Comments on: Google Hotpot Recommendations Now Surfacing on Places Page and Maps

By: Google Places: Are Ratings the New Reviews? | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:01:11 +0000

[...] noted the other day that Google was integrating HotSpot friend recommendations in personalized Map results. They are also now including a new rating level with an eye-catching [...]

By: nanomano

nanomano — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:03:52 +0000

May not be a Yelp killer, but it does have the potential to put them on life support. This is big and Google knows it! Kudo’s

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:39:04 +0000

@Stever

For me it is a grand experiment in Search Interface Design and a continuation of their successful foray gathering reviews. If it succeeds at social all the better but not a requirement to call it a victory.

By: Stever

Stever — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:36:49 +0000

Hard to create a facebook killer. But will this be a Yelp killer? When Hotpot was first released and I was scanning over all the posts and articles on it my first thoughts were that Yelp was toast and should have taken that buyout offer when they had the chance. But after playing with it for a bit I’m not quite sure it will be the demise of Yelp, but will at least sting them a bit over time.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:32:01 +0000

@David
Thanks

On the name thing…I have struggled with “Blumenthals.com” for years. At first adding detail and now taking it away so as not to muddy too much the rapid changes in our business… Although this problem is much worse in technology than any other field.

@Stever
I am convinced on this one that regardless the evolution and or demise of Hotpot in particular, Google wins. “Google Local” no longer exists but its impact on Google has been huge. This will function much the same way.

Regardless of the final landing spot for HotPot, the data collected and the process started will do several things… allow Google to improve search results and increase social interactions with their platform… they don’t need a facebook killer to come away from this in great shape…

By: Stever

Stever — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:21:38 +0000

@Mike, true it may not need a big critical mass, but it could still flop like Wave did. Interface does look like some chintzy homemade site by a newbie web designer. But at same time is very simple and user friendly.

By: David Mihm

David Mihm — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:21:32 +0000

Mike, nice post.

I agree that a few personalized suggestions here or there with HotPot could really bring things to a rolling boil, so to speak.

Complete side note. It’s funny. I incorporated my business just over two years ago w/the State of Oregon as above & two years later, the first half of my business name is irrelevant. But it’s not like I have time to go re-file the paperwork. It speaks to your continued point, Mike, about really getting things right with your business name the first time.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:20:43 +0000

@Lauren

It won’t show your user name unless you choose to do so in your profile. The default is to not show it so you have to make a conscious choice to show it.

By: Lauren R

Lauren R — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:15:39 +0000

I was playing with Hotpot when it was announced, and randomly commented on my hotel client to see how it works. My “free wifi” comment is now a comment on the hotel Places page under ‘Reviews by Google users’, but without showing my name as the user.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:01:05 +0000

I don’t see critical mass as necessary for this to succeed.

I see it as a virtuous cycle that will lead to ever increasing reviews, better recommendations and more social interactions.

Given the relatively large numbers of reviews in the system now, Google can improve recommendations. With improved recommendations (and subtle nagging like above), they will see more reviews and perhaps more social interactions…. this doesn’t require critical mass just increasing mass.