As Google continues to work its way into the world of e-commerce, you should know its product line — if you don't already. Google has expanded its search technology into blogging, mapping, shopping, research and more. In fact, Google now has so many services it's hard to keep them straight. Here's a quick rundown to help you boost your Google IQ.
Google Search & Search Services
Google Search
Throughout its brief history, Google has focused on developing the
"perfect search engine" by combining overall importance and
query-specific relevance to present search results. Google offers a host
of Web search services you can access tthrough the main search page.
For example, to use the calculator you simply type your math question
into the Google search box, or for dictionary listings simply type
"definition" in the search box before the search term — there is no need to load a separate
search page. Google also provides quick links to different types of searches
directly from the main Google search engine page, or you can access them
by clicking "more" on the main search page.
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Google Code
Google code offers quick access to Google APIs and open source code for
developers. Some of the current offerings include AdWords API, Blogger
API, Earth SDK, Talk (XMPP), News Feeds, Desktop API, along with many
other APIs and Open Source projects.
Google Labs
Nicknamed "Google's Technology Playground," Google Labs provides access to some of
Google's beta and in-development projects. You can
try the prototypes and then send your comments on the product or service
directly to Google developers. Some of the current prototypes available
include Google Extensions for Firefox, Google Related Links, Google page
Creator, Google Scholar, Web Alerts and more.
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Blog Search
Similar to Google search this search allows you to look for your search
term within blogs only. Results are from all published Blogs, not just
those published through Blogger.
Froogle
Smart shopping through Froogle helps you find and compare product prices
both online and in nearby stores. With Froogle you can sort search
results by price, search within a specific price range, or compare
product prices. To use the local shopping feature, simply add a
geographical region to your search (e.g., Dell Inspirion, New York, NY) and
you'll see stores near your search location. You can also view a map or
get driving directions.
Google AdWords
Google AdWords provides a way to purchase targeted cost-per-click (CPC) or cost-per-impression (CPM) advertising. AdWords ads are displayed along with organic search results on Google, as well as on search and content sites within the Google Network (including Google Maps and Blogger). To use AdWords you pay a one-time activation fee, and after that you pay only for clicks on your keyword-targeted AdWords ads, or for impressions on your site-targeted ads. You can control your costs by selecting how much you're willing to pay per click or per impression and by setting a daily budget for spending in your account.
Maps
Google Maps is mapping technology and local business
information —including business locations, contact information and
driving directions. Google Maps offers users business search results,
draggable maps, satellite images, detailed driving directions and
keyboard shortcuts to move around in a map view.
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Scholar
Google Scholar provides a way to broadly search for scholarly
literature. From one place, you can search across many disciplines and
sources: peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles,
from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories,
universities and other scholarly organizations.
Special Searches
Google's special searches allows you to narrow down search results to a
specific topic. Current Google Special Searches include a public service
search university search, U.S. Government, Linux, BSD, Apple Macintosh,
and Microsoft.
Blogger
Blogger is an easy-to-use web site that allows you to quickly and easily post
thoughts, interact with people, and more. This is a free Google service.
Gmail
One of the first Google products, Gmail offers another option for
Webmail.
Webmail is software run by an ISP or online service that provides access
to send, receive and review e-mail using only your Web browser. Users
can enter the Webmail Web site URL in their browser's address or
location field, and use their Webmail account by typing in a username
and password. Google's Gmail is a beta service, but many users have
found it easy to get accepted or referred by someone else already using
Gmail. Gmail comes with built-in Google search technology and more than 2,600
megabytes of storage (and growing every day). There are no pop-ups or
untargeted banner ads in Gmail, only small text ads. Gmail also
integrates instant messaging into the e-mail through Google Talk
and integrates with Google calendar as well.
Google Talk
Google's free talk client offers a way to communicate over the Internet
using instant messaging, e-mail (using Gmail), or by voice. To use all
three communication methods using Talk, you need an Internet connection,
a microphone, and a speaker. Without the voice talk, you can still use
Talk as an IM client.
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Google Groups
Google Groups is service that allows groups of people to communicate
through e-mail and the Web. Each Google group has a home page
hosted by Google where members can start new discussions or reply to
older topics. Google Groups also allows you to easily create your own
announcement lists, mailing lists and public discussions.
Google Calendar
One of the most recent additions to Google products is the Google
Calendar. This service is designed to allow users to organize daily, monthly and
yearly events and also share calendars with other people (co-workers or
family members). If you use Gmail, you can also send events directly from
e-mail to your calendar.
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Free Software and Google Mobile
Services
Google Desktop
Google Desktop is a desktop search application that provides full text
search over your e-mail, files, music, photos, chats, Gmail, Web pages
that you've viewed and more. The latest version of Desktop also
includes Google gadgets — interactive mini-applications that can be
anything from games to search tools to media players, and they can be
any shape and size. You can also create your own gadgets in addition
to using the ready-made ones.
Picasa
Picasa is a free software download from Google that helps to instantly
find, edit and share all the pictures on your computer. It also offers
easy to use one-click editing tools and options.
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Google Pack
Google pack is a selection of free software for your desktop PC. This pack contains a selection of Google software
that includes Google Earth, Picasa, Google Pack Screensaver, Google
Desktop, Google Toolbar. Additional software includes Mozilla Firefox
with Google Toolbar, Norton Antivirus 2005 Special Edition, Ad-Aware SE
Personal, and Adobe Reader 7. The optional software list includes Google
Talk, RealPlayer, Google Video Player and GalleryPlayer HD Images.
Google Mobile
Mobile is a Google service that allows mobile users to search the Web,
search images, or search the mobile Web (made up of sites that are
specifically designed to fit your phone screen). Google also offers
several products via mobile services, which includes Maps for mobile devices
(view maps and get directions on your phone) and
SMS (text messaging).
Vangie Beal is a frequent contributor to ECommerce-Guide.com.
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