Google Pushing New Product Through Bloggers

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Google has been emailing a “small set of expert bloggers,” asking if they would be interested in looking at a new product that apparently hasn’t yet been announced, according to an email, forwarded to me, from a Google marketing person. The company is offering “a gift package” to ship in the next few weeks, though is giving no indication of what the product is.

I did some checking and the person who sent the email, Susan Taing, seems like a legit Google product marketing manager. She’s been associated with Toolbar Labs, a way of letting browser users try experimental features. Some of the new features have included location-based searching with greater accuracy than IP address-based searching by using information on nearby Wi-Fi access points as well as a Chinese toolbar.

I don’t have enough information as of this morning to do more than hazard a wild guess, but that would be some product version of one of the beta features. Perhaps a location-based search for Android phones? More details as I can get them.

Image via stock.xchng user KimPouss, site standard license.

Erik Sherman is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in Newsweek, the New York Times Magazine, Technology Review, the Financial Times, Chief Executive, and other publications. Follow him on Twitter.

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1

Foodimentary Guy

09/21/09 | Report as spam

RE: Google Pushing New Product Through Bloggers

I am John-Bryan Hopkins, the Foodimetnary Guy, a food blogger
and was contacted by the same lady. She seemed legitimate to
me and responded to me with thanks. I was asked more
permission to send information, can't wait to see what comes in
the mail.

www.twitter.com/foodimentary
2

ErikSherman

09/21/09 | Report as spam

RE: Google Pushing New Product Through Bloggers

Thanks for chiming in. Although a sample of two isn't much, so far Google seems to be trying to reach food bloggers, which is why I'm thinking that local search might make sense. Or perhaps an audience restaurant review service?
3

Floyds Boyd

09/22/09 | Report as spam

RE: Google Pushing New Product Through Bloggers

I too received the email from Susan Taing. I am very curious
as to what is being sent out. And to it point out, I am not a
food blogger, it's actually a web comic, and I don't think we
have ever talked about food, it is about coffee maybe that
counts.

Maybe it is tools to help fledgling bloggers find a larger
audience. But if it is online offerings or something digital, why
would they need to mail it out? Makes me think it is some
physical product.

http://www.boysoffloyd.com
4

ErikSherman

09/22/09 | Report as spam

RE: Google Pushing New Product Through Bloggers

Curiosier and curiosier. Remember, they talked about sending out a gift package, which isn't necessarily a product. It could be a collection of stuff that ties to a theme of the offering.
5

Floyds Boyd

09/24/09 | Report as spam

RE: Google Pushing New Product Through Bloggers

I got my "gift package" today. A bit of a let down. A book of
poems and a bookmark telling to check out Google SideWiki. I
posted here...
http://boysoffloyd.com/2009/09/24/new-google-product/
6

ErikSherman

09/24/09 | Report as spam

RE: Google Pushing New Product Through Bloggers

I got hold of one - blogged about it here: http://industry.bnet.com/technology/10003502/google-mystery-blogger-promotion-was-for-sidewiki/?tag=shell;content. But check the book - Billy Collins is a great, and very funny/accessible, poet. Check the poem the bookmark noted.