Cheezhead

Consultant Bruce Clay chimes in with a nice commentary on Google Base, one year after its launch. On searching jobs:

I decide to play with a few of the categories. Let’s start out in jobs.

Google already knows my zip code and has brought up a list of jobs in my area. Drats, if only I had gone to school for nursing I’d be totally set.

I change my specs and see a position that matches my official title here. Most exciting, it’s located a mere 20 miles from my apartment. Let’s see what it’s about. I click on it and am immediately transferred off the site. Hmm, I’m not a big fan of that. Why aren’t Google Base listings kept on the GB site? I trust Google. I don’t trust other people. That’s a turn-off.

Of course, once I make it to the third-party site I realize I don’t actually do any technical writing here and I am completely unqualified for this position. Bummer. Still, the process is easy, gives me all the info I need upfront (where’s it’s located on the big Google map, job category, distance from my house, etc), and it only feels slightly random and disorganized.

Summary:

By allowing Google Base to remain under the radar, it’s stunting its growth and separating it from its customer base. The fact is, despite its potential, users still have to work to bring it up, and even when they do hit the magic word, they’re still not being given the right service.

I think Google has a gem in Google Base, but there are still growing pains that need to be worked out. Google needs to rev up its attempts to fully integrate Google Base into its SERP and give it a hard re-launch. The functionality and appeal is there, but because it’s not integrated into the Google page we use everyday, few users know it exists.

An argument can easily be made that Base has been a failure up to this point. One year into its existence and it’s not the category killer many - including me - believed it could be by now.

But make no mistake. The market continues to methodically edge toward the commoditization and consolidation of job content. As revealed by Google in an interview via this blog, we should expect enhancements in the coming year and beyond.

I believe in Google and their ability to get to a solution that works. Even if it’s on their own time. I believe Google has a master plan, and that Base is part of that plan. What will Year Two bring? Stay tuned.