Google Answers? Don't ask

It's odd that Google gives away so many services for free--even 3D modeling and mapping software--but Google Answers charges $2.50 and more to pose questions to its experts. After four years of operation, Google Answers is cutting off new questions this week, although it will allow answers to stream in until the end of this year.

Since people have grown to expect free content on the Web, Google's fee felt like a fortune. That's partly why I didn't review Google Answers when looking at other similar but free services, such as Yahoo Answers, Answerbag, and Windows Live QnA.

(Credit: Google)

Although costly, many of the replies on Google Answers were thoughtful and accurate, which was the point. Demanding money for expert advice is an obvious way to filter out the chattering amateurs who clutter Yahoo Answers and its ilk. But asking pennies, not to mention dollars, for someone's thoughts is a hard sell these days when unpaid bloggers and volunteers within online communities are a dime a dozen.

At the same time, it shouldn't be so hard to cash in on your expertise if someone needs specific instructions in a pinch. Wouldn't you gladly part with some coin if someone could tell you, say, how to hook up a new entertainment center the day before the in-laws arrive? BitWine, in beta, might do the trick. It works with Skype to let you interact via voice and Webcam with experts who set their own prices for advice. Some advisors ask for nothing in return, while many want a dime per minute. Others charge whopping fees, such as $15 per minute for business counseling. Letting users set their own fees seems to be a better system than that of Google Answers.

More question-and-answer services should involve instant messaging and provide more than mere text interaction. After all, it's easier to show than to tell. But Yahoo Answers ditched its experiment with video replies long ago. Answerbag, on the other hand, integrates video instructions without costing a cent, but it lives within a browser, and its video responses aren't live.

[wisewallstreetwiz]

Google Answers...Why It Failed...

While I will agree that we should be willing to pay a premium for getting better quality answers and $2.50 is a small amount given the utility one in theory could derive from a good answer such that it's worth the cost. However, it's becoming more and more apparent that the Web has become so rich with information spanning a wide variety of topics, you would be HARD PRESSED to not find information about something simply by querying a topic on any search engine. Furthermore, the people who used Google Answers was a small market as they clearly felt their questions were worth the $2.50. Yet, if you look at the majority of questions on let's say Yahoo! Answers, they are NOT worth paying $2.50 for answer. They range from questions like "What is DLP?" to matters about their relationship status. As such, (at least in my humble opinion), it's not worth paying $2.50 for an expert to tell you about DLP when you can read about it on any consumer technology website like CNET.com, PCworld.com, etc. Furthermore, those who ask extremely technical questions will probably get a better answer by going to some sort of a forum dedicated to such topics where individuals who are well versed and knowledgeable in the respective issues could probably give more credible and accurate answers. Now I'm not knocking Yahoo! Answers because I still find it an interesting place where one can ask just about ANY and EVERY thing and I have used it and have been pleased, amused, and disgusted at the responses I received. Google probably felt there was an extremely small market for such a service and pulled the plug.

I haven't heard of BitWine, but I am curious to see how it operates...I think the concept of letting the expert charge their rate is a wise move. As for getting business consulting services for $15.00 a minute, all I can say is that he or she better be increasing my revenue by a factor of 10 for me to justify those kinds of costs.

[wisewallstreetwiz]

Google Answers...Why It Failed...

While I will agree that we should be willing to pay a premium for getting better quality answers and $2.50 is a small amount given the utility one in theory could derive from a good answer such that it's worth the cost. However, it's becoming more and more apparent that the Web has become so rich with information spanning a wide variety of topics, you would be HARD PRESSED to not find information about something simply by querying a topic on any search engine. Furthermore, the people who used Google Answers was a small market as they clearly felt their questions were worth the $2.50. Yet, if you look at the majority of questions on let's say Yahoo! Answers, they are NOT worth paying $2.50 for answer. They range from questions like "What is DLP?" to matters about their relationship status. As such, (at least in my humble opinion), it's not worth paying $2.50 for an expert to tell you about DLP when you can read about it on any consumer technology website like CNET.com, PCworld.com, etc. Furthermore, those who ask extremely technical questions will probably get a better answer by going to some sort of a forum dedicated to such topics where individuals who are well versed and knowledgeable in the respective issues could probably give more credible and accurate answers. Now I'm not knocking Yahoo! Answers because I still find it an interesting place where one can ask just about ANY and EVERY thing and I have used it and have been pleased, amused, and disgusted at the responses I received. Google probably felt there was an extremely small market for such a service and pulled the plug.

I haven't heard of BitWine, but I am curious to see how it operates...I think the concept of letting the expert charge their rate is a wise move. As for getting business consulting services for $15.00 a minute, all I can say is that he or she better be increasing my revenue by a factor of 10 for me to justify those kinds of costs.

[wisewallstreetwiz]

Google Answers...Why It Failed...

While I will agree that we should be willing to pay a premium for getting better quality answers and $2.50 is a small amount given the utility one in theory could derive from a good answer such that it's worth the cost. However, it's becoming more and more apparent that the Web has become so rich with information spanning a wide variety of topics, you would be HARD PRESSED to not find information about something simply by querying a topic on any search engine. Furthermore, the people who used Google Answers was a small market as they clearly felt their questions were worth the $2.50. Yet, if you look at the majority of questions on let's say Yahoo! Answers, they are NOT worth paying $2.50 for answer. They range from questions like "What is DLP?" to matters about their relationship status. As such, (at least in my humble opinion), it's not worth paying $2.50 for an expert to tell you about DLP when you can read about it on any consumer technology website like CNET.com, PCworld.com, etc. Furthermore, those who ask extremely technical questions will probably get a better answer by going to some sort of a forum dedicated to such topics where individuals who are well versed and knowledgeable in the respective issues could probably give more credible and accurate answers. Now I'm not knocking Yahoo! Answers because I still find it an interesting place where one can ask just about ANY and EVERY thing and I have used it and have been pleased, amused, and disgusted at the responses I received. Google probably felt there was an extremely small market for such a service and pulled the plug.

I haven't heard of BitWine, but I am curious to see how it operates...I think the concept of letting the expert charge their rate is a wise move. As for getting business consulting services for $15.00 a minute, all I can say is that he or she better be increasing my revenue by a factor of 10 for me to justify those kinds of costs/

[wisewallstreetwiz]

Google Answers...Why It Failed...

While I will agree that we should be willing to pay a premium for getting better quality answers and $2.50 is a small amount given the utility one in theory could derive from a good answer such that it's worth the cost. However, it's becoming more and more apparent that the Web has become so rich with information spanning a wide variety of topics, you would be HARD PRESSED to not find information about something simply by querying a topic on any search engine. Furthermore, the people who used Google Answers was a small market as they clearly felt their questions were worth the $2.50. Yet, if you look at the majority of questions on let's say Yahoo! Answers, they are NOT worth paying $2.50 for answer. They range from questions like "What is DLP?" to matters about their relationship status. As such, (at least in my humble opinion), it's not worth paying $2.50 for an expert to tell you about DLP when you can read about it on any consumer technology website like CNET.com, PCworld.com, etc. Furthermore, those who ask extremely technical questions will probably get a better answer by going to some sort of a forum dedicated to such topics where individuals who are well versed and knowledgeable in the respective issues could probably give more credible and accurate answers. Now I'm not knocking Yahoo! Answers because I still find it an interesting place where one can ask just about ANY and EVERY thing and I have used it and have been pleased, amused, and disgusted at the responses I received. Google probably felt there was an extremely small market for such a service and pulled the plug.

I haven't heard of BitWine, but I am curious to see how it operates...I think the concept of letting the expert charge their rate is a wise move. As for getting business consulting services for $15.00 a minute, all I can say is that he or she better be increasing my revenue by a factor of 10 for me to justify those kinds of costs/

[ashwin.chn]

Google answers

Google answers makes its price listing in US$ which i feel is unfair. While i do agree that quality answers deserve to be paid but expecting someone from developing country to pay the same amount as one from developed country is unfair. 1USD translates to large amount in the local currency. I dont think web users are from US alone or there are any localised version of Google answers.

[ashwin.chn]

Google answers

Google answers makes its price listing in US$ which i feel is unfair. While i do agree that quality answers deserve to be paid but expecting someone from developing country to pay the same amount as one from developed country is unfair. 1USD translates to large amount in the local currency. I dont think web users are from US alone or there are any localised version of Google answers.

[BillPardue]

Google Answers Gone? Try Your Library!

Please keep in mind that librarians have been answering questions online for a few years now. Not only do we handle e-mail questions, but many libraries now take IM-based questions or use special chat-based "Virtual Reference" products that don't require a user to have an IM account. In some cases, libraries participate in consortia that allow 24/7 access. See this recentl blog item from the Chicago Trib:

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/technology_internetcritic/

That entry just covers Illinois, but many states have 24/7 consortia, and even more local libraries have their own service. Bernie Sloan at the University of Illinois compiled this list:

http://people.lis.uiuc.edu/~b-sloan/collab.htm

It's a touch out of date, but it's still worth a look. If your state or local system isn't listed there, check with them to see if they're participating!

--Bill Pardue
Arlington Heights Memorial Library (Illinois)
http://www.ahml.info

[BillPardue]

Google Answers Gone? Try Your Library!

Please keep in mind that librarians have been answering questions online for a few years now. Not only do we handle e-mail questions, but many libraries now take IM-based questions or use special chat-based "Virtual Reference" products that don't require a user to have an IM account. In some cases, libraries participate in consortia that allow 24/7 access. See this recentl blog item from the Chicago Trib:

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/technology_internetcritic/

That entry just covers Illinois, but many states have 24/7 consortia, and even more local libraries have their own service. Bernie Sloan at the University of Illinois compiled this list:

http://people.lis.uiuc.edu/~b-sloan/collab.htm

It's a touch out of date, but it's still worth a look. If your state or local system isn't listed there, check with them to see if they're participating!

--Bill Pardue
Arlington Heights Memorial Library (Illinois)
http://www.ahml.info