your knowledge and expertise with the rest of the world through your comments. Google Sidewiki clever algorithm will calculate which entries rank the highest based on their quality and usefulness. So, if you write a clever and interesting comments, you’ll most likely rank on top. With Sidewiki, you can also help others avoid making the same mistake as you. Say, you’ve been ripped off by a site. Maybe the site tricked you into buying a product that is not doing what they claim it can do. With Google Sidewiki, you’ll be more or less able to tell the rest of the world about it.
What’s The Worry?
1. Anyone can make any comment about any web page – no moderators
You might think this is good, but it’s not. Google, in their blog, said that they have tested Sidewiki with several experts and news organizations for a while and are happy to hear their positive responses. I’m sure it’ll works fine for experts and journalists, but what worries me is if it’ll work for us. Wikipedia needs thousands of editors and moderators to make it works. Even then, you still find a lot of inaccurate, misleading, and sometimes offensive information. So, what makes you think Sidewiki can work by relying solely on algorithm?
2. Web site owners (You) cannot delete or moderate comments
You paid for your hosting, you paid for your domain name, and you might have also paid for your traffic (if you use PPC or something). Logically, you should be able to control the the whole content of your site, right? Right? Not according to Google. With Sidewiki, everyone can now leave comments about your site. But, that’s not the best part yet. Many bloggers I know have diligently doing all they can to keep spam comments off their blog. And they’re able to do this because they have the ability to disapprove or approve comments on their blog. But with this latest Google toolbar feature, you will have NO CONTROL over the comments left about your site.
3. Marketers could use Sidewiki to draw away visitors to other sites
With Google Sidewiki, your competitors can now simply write comments about how bad and inaccurate your site is and why the visitors should try their site instead. They can simply write a message like “This is site is a fake blog, a scam. But, this one works for me: <their site>” or similar messages. Imagine if they use a couple different computers and Google accounts to leave these hurtful comments about your site. It’s hard enough to maintain your ranking and traffic but Google Sidewiki is just a spammers’ dream comes true.
What Can We Do?
I’m not sure where you stand on this after reading this post. I, myself don’t really like the idea of someone commenting on my site without me being able to moderate them. So, if you’re with me Send Google Feedback about their new toolbar. Tell them you’re not happy with the new Google Sidewiki and want them to discontinue the feature. You’ve paid for your hosting and domain name, so it’s unfair that your site now is in the mercy of spammers and marketers who wants to get your traffic. But if you’re happy with Sidewiki the way it is. Then, enjoy. Fell free to leave comments or tweet it if you like it.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been using it a little bit, and I’ve been meaning to write a blog post about it. But you got me thinking about it now so here’s a long comment instead
I just don’t know if its really a big deal. If people do use it primarily for trolling and spamming, then average surfers won’t bother reading it. If the comment voting and reporting system is good enough to keep quality comments at the top, then maybe it will actually be a good thing for anyone who is running an honest website and bad news for all the scammers.
I’m also really interested in politics, and this brings new media tech to the old media companies who have been going online but trying to retain control over anything and limit comments & dissenting points of view. Blogs already accommodate that for the most part, so its the big outlets that would really be forced into a change.
But really? Very few people seem to be using it, and most of the comments I’ve found were from the day or two after it was released. So I’m not really opposed to it, but I also don’t see much interest outside of internet marketing circles. Heck, the only reason I ever installed Google toolbar in the first place was for the PR bar!
John´s last blog ..SEO – The Reality is Staggering
@ John
Hey John, thanks for your insightful comment. I’m aware that it’s still not that popular now. But the possibility of it becoming popular and the negative impact it might have to bloggers somehwo scared me. Maybe I’m just paranoid. But the possibility is there, right?