Google must maintain laser focus on search throughout 2008

05 01 2008

Google must maintain laser focus on search throughout 2008

Posted by: in Companies Competitive Strategy

Filed under: Consumer experience, Internet, Competitive strategy, Google (GOOG)

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) had a very busy 2007 — initiatives and projects, product launches and a furious growth rate that kept analysts guessing each single quarter. With so much going on at the world’s most popular internet search engine, will Google lose focus on the bread-n-butter machine of its revenue — web searches?

If Google would pour as much focus and resources into all its products as it does the constant refinements it gives its search-related advertising, the company would have many revenue legs to stand on (most likely). However, Google has a history of launching products to see how they do before dedicating too many resources to it. After all, it took years for text advertising on Google searches to produce billions in quarterly revenue. The more products prove themselves, the more attention they get.

What other products from Google will get more and more attention in 2008? The New York Times states that Google could eventually control 80% to 90% of internet searches, up from today’s sub-70% level. Can Google really attain search engine growth to attain complete and utter domination of search?

If not, where are supplemental revenues going to come from? Google is lining up products to fill this void, but it can’t lose focus on its core search business, even for a nanosecond. To fuel all the growth and the large product launches from the company, the revenue will have to be there. Right now, that’s all search — and it must continue to be Google’s main focus in everything it does.