Comments on: Facebook Should Be Better at Search http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/ Driving Innovation Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:43:00 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-13144 Jake Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:23:48 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-13144 Sure, that works too. They still fail at search and should be better, regardless of the algorithm specifics. Sure, that works too. They still fail at search and should be better, regardless of the algorithm specifics.

]]> By: Gary http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-13143 Gary Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:13:24 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-13143 "I’m more likely to be looking for Frank Joneses who are close to my age than for those who haven’t graduated from high school."<br>Not convinced on 'age' profiling. I think it would be more effective based on a 'degree of separation'. If you know 'Fred' and 'Fred' knows 'Tom' and 'Tom' knows a 'Frank Jones', then there's a good chance it is the same Frank (and more so if you and Tom have other friends in common. Maybe you actually know Tom but actively don't want him as a facebook friend). “I’m more likely to be looking for Frank Joneses who are close to my age than for those who haven’t graduated from high school.”
Not convinced on 'age' profiling. I think it would be more effective based on a 'degree of separation'. If you know 'Fred' and 'Fred' knows 'Tom' and 'Tom' knows a 'Frank Jones', then there's a good chance it is the same Frank (and more so if you and Tom have other friends in common. Maybe you actually know Tom but actively don't want him as a facebook friend).

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-10785 Jake Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:23:48 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-10785 Sure, that works too. They still fail at search and should be better, regardless of the algorithm specifics. Sure, that works too. They still fail at search and should be better, regardless of the algorithm specifics.

]]> By: Gary http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-10783 Gary Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:13:24 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-10783 "I’m more likely to be looking for Frank Joneses who are close to my age than for those who haven’t graduated from high school."<br>Not convinced on 'age' profiling. I think it would be more effective based on a 'degree of separation'. If you know 'Fred' and 'Fred' knows 'Tom' and 'Tom' knows a 'Frank Jones', then there's a good chance it is the same Frank (and more so if you and Tom have other friends in common. Maybe you actually know Tom but actively don't want him as a facebook friend). “I’m more likely to be looking for Frank Joneses who are close to my age than for those who haven’t graduated from high school.”
Not convinced on 'age' profiling. I think it would be more effective based on a 'degree of separation'. If you know 'Fred' and 'Fred' knows 'Tom' and 'Tom' knows a 'Frank Jones', then there's a good chance it is the same Frank (and more so if you and Tom have other friends in common. Maybe you actually know Tom but actively don't want him as a facebook friend).

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-10698 Jake Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:29:58 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-10698 Good comparison. Beyond rocking awesome people search, the search and profile metadata should make their web searches rock too. If you're MSFT, you face an uphill battle with Bing vs. Google, so why not change the playing field to provide better search results with a social dimension? Good comparison. Beyond rocking awesome people search, the search and profile metadata should make their web searches rock too. If you're MSFT, you face an uphill battle with Bing vs. Google, so why not change the playing field to provide better search results with a social dimension?

]]> By: Jim http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-10693 Jim Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:05:03 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-10693 Good point about Facebook. I find the people search pretty useless. It's a bit like not being able to find books easily on Amazon... Good point about Facebook. I find the people search pretty useless. It's a bit like not being able to find books easily on Amazon…

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-10681 Jake Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:12:36 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-10681 They should be better at both search and advertising, both of which suck right now. These areas just so happen to be the ones where Google built an empire, and not by accident. <br><br>Classically, Google knows stuff about you based on your keyword searches. They serve you ads, you find stuff for free. Win.<br><br>Facebook should do a better job at this because their data are much better about you b/c you told them. Google has to guess and make assumptions. Case in point: searching for animal traps doesn't mean you're a hunter. Google doesn't know you're a member of the SPCA, but Facebook might.<br><br>Sure, users are hooked, but they don't live in Facebook. That's MZ's goal. With awesome search (for people and web) and targeted ads, they could provide a viable replacement for Google. They should be better at both search and advertising, both of which suck right now. These areas just so happen to be the ones where Google built an empire, and not by accident.

Classically, Google knows stuff about you based on your keyword searches. They serve you ads, you find stuff for free. Win.

Facebook should do a better job at this because their data are much better about you b/c you told them. Google has to guess and make assumptions. Case in point: searching for animal traps doesn't mean you're a hunter. Google doesn't know you're a member of the SPCA, but Facebook might.

Sure, users are hooked, but they don't live in Facebook. That's MZ's goal. With awesome search (for people and web) and targeted ads, they could provide a viable replacement for Google.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-10680 Jake Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:06:07 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-10680 I just think their search is horrible and should be awesome. I'll bet you'd use it more if it were really good. As the biggest collection of profiles around, you'd think they would use all that UGC to get a leg up on Google in areas where it hurts, like search and advertising. I just think their search is horrible and should be awesome. I'll bet you'd use it more if it were really good. As the biggest collection of profiles around, you'd think they would use all that UGC to get a leg up on Google in areas where it hurts, like search and advertising.

]]> By: Daily Digest for December 28th | My Blog http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-10678 Daily Digest for December 28th | My Blog Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:14:44 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-10678 [...] Shared Facebook Should Be Better at Search. [...] [...] Shared Facebook Should Be Better at Search. [...]

]]> By: jpiwowar http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-10675 jpiwowar Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:36:33 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-10675 I agree with your "social search as next big thing" premise, and can see the value of social/personalized search. My inner cynic, however, completely understands the reason for Facebook failing at people search. Helping end users succeed at people search is low-leverage, particularly at this point in Facebook's evolution. Consider: Everyone and their cat is pretty much already on Facebook. Those coming late to the party are probably joining at the invitation of a friend/co-worker/relative who's already connected. By the time the n00b gets done mining his addressbook and his inviter's already-established network for contacts, he's already hooked. If he decides to go searching for long-lost high school buddies in between uploading profile pics and virtually sending people beers/slapping people with fish, then while he's crawling through page after 20-record-at-a-time page of "John Smiths," Facebook is serving up lots of ads. The searcher might get bored with the search, but he's less likely to abandon the site altogether.<br><br>I'm guessing that there are already algorithms in place or at least in the works for social search that will actually help FB make money. :) I agree with your “social search as next big thing” premise, and can see the value of social/personalized search. My inner cynic, however, completely understands the reason for Facebook failing at people search. Helping end users succeed at people search is low-leverage, particularly at this point in Facebook's evolution. Consider: Everyone and their cat is pretty much already on Facebook. Those coming late to the party are probably joining at the invitation of a friend/co-worker/relative who's already connected. By the time the n00b gets done mining his addressbook and his inviter's already-established network for contacts, he's already hooked. If he decides to go searching for long-lost high school buddies in between uploading profile pics and virtually sending people beers/slapping people with fish, then while he's crawling through page after 20-record-at-a-time page of “John Smiths,” Facebook is serving up lots of ads. The searcher might get bored with the search, but he's less likely to abandon the site altogether.

I'm guessing that there are already algorithms in place or at least in the works for social search that will actually help FB make money. :)

]]> By: surachart http://theappslab.com/2009/12/28/facebook-should-be-better-at-search/comment-page-1/#comment-10673 surachart Tue, 29 Dec 2009 01:39:35 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=4122#comment-10673 I'm not sure about facebook search. I hope facebook could make privacy between groups.<br>why I think like that . I use facebook to communicate with someone work like me, friends and ... I use it to play games. I'm not sure about facebook search. I hope facebook could make privacy between groups.
why I think like that . I use facebook to communicate with someone work like me, friends and … I use it to play games.

]]>