- January 23, 2011
- Posted by: admin
- Categories: Blog, Business Dynamics, Entrepreneurship Profiles
In December, Google made an effort to acquire the fastest growing web company, Groupon. However, this ‘effort’ of a jaw-dropping $6 billion was completely turned down. Although it seemed a bit crazy of Groupon to refuse such an offer at that time, but a recent boost in its popularity with an existing 40 million subscribers is clearly pointing to a much higher worth near future.
After Groupon turning down its offer, the internet search giant immediately switched on to a Plan-B. Google is now preparing to hit the market with its own daily deals service called ‘Google Offers’. This Groupon-Competitor is reported to have a Google Checkout along with some other integrative features such as Twitter, Facebook, Google Buzz and emails sharing options.
On the face of it, it seems that Google’s abundant resources, vast outreach and strong brand awareness would necessarily turn it into a powerful player. Perhaps Groupon would end up packing its bags. Who knows?
As a matter of fact, it is not the first time when Google have tried cloning business models. Wikipedia when gained strength and started receiving high traffic, Google tried being a Wikipedia itself with its ‘Knol’ which ended up as a huge flop. When the web turned its attention towards social media, it came up with a Facebook-Twitter-Killer ‘Google Buzz’ which again didn’t perform well. It is really surprising that whenever Google tries cloning business models a majority of them end up as blunders.
What are your suggestions – Is Groupon going to succumb to the giant’s coming up plan or is it just a hokum that would later turn into a big failure?
As a consumer I’m all for it. Now I’ll get daily deals form groupon, livingsocial and google offers. Sweet. I also think it could be good for businesses to, to have more avenues to advertise.
They don’t really have any choice now but to compete with them, do they?! 😉
I’d still use Groupon. Why try to fix something that’s not broken? I understand why Google see it as an opportunity, but Groupon is great – why would its users need to look at something else? We’d just have our emails spammed all day every day if we did!
For me, Google has its place in the market as a brilliant search engine, but that’s all I see it as, and I leave it to the pros for the other stuff
My 2 cents, Google should concentrate what they are good at it which is ‘search’. There is LOT to do on search alone before they call it done.
Let other flourish what they are best at.
There are many other players coming into this. Just today I received email from this http://trcb.thecustomeradvantage.com
I am amazed how ‘smart’ entrepreneurs have developed that solution which can surpass Groupon easily in very little time if executed properly.
Bottom line: There is room for everyone and should be.
Links:
http://trcb.thecustomeradvantage.com/