Google’s New Toolbar with Sidewiki is an interesting tool that can have great impact on the way people comment on blogs and websites (even if the websites do not provide commenting options).
Google describe Sidewiki as: “Google Sidewiki is a browser sidebar that lets you contribute and read information alongside any web page.”
So, basically it’s a tool that allows you to leave comments on any website or page on the net. And anybody who has (New) Google Toolbar installed on their browser can see your comments that you left for that particular page.
What If I am The Owner of The Page (Blog)?
If you own the page, your comment will be displayed on top of all the other comments. So, this is a little privilege that you get by being the owner of the page. You can post a ‘welcome message’! (see below).
In order to inform Google that you are the owner of the URL, you need to:
- Add and verify your site in Google Webmaster Tools. This process links your site to your Google Account.
- Once a site is linked to your Google Account, visit your page and click the Sidewiki button to create an entry.
- Select the ‘Write as the page owner’ checkbox in the entry form.
- Click Publish.
Some Random Thoughts…
Few things come to in mind with the introduction of this Sidewiki.
- You can now comment on any page.
- You can now benefit from the comments of other people on particular pages/sites. You can read:
- unbiased product reviews by actual people,
- will be able to find out if the sites are ‘scam’ or ‘illegal’ sites.
- find out better deals from other people’s comments on e-commerce sites. Normally, sites wouldn’t link to competitors’ products ;)
- If you are blogger or website owner, it also means goodbye “comment moderation”. You are no longer in control of your comments, at least as far as Sidewiki is concerned (you have this much control).
- Just like in blog comments, bloggers can use Sidewiki to their advantage to promote their blogs by leaving comments on other blogs.
- Spam will be an issue. As usual.
- This is a speculation but Google actually might use the comments (Sidewiki) to improve its Search Results in the future. For example, if people comment that particular site is a scam site and let’s say there are 200 such comments by actual people who have been cheated by this website. Then Google might ban this website from its Search Results and Indexing. Thus improving its Search Results!
I personally believe Google is moving in that direction, where the mass help improve Google its Search Results. As you know Google is already using people to improve its results, at least on personal level for the time being. (see below):
But I think it’s just a matter of time before they go public with this feature i.e meaning that people’s actions on search results promoting some sites and dropping some sites, will actually affect Google’s Search Results in the future.
What’s your thoughts on this? Comments both on the blog and Sidewiki are welcome :)
Thanks for sharing such a great idea. I shall give it a try shortly. I shall then keep you posted of the development.
You always provide very useful and worthy tips and tools for blogging. Like this one.
Hi Ades,
I would say it’s an amazing review, where it’s not just information but some special effects that make it amazing are:
1. Simplification
2. Value & utility for readers
3. Backlinks
4. Owner’s opinion.
Very Cool tool, although my page just keeps getting smaller with all these addons :)
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Hey Ades,
SideWiki looks like a wondrful tool, as it will help the blog readers to reach out to the post which are valuable to them and on which he can comment and get the benefits of knowing the blogger community.
This is a wonderful information. I have downloaded the sidewiki and enjoying the ravishing features of this tool.
Thanks for this wonderful information.
Sidewiki is nice tool, like it.
Sidewiki is a great way of getting more information to make Google’s returned search results more relevant and to thus enhance user experience. Will they ever stop gobbling up more and more data? Never!
interesting. I like to try it.
Thanks for your comments guys!
I think this is a great addition to the Google Toolbar, but I don’t foresee the “promote” button having an effect on the search rankings, otherwise.. this could be an easy to take advantage of factor in the ranking. And I know Google isn’t a fan of “gaming”.
Till then,
Jean
good review. But i’m not interested to change anything.
Good explanation about Google sidewiki and how it works. It’s great tool.
haha I like the comment of “used tires”, and I agree with that.
Google sidewiki is interesting Google Toolbar addition. The whole thing is little misleading buzz when they say : “You can now comment on any page”! I can also comment on any page on a piece of paper on my table where anyone in my house can see.
This is just G Toolbar promotion, nothing more.
Hey Ades,
This is a amazing tool, I am using it right now to post this comment.
SideWiki saves a lot of time by preventing typing the names and Urls again and again.
Thanks for introducing this magical tool.
I think this tool is an infringement on people’s personal web space. What gives google the right to allow comments on someone else’s content..without the owner’s consent.
This tool seems to have some benefits but it seems like it is an easy way to spam popular websites.
Nice review about this new Google toolbar. It’s good to know that Google has developed another useful toolbar. Thanks for sharing the info.
Thanks for the information, I dont usually use the Google toolbar, but maybe I should now….its been ages since I have.
I wonder if displays on the top of the other blogs too.
This is an interesting concept, especially for those people that do not have a regular blog style website, but who would like to have more audience interaction. I’d like to see how popular this becomes. Go Google!
Pretty neat little tool, I wouldn’t have know about it unless you did an article on it, well done. Thanks Ades.
Sounds very useful! Will download it now! Thanks
I wonder what percentage of people actually have the new toolbar installed? 20% ?
Hi Ades,
Thanks for this review – sidewiki isn’t something I had ever heard of before but if it can help my site get more comments and views from regular bloggers I’m willing to give it a go.
I’ll install it and see what happens.
Thanks again.
This artickle was very useful! I Will download it now! Thanks verry much
I wonder if Google will take any steps to merge Sidewiki with the “promote,” “comment,” and “remove” buttons on each item in its SERPs.
marcus@how to make money@ You are right my friend every thing has advantage and disadvantage both and it depends on us that how we use that.
I tried to install the Google Toolbar on Chrome. I’m kind of surprised that the Google Toolbar (Sidewiki too) only works with Internet Explorer 6+ or Firefox 2+.
Sometimes it seems like Google launched Chrome and then forgot about it.
@Minnesota Attorney, as far as I know Google Chrome is still in Beta, which is likely why it takes longer for things to work on there compared to other browsers, Less Market Share… therefore less of a priority to get it to work on the browser, is my theory.
Till then,
Jean
ehmmmm..interesting. You really update with something like this! :)
Never used before…but I think it worth trying
Never try. But i know this is latest news from google.
I have installed google sidewiki on my browser. This is really very nice product from google. We can make comment on any website or blog, which appear left side of our page. Its really very fantastic tool.
This is a very cool feature that I’m sure many people have wanted for a while. Unfortunately the average internet user probably does not even know about Google Sidewiki yet. So it will take some time before it catches on and is actually used by the masses. It will be interesting how they prevent people from spamming their competitor’s sidewikis.
This is really a cool feature. Seems that Google is moving from a social media stand point in toolbar applications.
Never used before. Who knows maybe some day it was useful tool for me.