'I'm feeling lucky' button costs Google $110 million per year
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Based on the total revenues of Google from its search site, this 1 per cent search via the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button leads to $110 million in annual revenue lost according to Valleywag. When you hit this button, Google will find the best result of your search query and take you to the site directly -- no need for additional clicks.
When Sergey Brin and Larry Page started Google, they wanted it to be the best in the search business, and so it was their ambition to get the best result in the first link, or in the first page itself. In other search engines, one has to browse more pages to get the best results. But this presents a disadvantage for Google because the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button will lead the user to a third-party site directly and bypass all ads and advertisers. Because of that, Google will lose potential revenue to be earned from users clicking on ads, in this case $110 million per year. So, one may ask why Google still keeps this button despite losing so much money. Marissa Mayer explains at Marketplace:It's possible to become too dry, too corporate, too much about making money. I think what's delightful about 'I'm Feeling Lucky' is that it reminds you there are real people here," This button may lose money for Google, but for every lost dollar there is a positive side: more users are happy with the Google experience and are more likely to return to use Google Search. And in most cases, many users don’t use this button all the time, so Google gains in the end. There is also another feature in Firefox that will do the same as this “I’m Feeling Lucky” button, which uses Google to get the results. It is called “Browse by Name” feature: Just type the actual search keyword directly on the URL (http://...) and it will take you to that site directly. Here are the actual codes for the two features when you search for "Yahoo Mail" in Google: I'm Feeling Lucky: http://google.com/search?btnI=1&q=yahoo+mail Browse by Name: http://google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=mail http://google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=yahoo+mail
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Comments
are you feeling lucky? I do not use the button, Now I'll give it a try.
Interesting...Personally, Im not lucky enough to use that button..I try and it fails me everytime!!
Rarely use it! Great hub.
Thanks Jstankevicz, sometimes it helps, this lucky button assigns to the top page Google consider it as best with backlinks. It is not perfect, but when we are in a hurry we can do this it helps.
Hi Bob, Also use Google Toolbar, it is a great tool. You have 100s of search options and productivity tools. http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/toolbar/FT3/in
Compu-Smart, it is not the best yet, I wish there was some kind of digg like voting to choose the best results, but since there will be too much manipulation, Google may not try that. But for relevant keyword terms these are good. For example Google Toolbar, you just want to visit Google not any other sites, so it limits most of the time to the main article.
Thanks Mary, sometimes it is useful, sometimes it isn't but if you want quick answers you can try it.
Have never used it. As previously mentioned I like seeing other areas and get absorbed in the research.
Will give it ago
I have never actually clicked on the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button. I'm amazed to find so many people do. I use the search engines because I'm looking for multiple options generally.
I've used it once or twice, and couldn't see the point. They ought to just make more money!
I only use it when I know what the first result is for a particular search like if I search for 'adsense' because I cant remember the adsense url, I know it will take me directly to the Google Adsense page. I never thought about this though.
The main idea behind the "I'm Feeling Lucky" is to get the best result at the beginning itself. That is the reason they did it, sometimes it gives great results sometimes it doesn't.
$110 million dollar button- that's something else. Oh well, Google doesn't lose money with me. I have never clicked the Lucky Button.
Thanks Angela, sometimes it comes in handy. Thanks.
Very interesting little nugget. Thanks.
I'm a great fan of Browse by Name. You can set it up in any browser as your default search engine, use this as the search URL:
Thanks Pies for your comment, I will check it out.
I was never even certain what this button did. Now, I'll try it and see what happens. Thanks!
Hey cgull - didn't realise there was such a human side to th great Google! I like that button - though it doesn't always work for me!
I had wondered what the difference between the two button choices was, but never actually cared enough to experiment with it. With as much blank space as Google has on their page, you'd think they could make a bigger button that actually described what it each button does. They probably teach that in kindergarten these days.
Thanks guys for the comments, I use Google Toolbar now they are very useful, you can search different types in one places such as images, videos, shopping, Wikipedia etc. Please try it.
jstankevicz says:
2 years ago
Interesting. I never use that button! Always felt I wanted to look at several choices and pick one. I'll pay more attention, but my sense is that I often start with a search hit other than number one? Also, since searching for me is generally research rather than lookup, I genrally look at more than one page, so the "Lucky" botton seems limiting.