By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
  • Analytics
    AnalyticsShow More
    AI analytics
    AI-Based Analytics Are Changing the Future of Credit Cards
    6 Min Read
    data overload showing data analytics
    How Does Next-Gen SIEM Prevent Data Overload For Security Analysts?
    8 Min Read
    hire a marketing agency with a background in data analytics
    5 Reasons to Hire a Marketing Agency that Knows Data Analytics
    7 Min Read
    predictive analytics for amazon pricing
    Using Predictive Analytics to Get the Best Deals on Amazon
    8 Min Read
    data science anayst
    Growing Demand for Data Science & Data Analyst Roles
    6 Min Read
  • Big Data
  • BI
  • Exclusive
  • IT
  • Marketing
  • Software
Search
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Reference vs. Referral
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
Aa
Search
  • About
  • Help
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
SmartData Collective > Big Data > Data Mining > Reference vs. Referral
Data Mining

Reference vs. Referral

Daniel Tunkelang
Last updated: 2009/04/10 at 5:07 AM
Daniel Tunkelang
4 Min Read
SHARE

I just read an interesting “guessay” by designer Joshua Porter entitled “The Slow Erosion of Google Search“–which in turn cites an insightful essay by Brynn Evans, “Why social search won’t topple Google (anytime soon)“. Brynn’s tweet alerted me to the Porter essay, which just shows that social media can have directed cycles!

But what really caught my attention was the following comment by Mike Susz on Porter’s post:

google vs. social media is the difference between reference, and referral.

google is a reference, and to find accurate info relies on you being able to boil down what you’re looking for to a very small amount of words that hold lots of meaning.

More Read

google ai technology

Understanding Google’s AI SERP Algorithms is Key to Successful SEO Strategies

10 Tips on Getting More Out of Google Analytics
Google Uses Machine Learning To Combat Low Quality Link Spam
BigQuery Service: Next Big Thing Unveiled By Google on Big Data
5 Key Takeaways for Businesses from Google I/O 2015

there is no other context – it’s like looking something up in the dictionary. unless you can already succinctly describe what you’re looking for in very few distinctive terms, you won’t find what you need.

social media adds incredibly value context to your search – from your ability to elaborate more (within reason) to being able to disambiguate terms.

even your relationships themselves add infinitely valuable context – your contacts know what you do for a living, the techni…

I just read an interesting “guessay” by designer Joshua Porter entitled “The Slow Erosion of Google Search“–which in turn cites an insightful essay by Brynn Evans, “Why social search won’t topple Google (anytime soon)“. Brynn’s tweet alerted me to the Porter essay, which just shows that social media can have directed cycles!

But what really caught my attention was the following comment by Mike Susz on Porter’s post:

google vs. social media is the difference between reference, and referral.

google is a reference, and to find accurate info relies on you being able to boil down what you’re looking for to a very small amount of words that hold lots of meaning.

there is no other context – it’s like looking something up in the dictionary. unless you can already succinctly describe what you’re looking for in very few distinctive terms, you won’t find what you need.

social media adds incredibly value context to your search – from your ability to elaborate more (within reason) to being able to disambiguate terms.

even your relationships themselves add infinitely valuable context – your contacts know what you do for a living, the techniques or technologies you use, and might already have experience solving the same problems.

What a fantastic and concise explanation of the difference between the way people interact with conventional web search engines and the way they seek information through online communities like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Today I even had the opportunity to experience this difference first- hand: I used social search to replace my headphones. I first went to Hunch, which did a solid job of pointing me to a suitable pair of headphones. In fact, I ultimately purchased the headphones recommended as the 3rd of 53 possible choices. After getting recommendations from Hunch, I turned to Twitter, where I received a flurry of advice, as well as requests to share what I learned. Given that advice, I turned to a few ecommerce sites to follow up on a few candidates. And ultimately I bought a pair of headphones that will hopefully arrive before my current ones fall apart.

So, is Twitter a search engine after all? I still say no, but it certainly facilitates social search.

Link to original post

TAGGED: google, search
Daniel Tunkelang April 10, 2009
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn
Share

Follow us on Facebook

Latest News

Data Ethics: Safeguarding Privacy and Ensuring Responsible Data Practices
Data Ethics: Safeguarding Privacy and Ensuring Responsible Data Practices
Best Practices Big Data Data Collection Data Management Privacy
data protection for SMEs
8 Crucial Tips to Help SMEs Guard Against Data Breaches
Data Management
How AI is Boosting the Customer Support Game
How AI is Boosting the Customer Support Game
Artificial Intelligence
AI analytics
AI-Based Analytics Are Changing the Future of Credit Cards
Analytics Artificial Intelligence Exclusive

Stay Connected

1.2k Followers Like
33.7k Followers Follow
222 Followers Pin

You Might also Like

google ai technology
Exclusive

Understanding Google’s AI SERP Algorithms is Key to Successful SEO Strategies

9 Min Read
google analytics guideline
Analytics

10 Tips on Getting More Out of Google Analytics

6 Min Read
combat low quality link spam
Big DataExclusiveMachine Learning

Google Uses Machine Learning To Combat Low Quality Link Spam

6 Min Read
bigquery
Big DataCloud ComputingData Management

BigQuery Service: Next Big Thing Unveiled By Google on Big Data

6 Min Read

SmartData Collective is one of the largest & trusted community covering technical content about Big Data, BI, Cloud, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, IoT & more.

data-driven web design
5 Great Tips for Using Data Analytics for Website UX
Big Data
ai is improving the safety of cars
From Bolts to Bots: How AI Is Fortifying the Automotive Industry
Artificial Intelligence

Quick Link

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Go to mobile version
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?