WDYL.com is a new Google site that provides a contextual search experience by pulling together content about search queries from various Google products and tools like Maps, YouTube, Blogger, and Google Books. It is intended to showcase Google's diverse search capabilities and strengthen emotional connections between users and Google. However, the site currently lacks many expected search features and the relevance of some included tools is limited. While aimed at introducing users to Google offerings, it may not serve as an effective research tool in its current form. The launch appears to be a marketing effort by Google as opposed to a fully-functional search product.

1. What is www.wdyl.com? (And what does it mean for Google?) Google & the Contextual Search StoryAlice Lee | 6/29/2011

2. This presentation will tell you: What WDYL.com is, given its recent leak via TechCrunch on 6/27 Its implications as a part of a larger marketing push by Google

3. History: Google & Contextual Search Marketing Ploys: WDYL: What do you love? Establishes connection between “the things that you love” and “how you can use Google Search tools” to imply: “Search for the things that you love on Google” Amalgamation of search content, image, news, trends, video, mobile, etc. responses about given queries to showcase diversity of tools Soft launch few days back, formal launch in coming week: some parts are nonfunctional Youtube Search Stories Heartwarming/clever stories that illustrate how Google Search enhanced an individual’s connection to the important things in their life Search Tools Google Insights for Search: pointed search iGoogle: “self-curating” feed

4. Google Tools

6. Maps

7. Youtube

8. SketchUp(3D)

9. Blogger

10. Calendar

11. Patent Search

12. Chrome

13. Books

14. Translate

15. Image Search

16. Mobile

17. Trends

18. Gmail

19. NewsPersonal history context: auto-suggests search terms on home page

20. Deep Dive Overview Messaging Functional Purpose Inconspicuously Absent Features Weaknesses: WDYL’s shortfalls Differentiation: What this means for Bing

21. Overview General web consensus that this is a marketing push rather than a functional tool Lacking functionality because leaked on TechCrunch at 11PM on 6/27 Some content portals not very relevant to most queries (ie. Maps) Has more of a “Wow” factor and potential application of the entire toolset is very niche (ie. research projects) Portal pulling feeds from various Google content sources based on search (“Googling Google products”) Two types of feeds: Search tools: News, Image, News, Trends, Video Consumer tools (extraneous relevance): Maps, Events, Marketplace Organizationally: No hierarchy or priority ordering given to specific feeds (even though some more relevant than others) Blanket search across all platforms (no customization based on what you’re searching. Ie. search “apple” and Calendar will input “Date with Apple”)

22. Messaging Messaging: Consumers should use Google Search tools to learn more about and get closer to the things that they love Impliesconnection between what you love and using Google tools to enhance that experience Strengthens emotional tie to Google (also established through “Search Stories” campaign), making consumers more likely to use it

23. Functional Purpose “Big Picture Search”: A “contextual” look at chosen topic via different media Marketing Ploy: Another “quirky” initiative (“What do you love?” by nature is a playful title) by Google Educational: Way to familiarize/introduce Google users with/to different tool offerings Search Piggyback: Drive users of search onto other lesser-used niche search products (ie. Patent Search, SketchUp 3D service, etc.) Consumer Integration: Showcase search tools (images, news) with consumer products (Gmail, Calendar, Events)

24. Inconspicuously Absent Content Search | Doesn’t actually pull from Google.com search Social Media | Google Buzz feed – although Blogs Search is available + Buzz share button on left. No apparent search integration with Google+ feeds Personal Search | Doesn’t search thru personal mail, search history, etc. Perhaps lesson learned from Buzz (although Google+ settings are defaulted to public) Incomplete Functionality (due to leak) Marketplace (product search on its own yields results for Microsoft organically) Groups yields no Discussion activities

25. Weaknesses Weaknesses: Not an actual tool for research Low discoverability of most relevant content due to lack of prioritized feed organization Some components not actually relevant to most searches (ie. “Maps” and “Earth” only useful for location queries) Unappealing for users who try to use this as a research tool “More Coming Soon”: Ability to customize page to add/remove your own Google product widgets, ie. “Scholar” reserves if working on research project Left-hand scrollbar implies even more GS features to be added

26. Messaging Differentiation Highlights differences between MS and Google Search positioning: MS: Bing/FB recommendation feature Messaging points more heavily towards community-based experience of search “Find what your friends love, found relevant, and shared” Google/wdyl/Google+ New +1 sharing feature: community-based but messaging still revolves around the individual (ie. Google+ creates a “dashboard” of likes for each individual user) “What do you love? Let us help you find out more about this.”