Google’s latest toolbar technology–Sidewiki–allows Internet users to “contribute helpful information to any webpage.” That’s right, any webpage. Even sites without comment, rating or review features are fair game with Sidewiki. It has been most accurately described as Internet “graffiti.”
What does this mean for you?
If Sidewiki is used the way it is presented in Google’s examples as a place for experts to contribute valuable extra information to a page, then it’ll be great for users and site owners alike. But since we all know the Internet is not a happy magical land of unicorns and rainbows, odds are that Sidewiki will become an outlet for users to gripe, complain and criticize in ways they couldn’t before–on the site itself.
To be clear, the content contributed via Sidewiki won’t technically be on the page. Instead it will appear in a collapsable sidebar to the left as seen below.
Sidewiki on Bryant Park
Since online buying habits are heavily dictated by user reviews and comments, I predict that site owners will have to start paying special attention to their Sidewiki reviews to avoid negative publicity.
Sidewiki is currently only available for Internet Explorer and Firefox but a Google Chrome version is in the works.
What do you think about Google Sidewiki? Is it a valuable new tool or a threat to website owners who prefer not to include user reviews and comments on their pages?
Tags: Google sidewiki, Google toolbars
October 15, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I surely understand why many webmasters don’t like SideWiki and fear that competitors will use it to add comments to your site that will be as helpful as the comments that graffiti artists add to bathroom walls.
You should monitor the SideWiki comments on your own site(s) closely and act promptly on negative comments. There are now tools available that can monitor SideWiki comments for you, and alert you when new comments are posted.
http://www.updatepatrol.com/monitor-sidewiki-comments-and-sidewiki-alerts.html
October 15, 2009 at 6:21 pm
great, thanks brian