I read a blog entry this week that highlighted that people do not buy features; they buy benefits--when you make that final decision to buy you have done so to fulfil a benefit need.
This week Google launched SearchWiki, a feature available to only registered Google users, "a way for you to customize search by re-ranking, deleting, adding, and commenting on search results."
It appears some folks are not seeing the benefits. Though there are a few things about SearchWiki I would enhance or change, I can see some benefits.
Today my daughter asked me to look into a web cam software component on her notebook that has been bothering her for the past few weeks. When she attempted to launch the application it displayed a pop-up with "Acer OrbiCam application has stopped". So using that as my search criteria I proceeded to look for a solution. After reading about half a dozen postings I found the solution she needed. I find myself repeating history and re-searching so I proceeded to "promote" the link that provided the solution and added an appropriate note.
However, others may benefit from my note. When future searchers perform the same search and then click on "See all notes for this SearchWiki" they'll see my promotion and note and hopefully find a solution to the problem. If others do the same on other searches to other problems it will help us all find solutions quicker.
Now for the strange bit of behaviour: On Friday I used a third party computer and tried this feature out with my Google account. Earlier today I used it on my daughter's notebook with my account. Now that I'm finally logged into my own computer--the feature is not appearing; and yes I am logged into my Google account.
Craig
