Basing on many reasons it seems that Google has become the Grim Reaper of its own projects and he is busy. We observed that in a few last years, but it is year’s changes that will show us whether this really is madness with the method in it. What is exactly happening?
Google closed its products in such a rate, that every two weeks at least one of them disappeared.
Let’s start with the platform that was supposed to dethrone LinkedIn and become the one to rule the domain of services for employers and employees. Google Hire was its name.
“Google what?”
Someone may ask, since this service didn’t really become popular enough to be heard in the online world. On the other hand Google says that Hire didn’t really fail and there definitely is some truth to it.
Google Hire premiered almost two and a half years ago and its watch ends on September 1st 2020. One may believe that this relatively small group of Hire’s users is significant enough and – what’s more important – highly dedicated. But still, it doesn’t change the fact that Hire’s days are over.
It’s a shame as Google Hire was a fine and well designed platform, although it was sufficiently innovative in order to bring many users. This service offered many useful tools such as integration with Gmail and Google Calendar, yet it clearly wasn’t enough. Today LinkedIn is still the one rule in the domain of business relations and even such a fine contender as Google couldn’t change it.
Ending of so many ventures inspires people to laugh and to make of Google.
Not so long ago my colleague said that Google doesn’t give a fuck about basic services such as social media, music or video hubs with normal content. They don’t know how to create such products and the one that works fine is the one they bought, by which I mean YouTube? Does he have a point?
There are many reasons to think that Google carries out a plan. Plan that may be summed up with saying that they will stop at nothing when it comes to getting rid of their own… products of course. The Google Cemetery came up for a reason.
It may be cruel but at the end of the day the ends justify the means
Programs, apps and services disappear, nevertheless one can’t say that Google put a spoke in its own wheel with this new business strategy. That would be a lie and a major exaggeration. Google simply knows that it is not the number of ventures that counts, but the quality of those that remain part of Google family.
Among those who disappear we may find both less popular projects and those we have already got used to. First ones being already mentioned Google Hire or YouTube Messages for example.
No. 1 video service deprived its users of exchanging private messages. Google made them share their messages in public – as a part of their feed. The reason behind it was such, that Google wanted YouTube to be community of content creators.
Among the second tier, these more popular ones ending of Google+ and Google Reader stirred the water.
Google+ have been with us for the last 8 years and during this period it tried to overthrow the one and only Facebook. Long story short – it failed since the reason of its closure was the insufficient number of users.
This failure provided Google’s many critics with an argument that technological giant from Mountain View just can’t create good online society.
It seems though that they didn’t notice these “little” things called Google Reviews, Maps or Youtube. Each of these platforms enables its users to grade, review, comment and share their opinions with others. All of these services clearly create online societies in the most natural but easy to miss way.
The more shocking disappearance was the one of Google Reader. This aggregator of information has been the most popular RSS reader for quite a long time, but…
It still wasn’t popular enough. Google Reader functioned really well and provided its users with a comfortable way of checking out content form various sources. Devoted – yet not numerous enough according to Google – fans of Reader cried. We got Google News instead so it is fine? I guess?
Such actions ain’t nothing new when it comes to giant of Mountain View. This company had been cleaning out its backyard for many, many years and it created a little outrange in the Web ever since. If you review Google’s trends you may see that this strategy has been developed for ages, so why panic?
Some are irritated by this phenomenon, but the truth is simple. Google ends its project because it can. Whoever has the gold (and skills!), makes the rules.
Is it bad? I don’t think so at least not in the Google case. What’s important is the growth of either the company in general or one of the projects that comes after the death of another.
We don’t talk about your common everyday company, but about the company – the technological giant of Mountain View, which uses top protocols and grading systems in each end every sphere of its activity.
While testing different products and solutions they allow themselves to review the market, which includes users’ expectations – no one rides a bike before learning how to walk and this philosophy is clearly visible in the Google case.
At the end of the day trial and error method, in spite of its apparent ineffectiveness, is rather successful. It guarantees development of the brand even if only due to enormous amount of data to analyse.
Who gives a thing and a takes a thing… is the one who gives a thing again
Happily enough, the disappearance of some apps or services entails huge development in other areas and in effect better products. The thing that failed may be the perfect lesson.
Closing Google + gave us much better, although different, Google Business. It was the mechanics of the closed service, that was implemented into the platform for entrepreneurs.
Inbox is the similar story. There weren’t many “buts” to its performance and it gather quite significant amount of users. Its interface was positively minimalistic and what’s more important it was highly functional.
Despite all of that, Google said goodbye to Inbox because they had decided to focus on only one email app. They meant what they said. Inbox is a history and Gmail has been upgraded.
Is is also easily assumable that the end of Google Trips will entail positive changes in Google family. For those who haven’t heard of Trips – it was a service that enabled its users to book accomodation, tickets and such. Perhaps some of its usability will be implemented into Google Maps – it’s only logical.
Google doesn’t degrade, but it does grow – Rome wasn’t built in a day
Let’s remember that Google’s conquer of the Web started with it’s being the best search engine. Today Google’s top products are almost necessary to breathe.
The giant of Mountain View aims at horizontal development, yet before it runs in each of spheres it still has to learn how to walk. As you may already know, making these first steps is often full of tumbles.
As Thomas Wayne said to his son Bruce in Christopher Nolan’s Batman movie: “Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.”
But. What if Google’s time has come to end?
Theoretically speaking, one may think so. Scrolling and surfing through online feed you may notice gossips about Google’s instability and such. A lot of its products have been shut down and some are still waiting for its last day.
On the other hand once every few years we hear about the end of the world but we’re still here despite many downfalls. When it comes to Google we may take a quick look at Alphabet’s achievements in the 1st quarter of 2020. They aren’t amazing for sure but they are ok, steady and they may be forerunner of huge success in quarter no. 2.
Google continues to expand and grow in numbers. They employ new specialists and masterminds who are greet with new exciting challenges.
Personally, I wouldn’t bet my money on Google’s failure.
I wouldn’t even bet not my money on it. Quite the opposite. I am impressed and amazed by Google’s ability to juggle between its many many projects with such ease. Remember that for one failed product there are at least a few to works great.
I believe it is a matter of perspective. In 2020 we say our farewells to four products including already mentioned Google Hire and the other three being Fabrics, Hangouts and Google Cloud Print. I could go on explaining why these ventures are being canceled, but I won’t. What matter is the attitude with which we look at these ends.
One may see these as another failures and look out for next unsuccessful projects that may forecast the end of Google. I choose to see the bigger picture. I look at this soon-to-be closed services as Google’s opportunities to learn and I look forward to seeing what developments they will entail.
To sum up Google is the master juggler, who does not care if one or two objects (amon hundreds!) fall during its performance. They grab yet another one and keep on rolling. Show must go on and Google’s show definitely goes on.