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Like many people, I have a vague idea about how Google goes about generating its search results.  I am also aware that many firms employ search engine optimization (SEO) tactics to try to climb high in the Google search rankings.  This article “The Dirty Little Secrets of Search” (New York Times, February 12, 2011).  gets behind the scenes and describes how J.C. Penney climbed its way to the top of the search charts.  The article is kind of long, and goes well beyond what we might typically cover in an introductory marketing class.  But for many firms, especially online retailers, SEO can be a very important source of customers.  This behind the scenes peak is fascinating.  It raises ethical questions, too.

I find it interesting to see concepts we teach applied in unique contexts.  This article (“How Google Got Its New Look,“ Bloomberg Businessweek, May 5, 2010) describes the process Google used to develop its new search results page.  You can recognize some of the stages of the new product development process.  Could provide a nice example to use when discussing NPD.

This is pretty amazing, especially when you look at the graph below.  There are a lot of articles on this recent bit of news, here is an article from Fortune (March 17, 2010) “How Facebook overtook Google to be the top spot on the Internet.”  Where are we headed?   Interesting example to use when discussing competition, the Internet, or social media.  Note – this is only in the United States.