Google Blog Search Adds Meme Tracking; Puts Techmeme on Notice

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 by Andy Beal

Google Blog Search Adds Meme Tracking; Puts Techmeme on Notice

Just because Google suddenly enters your playground, that doesn’t automatically mean you need to pack-up your toys and go home. Still, Techmeme has every reason to be just a little nervous that Google has launched a new homepage for Google Blog Search.

From the Google announcement:

Adapting some of the technology pioneered by Google News, we’re now showing categories on the left side of the website and organizing the blog posts within those categories into clusters, which are groupings of posts about the same story or event. Grouping them in clusters lets you see the best posts on a story or get a variety of perspectives. When you look within a cluster, you’ll find a collection of the most interesting and recent posts on the topic, along with a timeline graph that shows you how the story is gaining momentum in the blogosphere.

So, is Techmeme quaking in its boots? It’s hard to tell, mostly because it’s thumbing its nose by actually featuring the launch on its site:

I suspect that Google’s reorganization of Blog Search is merely a cosmetic move to clean up its results. Techmeme, on the other hand, has built a business around breaking the "need to know" technology news. My money’s on Techmeme, what about yours?

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17 comments on “Google Blog Search Adds Meme Tracking; Puts Techmeme on Notice”

Chetan Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 10:11 am

Still, i would go with Techmeme.
Blogsearch was better earlier.

Chetan’s last blog post..Top commentators contest – October 2008
Ben Ruedlinger Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 am

It is likely that Google will get more traffic over time due to its leveraging of Google Blogsearch in promoting its memetracker. I think the more important thing to look at, however, is the influence that each of the services will have. Many of the digerati rely heavily rely on Techmeme to see what people are talking about and where the conversation is going. I don’t see those influencers switching to the Google product any time soon.

Ben Ruedlinger
http://wistia.com
Wistia, Making Video Productive
Ted Murphy Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 10:38 am

Google will be bigger than Techmeme in blog search by this time tomorrow. This is actually great news for the social media space — Techmeme’s Alexa traffic stats over the last year have deteriorated dramatically, check ‘em out.
Jamie Lin Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Still, you gotta give Techmeme credit for actually featuring the news on its front page! Plus, I still think Techmeme’s UI is much easier to use!
Utah SEO Pro Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 1:09 pm

This is a great tool for tracking online reputation. Good to see this happening.

Utah SEO Pro’s last blog post..Social Media Expert Quiz
kouji Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm

i like that techmeme featured google’s product. that’s confidence for you.

kouji’s last blog post..haiku poem: nature (sand)
Ryan @ Recording Studio Los Angeles Recording Studios LA Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 2:46 pm

oh man now google in turning into a spam hound I mean don’t we need an over all simple scope on the best information from all sources instead on pictures, videos, blogs, websites, oranges, potates feeders, baby carrots, I mean what is that?

Ryan
SoLinkable Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 3:26 pm

I think that pretty soon I’ll be able to do all my internet surfing without ever leaving google…

SoLinkable’s last blog post..The Hot Room – The Daily WTF
SEO next Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm

In the recent times i have seen this happening with so many different things…
Google has the userbase now, and what ever they see is working they launch their own stuff for the same..
Happened with google base and now the news..
Zurpit Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm

If techmeme is showing the news on its site I don’t think its afraid of the competition haha
Degree Says:

October 2nd, 2008 at 5:30 pm

Blogsearch was better earlier.
This is a great tool though for tracking online reputation.
Anthony.P Says:

October 3rd, 2008 at 7:52 am

Google is everywhere now.
Philip John Says:

October 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 am

Surely there’s no sense in even comparing the two? For Google, this is quite simply a new application of an existing technology/concept. Techmeme is not going to get sidelined by Google because Techmeme have a well-established niche. Google are simply providing the same service across a bigger range of categories.

In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if this move prompts a whole bunch of new Techmeme-style niches.
Nicole Price Says:

October 3rd, 2008 at 9:56 am

So is mine!

Nicole Price’s last blog post..Hypermiling
Christmas Guy Says:

October 3rd, 2008 at 1:35 pm

From my point of view it is a very useful feature for be always aware of online reputation. Techmeme created by Google’ is perfect product indeed.

Christmas Guy’s last blog post..We Wish You a Merry Christmas Lyrics
Dennis Edell Says:

October 3rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm

Grouping is nice. Should make it real easy for bloggers to link out to sources in a post.

Dennis Edell’s last blog post..My First Contest! Time To Put Your Thinking Caps On…
QuickPWN Says:

October 6th, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Techmeme is good, but with Google Blogsearch you can search through blogs in different categories instead of just technology.

QuickPWN’s last blog post..Install Flash Player iPhone App

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