5 ms·

I just don't get how this is considered "normal" - they create the ecosystem, let it thrive with the content users generate, and after some category/apps reach

I just don't get how this is considered "normal" - they create the ecosystem, let it thrive with the content users generate, and after some category/apps reach a certain interesting threshold, Google gathers all the data they have access to and use their massive distribution system to deploy their version built on the back of their userbase. I think it's dangerous, in all honesty. The same goes for Apple/Facebook/Amazon. If they build an ecosystem they shouldn't be able to take advantage of it to build and deploy products.

pm90 9y ago
I have mixed views about this. I see your point that its definitely an unfair advantage to Google since its the default search engine and can gather so much data. But the existing job sites (indeed, for example) have done a piss poor job so far. I guess what I'm saying is: I would have been a lot more concerned if Indeed was amazing and Google stepped in specifically to destroy it before it got too big (like MS did with IE and Netscape).
- libertine 9y ago
  I agree with you, and my views are also mixed - maybe this isn't the best example where the current solutions aren't that great. But where do you draw the line? It's fine when all the available solutions aren't that great?
- joshlemer 9y ago
  What would you expect indeed to provide that it doesn't already?
stale2002 9y ago
Does this result in a better or worse user experience? Personally I don't care if a company built atop of Google fails. The only thing I care about is consumer welfare, and good quality products + lower prices.
- libertine 9y ago
  The thing is - and Peter Thiel actually makes a good point about this in Zero To One, when it comes to monopoly's - a monopoly is healthy as long as it invests into technology development, because they have the financial muscle to do it. This kind of development is a vertical leap? I don't see it like such... just like I don't see it when Amazon brings their branded products to category's that are doing well. I don't say Google, Amazon, don't invest in proper tech development - but this kind of development is just to establish themselves deeply at the cost of their user base. I feel split in this subject honestly - on one side, why can't they leverage something of their own? On the other hand, that's when things start to get shady.
- ksk 9y ago
  Since you care about consumer welfare, do you support Google?
agentgt 9y ago
This is not the same (boards/aggregators) as Yelp, HN, Reddit, Stackoverflow or various other user generated content review sites. This is because most if not all the jobs come from the companies website. They are a search middleman similar to how Google is for almost everything else. They don't provide an ecosystem like say HN, Stackoverflow, Yelp, etc. In some ways they steal the content. Sites like Indeed are basically doing the same thing that Google really should have been doing. Now the boards/aggregators tried to provide "ecosystems" but they could never get it right because when people are looking for the job they are desperate and just don't give a... (or at least that is my theory. its also why linkedin works because its is passive). I have noticed through our metrics (and I'm biased because we make job web sites for companies that hire) that the best candidates (despite what Indeed says) come from going directly to your website or come from LinkedIn (assuming non referral based). If you are wondering how then Indeed/Career Builder et al do so well its that its hard to measure actual success (ie source to hire). It should be easy but sadly its not (don't have time for the details). So what these guys provide is ton of traffic with lots of noise. Traffic that google could have easily provided. So honestly I think it is sort of good they fail.
- vram22 9y ago
  I had heard a while back (from a startup client I did some consulting work for (built and delivered a prototype), and who was in the HR/Job web app space), that Indeed.com was bought for ~$1bn by Recruiter.com . I wonder if they made money back on that buy.
  - ILIKEPONIES 9y ago
    Indeed was purchased by Recruit Holdings, which is a massive Japanese conglomerate. As far as I'm aware, it has been a success. http://www.recruit-rgf.com/ http://www.recruit-rgf.com/
    - vram22 9y ago
      Interesting ...
- 9y ago

pm90 9y ago

I have mixed views about this. I see your point that its definitely an unfair advantage to Google since its the default search engine and can gather so much data. But the existing job sites (indeed, for example) have done a piss poor job so far. I guess what I'm saying is: I would have been a lot more concerned if Indeed was amazing and Google stepped in specifically to destroy it before it got too big (like MS did with IE and Netscape).

libertine 9y ago
I agree with you, and my views are also mixed - maybe this isn't the best example where the current solutions aren't that great. But where do you draw the line? It's fine when all the available solutions aren't that great?
joshlemer 9y ago
What would you expect indeed to provide that it doesn't already?

stale2002 9y ago

Does this result in a better or worse user experience? Personally I don't care if a company built atop of Google fails. The only thing I care about is consumer welfare, and good quality products + lower prices.

libertine 9y ago
The thing is - and Peter Thiel actually makes a good point about this in Zero To One, when it comes to monopoly's - a monopoly is healthy as long as it invests into technology development, because they have the financial muscle to do it. This kind of development is a vertical leap? I don't see it like such... just like I don't see it when Amazon brings their branded products to category's that are doing well. I don't say Google, Amazon, don't invest in proper tech development - but this kind of development is just to establish themselves deeply at the cost of their user base. I feel split in this subject honestly - on one side, why can't they leverage something of their own? On the other hand, that's when things start to get shady.
ksk 9y ago
Since you care about consumer welfare, do you support Google?

agentgt 9y ago

This is not the same (boards/aggregators) as Yelp, HN, Reddit, Stackoverflow or various other user generated content review sites. This is because most if not all the jobs come from the companies website. They are a search middleman similar to how Google is for almost everything else. They don't provide an ecosystem like say HN, Stackoverflow, Yelp, etc. In some ways they steal the content. Sites like Indeed are basically doing the same thing that Google really should have been doing. Now the boards/aggregators tried to provide "ecosystems" but they could never get it right because when people are looking for the job they are desperate and just don't give a... (or at least that is my theory. its also why linkedin works because its is passive). I have noticed through our metrics (and I'm biased because we make job web sites for companies that hire) that the best candidates (despite what Indeed says) come from going directly to your website or come from LinkedIn (assuming non referral based). If you are wondering how then Indeed/Career Builder et al do so well its that its hard to measure actual success (ie source to hire). It should be easy but sadly its not (don't have time for the details). So what these guys provide is ton of traffic with lots of noise. Traffic that google could have easily provided. So honestly I think it is sort of good they fail.

vram22 9y ago
I had heard a while back (from a startup client I did some consulting work for (built and delivered a prototype), and who was in the HR/Job web app space), that Indeed.com was bought for ~$1bn by Recruiter.com . I wonder if they made money back on that buy.
- ILIKEPONIES 9y ago
  Indeed was purchased by Recruit Holdings, which is a massive Japanese conglomerate. As far as I'm aware, it has been a success. http://www.recruit-rgf.com/ http://www.recruit-rgf.com/
  - vram22 9y ago
    Interesting ...
9y ago