Google Sidewiki – Good, Bad Or Indifferent
There has been a lot written very quickly on a wide variety of forums about Google Sidewiki most of it bad and making this quite likely to be a great tool for spam.
One of the best articles on it is from Paul Myers. Paul is someone you should follow and I recommend that you read his article and sign up for his email list. It is one of the few that I ALWAYS read because of the quality of his information. His post is at Google Steals The Web.
The basics of SideWiki is that Google is allowing people that use the Google tool bar to add their comments that are displayed along side of your content and looks like it is part of your site.
That would not be bad if you had any control over the content like you do with blog comments but you have absolutely no control. To date Google has no way for you to opt out of this service and it allows people to add their links to steal your traffic or to trash you on your own site.
Not a good thing despite the idea having some merit if their were an ability to opt out of some sort.
I like the idea of user created content but the spam possibilities for this and the lack of control are worrisome to say the least.
Not surprisingly there is already a product available to stop people from having the side wiki show on your site. It is at Sidewiki Comment Blocker.
Not sure if this will be useful long term because hopefully Google will eliminate this with all the uproar but it is something I am considering.
Either way this new item from Google deserves your attention.
About the author
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Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy. After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses blogs to enter various niches profitably. |
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15 comments
Marc-Philipp on October 5, 2009 at 8:40 am
Where do I find Google SideWiki? At My installed toolbar? I dont see it there..I dont get it.
Luca Di Nicola on October 5, 2009 at 9:01 am
I don’t use the Google toolbar and have not seen this “sidewicki”. I don’t like it and think it can be taken advantage in a bad way. I just don’t get what the benefits can be. As you said I would not mind it if the website owner had controls but not like this. I hope Google changes their minds.
.-= Luca Di Nicola´s last blog ..Three Steps to Write SEO Content and Still Sound Natural =-.
Mike on October 5, 2009 at 1:31 pm
A quick Google will wlak you through the steps you need the latest tool bar and to sign up to add it.
Robert on October 5, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Guess Google’s “Do no Evil” is gathering dust in some back room, never to see the light of day again. Putting out “sidewiki” with no way to opt out of it is right up there with the Sony “rootkits”, RIAA lawsuits, and other such silliness.Hoping tha Google will sse the error of there ways and preferably get rid of “sidewiki” or at the least allow for a opt-out.
.-= Robert´s last blog ..Word Clouds made easy =-.
elQuique on October 5, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Sidewiki using only google bar us out of the conversation, we can use WordPress plugin for Google Sidewiki http://www.jorgeoyhenard.com/wordpress-plugin-for-google-sidewiki/ and integrate all comments with our content.
.-= elQuique´s last blog ..efecto tuberias en photoshop =-.
Doug Champigny on October 5, 2009 at 4:27 pm
What’s that I smell? Could it be pending lawsuits and class-action suits?
Looks like the libel and slander lawyers will be the ones to pull us out of the recession with all they’re going to make from this, as site owners sue those who post unprovable allegations and sue Google for enabling them – can the Can-Google Act be far behind?
Predicting this will cause enough furor to get governments to take a much closer look at Google, both the FTC and the Anti-Combines/Competition bureaus… Looks like the giant just misstepped!
.-= Doug Champigny´s last blog ..Free Internet Marketing Gifts If You Act Now! =-.
Mike on October 5, 2009 at 4:30 pm
But you still get no control over them
Jenna on October 5, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Mike – Do you think there will be an anti Sidewiki WP plug-in soon?
Thanks for making us aware.
.-= Jenna´s last blog ..For Your Information =-.
elQuique on October 5, 2009 at 5:59 pm
The anti Sidewiki plugin is easy, but it could comment on another site, it is best to integrate the comments to your content, that’s the reason of my plugin.
Our content, our comments!!
.-= elQuique´s last blog ..efecto tuberias en photoshop =-.
Mike on October 5, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Yes but you still don’t get to moderate what is displayed in sidewicki. That is the key someone can add information to your real estate that you control without your permission. Be like allowing another store to post there billboard on my store without my permission.
Andre Arnett on October 5, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Boy, I am glad I check out this site because this is something I have not heard about. I can see the problems this will cause. And with no way right now I see you have no protection. It will be interesting to listen to the chatter about this. Thanks.
.-= Andre Arnett´s last blog ..Secrets Of Writing A Series Of Blog Posts =-.
elQuique on October 5, 2009 at 9:31 pm
You’re right Mike, we can not completely moderate all comments
.-= elQuique´s last blog ..Plugin Wordpress para Google Sidewiki =-.
Joel Osborne on October 5, 2009 at 9:48 pm
At first I thought it would be a good thing, but yes, that was until I looked more into it. I think it can be a great idea, but right now as it is, it’s not.
But I’m not worrying about it right now, not until it becomes more popular to see what really will happen with it.
.-= Joel Osborne´s last blog ..Free Contest: Want To Win A New Web Site? =-.
Fred Lotgering on October 6, 2009 at 9:15 am
Every day something new to learn. I thought the days of tool bars were over. Google keeps adding. But all valid comments made above. Just wonder why you want to use it…
Fred
.-= Fred Lotgering´s last blog ..Advertising on the Mobile Web =-.
Lonnie Minton on October 6, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Have not heard of Google Sidewiki before. I don’t think I will look at it right now. I already have several tool bars and don’t see a reason to add another one at this point. Maybe Google will do something to make it a must have in the future. Thanks for the info. There are always changes coming along.
.-= Lonnie Minton´s last blog ..Is Free Good For Internet Marketing =-.