01
Oct
2009
What is Sidewiki?
Google’s Sidewiki focuses on the idea that lots of different people visit the same websites for the same information…and may possibly have other important knowledge to contribute to other visitors that the site’s creator didn’t include. This includes research, reviews, comments, testimonials, and so on. Anyone, by downloading the plugin, can comment and see what others are saying–good and bad–about any web page at any time. This is a potential game changer for the online user experience and essential for businesses to monitor for reputation management.
On web pages, Google uses an algorithm to decide which comments go at the top. And Google, not the site owner, decides which content must be taken down because it’s inappropriate. The only control a website owner comes by verifying their Google account as the owner of the site in Webmasters, allowing them to get primary placement of their own comments above other comments on their verified websites, as well as the ability to leave comments as the business on other sites.
How do get started?
- Sign up with a Google account.
- Verify your site in Google Webmaster (click Add a Site, then add the Meta Code provided to the home page of your website; once added, click Verify).
- Sign up and download Sidewiki
- Go to your website, open Sidewiki, and add a comment. If you don’t see a box that allows you to check “Write the page as owner,” something went wrong.
- Don’t go crazy, try just leaving a welcoming comment with a very short message. Also, as you comment on other sites, always keep in mind the Golden Rule.
Play fair, but nice.
