Hey again! It’s Colin with a special post loaded full of insight into the recent news of Google developing an operating system and Microsoft flaunting a new, powerful search engine. I got a chance to sit down with the CEO of Makeaquick.com, Egor, to get his reactions and perspective on this battle of business giants. The following is a question and answer type format from my conversation with the head honcho.
What was your reaction when you first visited Bing.com?
After looking at Bing.com my immediate thought is that the design and layout is not practical enough to be a number one search engine. For the amount invested, I would expect the design to be less overwhelming in appearance and a bit more functional. I was not presented with any distinguishing features different from Google or Yahoo, just an overwhelming picture. I cannot overemphasize the importance of a layout and design and understanding the vital role aesthetics play in public appeal. The picture in the background should be a selectable option because it takes away from the purpose of the site. There are some new features that Bing offers but I don’t see how they will drastically alter the search engine experience, especially if the user doesn’t know what those features are, because they are too hard to find, which should not be the case. The layout should provide a nice flow too all the new features that Bing.com is trying to present to the world.
What, to you, does an ideal search engine offer?
As of right now I would say Google offers pretty much everything a user might need. Their search results are relevant to key words and provide sponsored links at the top of the page. Bing.com offers related search results in addition to the entered search words, but my question is whether or not such a minor design addition will sway users from Google. Google is now working on an operating system that rivals Windows. Microsoft seems to be interested in attacking Google’s strength; the search engine market. I think that is a good move by Microsoft. Google has become a new way of accessing information. Until Bing.com better competes with the kind of design, features, and abilities of Google, Bing will not be much of a threat in the search market. Given the strength and reputation of Google’s products, I believe they will pose a strong threat to the operating system market, which is the core of Microsoft’s products and profits.
How might you relate Makeaquick.com to a site like Bing or Google?
Makeaquick has a similar layout to Bing in that the main page offers its viewers pixelated squares of information as the mouse cursor floats over them. Bing uses a randomized background picture and gives facts about the image, which has almost nothing to do with the purpose of a real search engine. It actually distracts the user from the purpose of going to the website. Makeaquick presents categorized pixel advertisements that link directly to an advertiser’s homepage. I believe a website should offer very specific features for users and allow them to quickly access the information they are looking for, not detour them away from what they are looking for.
As you know, Google is developing their Chrome operating system. How might you advise Microsoft in handling this kind of competition? A way Microsoft could brush off the challenge would be to compete with Google’s products and hit them where it hurts, like the search market. There are cost-effective and creative changes the people behind Bing.com have to do to improve what they already have. Microsoft also has to become more competitive with different products and create new products that make their competitors envious; for example, like Apple has done with their line of iPod products. Microsoft is missing some simple things, like creating a product that looks edgy, is unique, yet simple and sharp, while also operating with consistent reliability. With so many tech savvy consumers and companies in the market, that is how products must work in this day and age.
What was your reaction when you first visited Bing.com?
After looking at Bing.com my immediate thought is that the design and layout is not practical enough to be a number one search engine. For the amount invested, I would expect the design to be less overwhelming in appearance and a bit more functional. I was not presented with any distinguishing features different from Google or Yahoo, just an overwhelming picture. I cannot overemphasize the importance of a layout and design and understanding the vital role aesthetics play in public appeal. The picture in the background should be a selectable option because it takes away from the purpose of the site. There are some new features that Bing offers but I don’t see how they will drastically alter the search engine experience, especially if the user doesn’t know what those features are, because they are too hard to find, which should not be the case. The layout should provide a nice flow too all the new features that Bing.com is trying to present to the world.
What, to you, does an ideal search engine offer?
As of right now I would say Google offers pretty much everything a user might need. Their search results are relevant to key words and provide sponsored links at the top of the page. Bing.com offers related search results in addition to the entered search words, but my question is whether or not such a minor design addition will sway users from Google. Google is now working on an operating system that rivals Windows. Microsoft seems to be interested in attacking Google’s strength; the search engine market. I think that is a good move by Microsoft. Google has become a new way of accessing information. Until Bing.com better competes with the kind of design, features, and abilities of Google, Bing will not be much of a threat in the search market. Given the strength and reputation of Google’s products, I believe they will pose a strong threat to the operating system market, which is the core of Microsoft’s products and profits.
How might you relate Makeaquick.com to a site like Bing or Google?
Makeaquick has a similar layout to Bing in that the main page offers its viewers pixelated squares of information as the mouse cursor floats over them. Bing uses a randomized background picture and gives facts about the image, which has almost nothing to do with the purpose of a real search engine. It actually distracts the user from the purpose of going to the website. Makeaquick presents categorized pixel advertisements that link directly to an advertiser’s homepage. I believe a website should offer very specific features for users and allow them to quickly access the information they are looking for, not detour them away from what they are looking for.
As you know, Google is developing their Chrome operating system. How might you advise Microsoft in handling this kind of competition? A way Microsoft could brush off the challenge would be to compete with Google’s products and hit them where it hurts, like the search market. There are cost-effective and creative changes the people behind Bing.com have to do to improve what they already have. Microsoft also has to become more competitive with different products and create new products that make their competitors envious; for example, like Apple has done with their line of iPod products. Microsoft is missing some simple things, like creating a product that looks edgy, is unique, yet simple and sharp, while also operating with consistent reliability. With so many tech savvy consumers and companies in the market, that is how products must work in this day and age.
You seem very confident about the direction and future of the Makeaquick.com enterprise. Given your funding, and the $100 million Microsoft invested in just the marketing campaign for Bing.com, how do you expect to compete on the worldwide web?
Microsoft needs a team of unique, intelligent, artistic, imaginative and out of the box thinkers like Makeaquick.com has in order to create something special. You need to invest less and think more… get bright students from accredited and prestigious universities with unique young minds. Give them a few computers, a small office and a million dollars and they will create and execute something special that will compete with the best that the web has too offer. It might even propel Microsoft back to the top. I guarantee you that would happen if my team and I were offered that challenge. Microsoft is spending $100 million to force people to campaign for a product when the same effect could have been made with public statement by Bill Gates or a viral advertising campaign that would cost no more than a mere $100,000!
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