Was it really as simple as that? Google CEO Eric Schmidt took to the blogwaves after the Super Bowl yesterday to explain Google’s surprising decision to purchase an ad thusly:
We didn’t set out to do a Super Bowl ad, or even a TV ad for search. Our goal was simply to create a series of short online videos about our products and our users, and how they interact. But we liked this video so much, and it’s had such a positive reaction on YouTube, that we decided to share it with a wider audience.
If there’s one thing Google’s consistent about, it’s the company’s approach to PR: it always sounds reasonable and intellectually defensible, but it’s never really the whole story. Google didn’t set out to run a Super Bowl ad, that’s for sure. But somewhere in the last five or so years, it became the kind of company that would. And that’s the point. I mean….is Eric serious when he implies somehow he needs television to find a “wider audience.” I mean, seriously?!
I’ll have more thoughts on Google the Super Bowl ad runnin’ company after the Monday hoo-ha of meetings ends. Er….stay tuned.
Meanwhile, some other news worth grokkin’ as you sip your Monday morning beverage:
Enhanced Cooperation with Facebook on Search (Bing blog) – Or, put another way, Facebook and Microsoft Cancel Display Ad Relationship (ClickZ).
Moms on Facebook Are Savvy to Marketers [STATS] (Mashable) Well what do you know, Moms and marketers are a match, and what do you know, Facebook Emerges as News-Content Provider (Marketing Profs). Facebook is ubiquitous, folks. The question now, is what they do with that fact….perhaps a Super Bowl ad? Meanwhile, there are now books on the company (NY Review).
How To Get Our Democracy Back (Larry Lessig, the Nation) A rather outrageous proposal from one of technology’s best policy minds.
Plentiful Content, So Cheap (NYT) Carr marvels at Demand’s model.
FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited (Cnet). Watch this story. I will be (and have been for years).
Physicist Discovers How to Teleport Energy (Technology Review) Just cool.