Google's next venture

[Ixix]

In the past few years, I've taken an interest in investing and trading in the stock market. I don't know if any of you watch Jim Cramer's Mad Money on CNBC, but i ususally watch the show as an educational tool to learn about the different companies that are out there.

That being said, Jim Cramer said something interesting earlier monday, and i wanted to get pple's opinion. Cramer hinted that Monster.com was a prime target to be bought in the near future.... and if Gannett (the folks that run USA Today and CareerBuilder.com) don't do it, that Google might run right out and buy Monster.com.

I find this interesting, an online job site seems to be the next logical step for Google's ever increasing list of services. Which makes me wonder what would be next? Real Estate listings? A Dating Service? Groceries?

 

[shockie]

jim cramer is sensational. sometimes i watch his show just to see him go crazy. :lol:

 

[advaita]

I've got a Jobs Blog they can buy (if the price is right)

How about Google getting into online auctions ? Ebay needs some serious competition.

BTW the idea of Google bbuying Monster is not new http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/05/news/companies/google_monster/index.htm

but maybe JC has heard it might be happening soon ?

 

[Aguila]

In the past few years, I've taken an interest in investing and trading in the stock market.

Google stocks are crazy. google already cleared over 1 billion dollars so far this year

 

[lpstong]

They are just on a roll(Google). YouTube, Doubleclick and an attempt to buy StumbleUpon but lost out to Ebay. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...... I spell Google Gods Gotcha.

 

[Ixix]

jim cramer is sensational. sometimes i watch his show just to see him go crazy

Yeah, he can get a bit crazy, but i think he makes the stock market fun and interesting for home investors. I've learned more about the topic from him than a boring monotone analysit

They are just on a roll(Google). YouTube, Doubleclick and an attempt to buy StumbleUpon but lost out to Ebay. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...... I spell Google Gods Gotcha.

You know, with all the new ventures they're getting into, i wouldn't be surprised one day if i walk down the aisles of my grocery store and find "Google" brand baked beans or dental floss...they'd be free, ofcource...with adwords all over the label


.

 

[Mike]

Google taking over Monster.com would be an almost logical move. I wonder about the price tag, though. Monster cleared over 1 billion dollars in revenue for the last fiscal year. It would cost Google a hefty chunk more than that just to even consider a buy out.
On the flip side, though. The online classified market is largely driven by career and job placements. Monster is amongst the ones charging the highest amount for companies to use their services.
However, just the plain idea of Google getting into the job market is frightening, though. There is such a thing as too much power, and Google is on the best way of getting there.

 

[Dooodles]

Would be a wise move. Google already have already got a job listing site in beta.

http://www.google.com/base/s2?a_n0=jobs&a_y0=9&hl=en&gl=US

 

[Luc]

Uhh. why again would it be a wise move? Everything google touched (bought) recently pretty much fell apart. Google WAS good at one thing.... being a search engine, but now they are falling behind on that. I seriously doubt Google would even know what to do with monster, it's a COMPLETELY different game. It's kinda like Ford buying a watch company.

 

[DJ-Sound]

I don't know about this one, personally I'm all for the wikipedia guys to give google a competitior in the search market...but for buying out monster.com ? meh I think they have some other cash cows in their scopes right now.

 

[jdR!pper]

Well, I think your prediction makes sense mate. I won't be surprised if Google ventures on job search.

 

[gemwol]

Google is a search engine. By entering the job portal business they are crushing existing job sites. If they keep taking control of every business niche online and are successful then we wont need Google search engine any more because they will have a website for every niche. In the long run Google diversifying away from the search engine business and into existing successful business niches already listed in google is very bad news.

What is going to be left for online entrepreneurs if they start niche sites like Google Ads, Google Real Estate, Google Auction, Google Jobs, Google Dating, Google Travel, Google Books, Google Arcade, etc, etc? They will wipe out the very online businesses that already exist today that have worked very hard to be where they are in Google SE. It's not going to be Google search results anymore, it is Google very own Specific Niche site results. By creating these niche sites Google are attacking the very online businesses that made the search engine what it is today. They have the economies of scale to do this and there are few barriers to entry to stop them.

I don't know about this one, personally I'm all for the wikipedia guys to give google a competitior in the search market...but for buying out monster.com ? meh I think they have some other cash cows in their scopes right now.

I agree we need the competition. Google originally was a great innovation. Sheer size has changed all that. In pursuit of growth they have become predatory rather than innovative by replicating already established online niches/site, biting the hand that feeds them.

 

[Mike]

Google is a search engine. By entering the job portal business they are crushing existing job sites. If they keep taking control of every business niche online and are successful then we wont need Google search engine any more because they will have a website for every niche. In the long run Google diversifying away from the search engine business and into existing successful business niches already listed in google is very bad news.

What is going to be left for online entrepreneurs if they start niche sites like Google Ads, Google Real Estate, Google Auction, Google Jobs, Google Dating, Google Travel, Google Books, Google Arcade, etc, etc? They will wipe out the very online businesses that already exist today that have worked very hard to be where they are in Google SE. It's not going to be Google search results anymore, it is Google very own Specific Niche site results. By creating these niche sites Google are attacking the very online businesses that made the search engine what it is today. They have the economies of scale to do this and there are few barriers to entry to stop them.

And right you are! Google is growing, growing to almost monstrous size. Are they going to stop? Of course not. Their objective: Domination of all lucrative online markets.
Are they subsequently going to many other businesses out of their existence? Probably. The business concept is about as crystal clear and easy to understand as can be, the only thing that bugs me about it is that we're contributing to Google's tremendous success by continuing to use their sites, search engine, etc. Hands down, they are playing a very smart game. However, something that was initially concepted to be free, something for everyone and an open business platform, should not be taken over and dominated by Google. In the end, there will be a few survivors, Microsoft, Google & eBay. The rest, Apply/Tiger, Real Estate Sites, etc. will be pushed into a niche market existence that will be moderately successful yet won't see today's revenue numbers anymore.
Even if someone comes up with "the next best thing". Google has the pockets to offer enough to make anyone sell out on even their best idea.
Before someone comes up with the facebook guy that turned 1 Billion down - smart idea, he knows its worth more than that, and he's holding out for it.
And as a little touch on the side lines, even the "Knight of Internet Valor" Craigslist is a commercial application and partially supported by eBay - so much about the free world. Now, granted; i'm drawing the worst case scenario here, but think about it....is all this really to dismiss or is there a slight possibility that this or something closely similar will happen?

Just :imho: though.

 

[Ixix]

I agree we need the competition. Google originally was a great innovation. Sheer size has changed all that. In pursuit of growth they have become predatory rather than innovative by replicating already established online niches/site, biting the hand that feeds them.

sound like microsoft 10 years ago, doesn't it? now look at them....