Getting to know Google
Hello again.
Sorry I've been away from the site for a bit. Is there such a thing as bloggers' block? No, thought not. That's just me being pathetic ...
Anyway, I'm back to tell you that my colleague Simon Gompertz is working on a great story that's really going to grab your attention.
He's heard from a couple who've found themselves £20,000 short after their mortgage company changed the rules of their home loan. I don't want to give too much away now, as I'd much rather you tuned in at 1230 today, or watched later on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ iPlayer - but after we got in touch, they got their money back.
We think other Working Lunch viewers might be in the same position - without knowing about it. So if you are able to watch it and you think afterwards - "that's me!" - then get in touch.
And there's another great guest today talking about enterprise and starting up in business.
This is - so we're spending even more time than usual this week talking to entrepreneurs about what gets them going and keeps them going.
But today we've got the company they all want to be - .
It only started as a company in 1998. But it didn't take long to overtake the world's then-biggest search engine, - a company that was seen as invincible.
The speed and destructive potential of change in technology-based businesses is just terrifying. And it means innovation is life-critical.
That's why Google is now a lot more than just a search engine - it's a web browser, moving maps, email and video sharing.
And let's not forget its clout in Internet advertising, which is where the money is. You might think it's just annoying little pop-up screens and boxes, but it's giving longer established forms of advertising a run for their money. There are claims that companies are spending more now on web adverts than they are on TV adverts.
So - we'll hear from the man who runs Google in the UK. He's Dennis Woodside.
I'm going to ask him how a small, fast, nimble start-up has to change when it grows up. And if that blunts its go-getting, innovative, swashbuckling style.
I'm sure you've got other questions of your own - drop us an email, or look me up on or . Sorry - haven't quite made it round to Google Chat yet!
Comment number 1.
At 18th Nov 2008, Sleepbreeze wrote:The Google boss was just a little optimistic with his calculations.
A 10p click on an advert leading to a £30 sale? What about all the people (and 10ps) that don't lead to a sale?
Google THEMSELVES tell their advertisers that for every 10 people that click through to a site from an advert AND then fill up a basket, 8 of them will leave the site without making a purchase!
So, advertisers BEWARE. Your budget will evaporate.
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Comment number 2.
At 18th Nov 2008, Environment Watch wrote:After you article on offset/flexible mortgages, I checked with my bank - First Direct. They confirmed that I could withdraw my current limit from my mortgage account. This is a figure around £60,000- but then I have had this mortgage runing for over 10 years and the final payment is not too far over the horizon.
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Comment number 3.
At 18th Nov 2008, Guy Croft wrote:I think Yahoo's problem from the start was its poor choice of name.
Leaving aside what 'yahoo' means it was always easier to say 'Google', Jus rolls off the tongue, so to speak.
GC
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Comment number 4.
At 23rd Jan 2009, majesticbiker wrote:I would like to know how Booths supermarket can justify destroying long established businesses in Riponas part of its ethical approach to doing business. Ask Great Northern Wine about Booths Supermarket development.
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