Wednesday, March 28, 2007
What are "Gadgets"?
In recent months, there has been an increased interest in customizing one's personal space online. That personal space may be public (a MySpace page, blog or homepage) or private (computer desktop, Google Personalized homepage or mobile phone). Many people are also using widgets, also known as gadgets, to customize, embellish, differentiate and engage with their interests.
For marketers, gadgets are a new, highly effective platform for new initiatives and objectives. Our own Google Gadgets offering is one of our fastest-growing products due in part to their ease of use.
How will Gadgets help build my brand?
Google Gadgets are merely mini-applications that live in a personalized environment. Gadgets are easy to create -- if you can make a website, you can create a gadget. As Newsweek has noted, "User-generated content was a hallmark of 2006. It's a fair bet that 2007 will be all about further customizing your online life."
You can create and use Google Gadgets to:
- Create another channel to engage current and new customers
- Introduce new products
- Provide opportunities for brand consideration
- Drive sales of your product online and offline
- Reach a broader audience
- Allow for an ongoing brand presence
- Provide product feedback and updates
Where will consumers see my Gadgets?
You can place Google Gadgets on a Google Personalized Home Page, the Google Desktop, blogs and other sites. Another nice feature: you can use existing data inputs like content feeds and other services (YouTube, Google Video, Google Custom Search Engine, Google Docs & Spreadsheets, Google Maps, Yahoo traffic service, weather service data, etc.) to create interesting and engaging gadgets.
Here's an example recipe gadget I put together that uses a cooking video from Google Video.
Interested in adding this Google Gadget to your Google Personalized homepage? click the "+ Google" button above.
Interested in adding this Google Gadget to your Blog or website click here.
You'll find more information on Google Gadgets at http://www.google.com/apis/gadgets/index.html
