Managing Google Sidewiki Part II
- By Jane Dawson
- Published 01/20/2011
- Search Engines
- Unrated
In late September, Google added a new feature to their toolbar, named Sidewiki. This feature allows anyone to post comments about pages they visit on the Web. Google launched this feature as a way to make the Web more interactive, provide more exchange of information and develop more community.
Sidewiki Pros
Sidewiki seems to be another way to engage Web users in the experience of the Internet by giving them immediate access to a mechanism for comment on a site. At its best, Sidewiki can be a great additional way to promote your products, get positive comments associated with your sites without having to gather them up from far flung blogs and demonstrate the value of your website through others support.
Sidewiki Cons
Unfortunately, most online business people believe that there is a lot more to fear from Sidewiki than there is to embrace. Since you cannot control the content of the Sidewiki, you can become the prey of competitors who are posting unflattering material in the guise of being helpful. Or you may have the misfortune of having a few customers who are combustible and leaving flaming comments at the drop of a hat. You also cannot moderate or remove Sidewiki content; only Google can do that. (You need to notify them.) On balance, Sidewiki is more than a bit disturbing to the ecommerce world.
Having established that Sidewiki may not always be your friend, it is important to figure out the ways that you can exert some control over your website environment. Here are some strategies you might try.
Establish yourself on the Sidewiki
You need to be
first out of the gate, posting to your Sidewiki. It is possible to claim the first comment space for yourself. If you have established that you own the site through Google Webmaster Central, you will see a special notice come up when you comment on your site. Tick the box that is offered and your comment will be displayed first. You can make additional comments but they will be ranked according to Googles value algorithm.
Your comment can be a welcome, links to internal pages, some humorous information that helps people connect with you.
However, in addition to making an official top of page owner comment, you can also make additional comments that will be interspersed according to the comment ranking algorithm.
Deflect negative comments
You really do not want people to see negative comments from a disgruntled customer next to your homepage. So, instead of just being a doormat and allowing it to happen, use your top of the box comment to deflect negativity. Try something like, Got a gripe? Follow this link to my high priority response line. We will try to fix your problem right away. Hopefully this tactic will drop the user into the site where the problem can be handled away from the rest of the Internet.
Be Proactive
Respond to anything negative right away and report abuses to Google. Remember that the comments are scrolled in the order of their value with value being defined by parameters such as sophistication of language (They are jerks is not very sophisticated.), reputation of user and quality of profile. This means that the first people whose comments will be listed should be solid citizens.
Sidewiki may not be your best friend but you can learn to live with it, we think.
Sidewiki Pros
Sidewiki seems to be another way to engage Web users in the experience of the Internet by giving them immediate access to a mechanism for comment on a site. At its best, Sidewiki can be a great additional way to promote your products, get positive comments associated with your sites without having to gather them up from far flung blogs and demonstrate the value of your website through others support.
Sidewiki Cons
Unfortunately, most online business people believe that there is a lot more to fear from Sidewiki than there is to embrace. Since you cannot control the content of the Sidewiki, you can become the prey of competitors who are posting unflattering material in the guise of being helpful. Or you may have the misfortune of having a few customers who are combustible and leaving flaming comments at the drop of a hat. You also cannot moderate or remove Sidewiki content; only Google can do that. (You need to notify them.) On balance, Sidewiki is more than a bit disturbing to the ecommerce world.
Having established that Sidewiki may not always be your friend, it is important to figure out the ways that you can exert some control over your website environment. Here are some strategies you might try.
Establish yourself on the Sidewiki
You need to be
Your comment can be a welcome, links to internal pages, some humorous information that helps people connect with you.
However, in addition to making an official top of page owner comment, you can also make additional comments that will be interspersed according to the comment ranking algorithm.
Deflect negative comments
You really do not want people to see negative comments from a disgruntled customer next to your homepage. So, instead of just being a doormat and allowing it to happen, use your top of the box comment to deflect negativity. Try something like, Got a gripe? Follow this link to my high priority response line. We will try to fix your problem right away. Hopefully this tactic will drop the user into the site where the problem can be handled away from the rest of the Internet.
Be Proactive
Respond to anything negative right away and report abuses to Google. Remember that the comments are scrolled in the order of their value with value being defined by parameters such as sophistication of language (They are jerks is not very sophisticated.), reputation of user and quality of profile. This means that the first people whose comments will be listed should be solid citizens.
Sidewiki may not be your best friend but you can learn to live with it, we think.
Jane Dawson
The web's American Wholesale forum offers list of dropshipping and wholesalers. Join today.
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