Wake Up, Google!
Google November 2nd, 2006 - By HaochiGoogle was holding a Wordmaster Challenge to look for talent writers in India, which took place on on September 30th, 2006, and Google said that they will announce the result on the 30th of October. Well, that sounds great, but who’s the winner? Three days have been pass, and yet Google have not contact the contestants about the results of the contest, no snail-mail, email, telephone call - nothing. As far as I can tell, no one knows, and lots of the contestants were frustrated by Google’s inefficiency.
further readings(posts by contestants):
- Google Wordmasters - The Aftermath - Harshad Joshi
- Google Wordmasters Challenge - Where are the Results?
- and the comments they made.
November 3rd, 2006 at 3:37 am
I have no beef against Google, and neither am I obsessed with the results, but I feel the company’s PR machinery could have done a better job. Indeed, I think Google India had better do something immediately by way of damage control, if it wishes to retain the “cool” image it’s acquired in the country.
Just consider the various options that were available to Google India on October 30.
(1) Release ads in the print media.
(2) Hold press meets in each city that hosted the contest.
(3) Make a simple announcement to the media.
(4) Email the participants.
(5) Inform a few dedicated bloggers.
(6) Post details on their official blog.
(7) Leave a link on their homepage.
(8) Update the original event page so that it says something slightly more informative than “Thank you for your interest in this event. Registration is now closed.”
(9) Shout from the rooftops.
Except for (1) and (2), these would have cost nothing (or next to nothing). If the results were delayed owing to circumstances beyond Google’s control, the company could simply have said so in an email or a press release. This would have reassured the participants, and prevented the “Google gypped us” paranoia that we see now.
[edit by Haochi, as requested :D]
November 4th, 2006 at 5:35 am
I guess that in one or two days, we will surely find the winner.
November 4th, 2006 at 7:54 am
Yeah, “on or about 10/30/06″. lol
November 6th, 2006 at 12:35 am
So, My Hunch seems to be correct after all?
I strongly feel that the much publicized event was actually an exercise to test the waters, maybe to retain people for some superBlog or to present relevant, human edited content - in the lines of askme.com, about.com, wikipedia.com et al.
It was totally outsourced job and the 3rd agency goofed up.
The Proofs of Goof-ups are many-
1. The invitations for the test were not very effectively communicated.
2. It was presented basically as an intro to Google’s various ventures and not actually as a contest attracting Talent.
3. Arrangements for the test involving people to generate IT Bytes using language were pathetic, to say the least. I am sure many people must have felt uneasy using pen paper, instead of a PC (at least I Did).
4. India is not very high on the Google’s agenda, then why this contest was held here only?
5. At some places, Contestants were given 60 Minutes and elsewhere just 45 Minutes. They organizers did not even have a clear-cut policy?
6. Even the Logo on Goodies Bag was somewhat different, meaning it was second grade job conceived, and executed locally, by equally proficient dumbos.
November 6th, 2006 at 10:16 am
> “results…on or about October 30.”
Look at the bright side. Maybe they meant October 30, 2007.
November 6th, 2006 at 2:12 pm
lol, you are funny. I can’t find any result why Google would do that - 2007!
November 7th, 2006 at 5:33 am
Here’s a small breakthrough: I wrote to MeritTrac, the agency that organised the contest for Google India, and the person in charge of marketing operations at the company has replied to my email with the following:
“Let me assure you that I will personally look into this issue. I will check with my team internally and also speak with google and revert to you by tomorrow positively.â€
I didn’t ask about the results — I only enquired about the reason for the delay. Let’s give them a fair chance. Hopefully, by tomorrow we’ll have a clearer picture.
November 7th, 2006 at 6:44 am
Finally, we got some hope! :D
November 10th, 2006 at 1:03 am
The declaration of the Wordmasters Challenge results is beginning to sound like some kind of a bomb-on-board hoax by some upcoming terrorist group.
Should we still cling on to hope?
Is there any need to look further?
Does Google have any idea as to our collective reactions to it’s casual outlook?
Does Google have any interest in the matter at all?
Why they took the trouble to hold this contest in the first place is a big mystery, when their attitude sucks!!
November 10th, 2006 at 6:44 am
They have already announced the winners of this contest, read this post for more.