Comments on: Did Google Issue a Bear Call?

By: Motoröl

Motoröl — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:24:46 +0000

I am also sure that’s not what the article implies, so I do also not think it is something you can use to justify a dire conclusion.

By: » Evernote SLeepdepD

» Evernote SLeepdepD — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:32:57 +0000

[...] later. Kind of a like a personal wiki–like Wiki on a Stick maybe. (BTW: According to this article: “Google is contemplating killing off Google [...]

By: Exponential, an Online Ad Network, Cuts Jobs - GigaOM

Exponential, an Online Ad Network, Cuts Jobs - GigaOM — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:15:18 +0000

[...] The company is one of the many online advertising services providers that are preparing for the worst. As we’ve previously reported, publicly traded companies like ValueClick have been hit hard — even Google, the big kahuna of online advertising, is readying itself for tough economic times. [...]

By: Evernote « Jeff’s Blog

Evernote « Jeff’s Blog — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 06:24:38 +0000

[...] According to this article: “Google is contemplating killing off Google [...]

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:56:54 +0000

@ronald sort of. I’d say it is pro-active, not reactive. The idea is to lower expenses faster than the fall in revenue so you never become unprofitable. If you remain profitable all the way down in a down economy, you’re poised to take advantage of the opportunities the downturn creates and you’ll be the first, and most, profitable on the way back up.

You can also find Manager Tool podcasts on itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?i=43092885&id=74198801

By: Quickthink » Blog Archive » QuickStock Chit Chat - Google

Quickthink » Blog Archive » QuickStock Chit Chat - Google — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:58:53 +0000

[...] (I link to the first post I saw — but Fred has posted on this more than once). Today, Om Malik posted that next year may be wall hitting time for [...]

By: ronald

ronald — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:42:29 +0000

@scott
can’t find it on that side. But if I understand you correctly it’s not a race, two or more parts moving independently. It’s a action reaction relation, where you want to drive down the reaction time.
Correct?

By: Motoröl

Motoröl — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:59:21 +0000

It doesn’t even matter if you’re tech or “mommy blogger” as I see the unwillingness to give up the good times across the board, in these articles and in my own experience.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:59:15 +0000

@ronald racing revenue to the bottom means aligning expenses to falling revenue ahead of the fall to wherever it bottoms out. That may not have come through clearly. There are still companies out there maintaining profit but the market isn’t rational enough to reward them right now. There’s a good podcast on racing revenue to the bottom over on managertools.com — no stock tips in there though, just better explanation of the concept.

By: ronald

ronald — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:58:17 +0000

@Scott,
not to nick pick here. But what’s their “direct path to any of the current, profitable revenue” is it “racing revenue to the bottom”?
Sorry I don’t get it.
And which companies are so smart, I started to take money out of the market 2 years ago, since I looked at companies in disgust. Maybe now is the time to reinvest, I really don’t know about any “smart” company. But I know a lot of clueless disoriented ones.

By: Desaraev

Desaraev — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:13:15 +0000

Well put scott.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:49:54 +0000

The smartest, longest lived, most profitable companies make a habit of racing revenue to the bottom, not chasing it. Google’s moves actually improve its ability to remain more profitable than the competition. In turn, that improves odds of thriving and increases agility to go where the early opportunities are on the way back up. All good, perhaps even great, business moves.

Your analogy and assumption that lead to your “They wouldn’t be doing this unless things are really really REALLY tough.” conclusion have no basis in good business strategy. The best strategy is to get ahead of the curve, preserve profitability no matter what and guarantee your ability to come out stronger while others are dying around you.

I’d re-write your statement to “they wouldn’t be doing this unless their risk management analysis concluded that things could get really, really tough.” Note that nothing they’re shuddering is on the direct path to any of the current, profitable revenue.

By: Upbeat

Upbeat — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:33:10 +0000

For 80% of businesses online marketing is and will continue to be the best option. Businesses still need to make sales to keeps the lights on. The alternative is to hire a $120k + commission sales people. Google will do very well!

If I was Schmidt I’d also hint of slowing economy, blah, blah, blah. Why not? Everybody else out there is doing the same. Would it really matter if Google put out a GREAT report in these times. NO. The stock would rally for one day and then sell off even more the next.

And speaking of Sequoia and other VC’s. Have any of them laid off any people? Have the GP’s taken pay cuts? What is it exactly VC’s are doing these days since they can’t invest and have no idea how to run a company?

By: BizDev

BizDev — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:03:16 +0000

Google has deferred its Annual AdSense Partners Day festivities “till at least Q1″ according to a Googler.

By: Wednesday links: scaling back « Abnormal Returns

Wednesday links: scaling back « Abnormal Returns — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:59:36 +0000

[...] are tough. Google (GOOG) scales back. (WSJ.com also GigaOM, The Big [...]

By: Adam Lasnik

Adam Lasnik — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:08:26 +0000

Hey, thanks, Om. That’s part of why I continue to read your blog regularly; everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone has the professionalism to acknowledge them so respectfully and prominently.

Take care…