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It was predictable when Google’s latest gadget was announced.  I have to admit, it was my first thought, “what? You mean if I sign up to this people can find out where I am 24/7? No thanks!”  But then I performed a quick test and worked out it was all completely user controlled and if you wanted, you could just set your location away from where you actually were.  But now, the privacy police are on the case, criticising Google Latitude (no, nothing to do with my employer!) and suggesting it is a breach of personal privacy.

Of course Google just aren’t that stupid.  They will have made sure every possible permutation was considered before launching Google Latitude to the public and I am sure it is all covered in their terms and conditions.

The fact of the matter is that for somebody to be able to follow your location on Google Latitude they have to:
1.    Know your log in email address
2.    Ask to know your location and be accepted by you!
So if you are stupid enough to share your location with someone who you shouldn’t, is this Googles fault?

I do have one question for Mr.Google though on their latest product.  Where would they stand if the police (or some higher authority) suspected me of doing naughty things and wanted access to my Google Latitude account?  Would they hand it over? I suspect they would.  So whilst I find the new toy from Google interesting and will continue to use it for the time being, I would be shying away from doing so if I had anything to hide.

Google has announced its genius solution to conundrum of how to get a return on its $1.6bn purchase of YouTube in 2006.  They have decided that the current rate of £25,000 a day for homepage advertising on the video sharing site is too cheap! And so they are putting the daily advertising rate up by 28% to £35,000. Genius!  OK, so they are making the homepage advertising options a little more interesting with expandable videos and potential full homepage takeovers but really, is this the best Google come up with?

Homepage takeovers and sponsorships are going to be the last thing on brand advertisers minds in times when return on advertising spend is more critical than ever.  Surely a more innovative and flexible advertising solution would have been a better option and attracted a broader range of advertisers rather than the few who are willing to fork out £35,000 for a days advertising.

The success of the latest Facebook and MySpace solutions is built on the fact they are flexible and accessible to all.  There are thousands of businesses out there who are dying to tap into the social media masses and they now can, through the latest Facebook and MySpace platforms.  This will keep the two networks going in a time when large budget advertisers are tightening the purse strings.  Who is going to be buying a £35,000 homepage takeover on YouTube when times are tight?

Unfortunately Google have dropped the ball with this one for me, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were heading back to the drawing board in 6 months time due to a lack of uptake on their latest proposition.

According to news reported last week on Search Engine Land Google is trialling a new budgeting option for Google Adwords to be known as timeframe.

Early reports indicate that, when selected, Google timeframe will automatically increase your Adwords daily budget if you are under spending against a budget allocate for a set timeframe.  How nice of Google!  They have invented an option to make sure you spend every last penny possible with them!  Doubtless this idea came from some senior member of the Google team looking at the total unspent budget allocations within the Adwords system.  Initial indications are unclear but I think you can be sure the system does not work the other way, reducing daily budgets when you are overspending against a monthly budget.  After all, if you budget runs out sooner, there’s a chance you will add more!

This new option will make little difference to the educated search marketer who should be using CPCs and not daily budgets to manage their campaigns (other than in exceptional circumstances) but it could mean that a lot of direct advertisers find very little left in their Google pot at the end of each month if they enable this new option.

I have just spoken to a representative at Google who has revealed that as of Monday they will be allowing gambling affiliates to advertise on Google Adwords!

The affiliates will have to agree to Google’s terms and conditions which will mean that the affiliate is responsible for ensuring the gambling sites they advertise are legitimate, therefore removing all liability from Google themselves!  Another requirement is that the affiliate is “adding to the user experience” and not simply showing details of a single gambling site or regurgitating website copy available elsewhere.  The word “comparison” came up on more than one occasion int he call and so affiliates comparing gambling programmes is clearly an area Google is thinking for the new sites they allow on board.

All campaigns will be manually approved by Google by a specialist gambling tema they have set up.

Who will qualify?

• affiliates comparing programmes or “adding value” to the user journey

Who wont qualify?

• Affiliates direct linking to gambling providers
• Affiliates copying or mirroring gambling sites or copy from gambling sites

So its open season for affiliates who meet the criteria and a potentially expensive time for gambling companies who’s own CPCs will rise and they will begin to see their affiliate commission payouts on the increase at the same time, double whammy!

Great work from Google with its latest push on gadgets for your Google homepage.

The guys at Google have built a landing page and gadgets section purely taregting those gadgets whichc fit in with your New Years Resolutions.  Whether your New Years Resolution is to ose weight, quit smoking, or excercise more, Google has it covered in this New Year’s Resolutions landing page.  A little helping hand from Google in the battle for a fitter/healthier/cheaper/happier/more organised 2009.

You can see the full page here.