Matt Waterman has been internet marketing since 1994 for many global multinational corporations around the world.. 
Google Sidewiki – New Tool – Side wiki Install
October 13th, 2009 by Matt WatermanGoogle has set up a controversial new tool that permits the public to comment about any web site in a side bar displayed in their web browser. I think this tool will open a wave of problems with spammers talking rubbish about great sites, there is also nothing stopping someone’s competitor using this tool under lots of Gmail id’s and creating a hate campaign against its rivals.
Google Sidewiki, the tool is integrated in the latest version of Google Toolbar and works with both Firefox and Internet Explorer but ironically, not yet Google Chrome. To use Sidewiki, download the most recent version of the Google Toolbar and set it to enhanced.
Once activated, Sidewiki glides across from the left and becomes an browser sidebar, where you can compose entries in a vertical column and read the entries of other people. To activate Sidewiki, you simply click on the Sidewiki button in your Toolbar menu or the little talk bubble on the left hand side of your screen.
Google sidewike also lets you share information about a website with other users on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Blogger and Google profiles.
Try it here – Google Sidewiki
Tags: Google Side wiki, Google Sidewiki, Search Engine Optimisation, Search Engine Optimization, SEO, SEO Australia, SEO Consult, Side wiki seo, Sidewiki, Website Optimisation, Website Optimization
September 29th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
This article hits the nail on the head.
October 1st, 2009 at 3:52 am
I agree with you on this one. It opens up many avenues to trouble
October 4th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Yeah this thing can be good or bad. If you’re in the “bad” camp, I found this post that explains how to stop sidewiki from working on your site. Avoids spam etc.
http://www.sidewikispam.com/#1254654072876
Not sure about all the ins and outs yet, but…sidewikis do get ranking, so it could be used to your advantage.
Jan
October 15th, 2009 at 2:31 am
I see no difference between Sidewiki and other avenues of online communication. Yes, it decides what “thread” you’re viewing based on what site you’re viewing, but other than that it’s an ordinary tool of communication. Sidewiki is just like a bulletin board or an IRC chat, in that yes, it CAN be misused for spam or slander, but honestly, all this uproar smacks of censorship and it kind of creeps me out.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I haven’t tried it, but it is a choice. If you enjoy reading what others have to say or express your own opinions then that’s okay. It would be the same as if you were talking to each other on the street, only in this case, the conversation occurs over the Internet with people that you’ve never met. Your thoughts can be available to billions of people, all over the world. I would call it freedom of speech at it’s best.
I also think that each website owner should have the right to monitor the blogs and delete or respond to the blogs as they see fit. Of course, positive posts are always nice, but the negative ones can serve a purpose. They can use these negative posts as suggestions as how to improve the website or how to conduct their web business.
Of course, many bloggers say some nasty things that could be damaging to the website owner, but are without merit. A site owner has to be allowed to delete these and ban the blogger from posting on that side wiki again.
As for a site owner that doesn’t want the side wiki to come up when people view their site, I understand their position. They could be a fair and honest company and could be driven out of business by a few angry bloogers. Many people slander others in the course of an average day on the Internet. Slanders can unfairly hurt reputations and the only recourse of an online business would be law suits against the slanderer. Side wiki could potentially indirectly cause trouble for many people. I would also think the side wiki could also be sued as a contributor to this problem. Therefore, I think it is in best interest of side wiki to allow web sites to op out this feature. One last thing, It would be nice if, for the sites that op out, side wiki would put a response box up so that people can communicate directly with the company.
If you want to see how hateful people can be, just go to some of the news sites that allow blogging. Many responses show no cognitive effort at understanding the issue and they just burp out some gut reaction. These types of posts are very annoying. They just clog up the flow of learning about the issues and the sharing of constructive thoughts. Not good!
I fully support side wiki in this endeavor and hopefully, the posters can use this as a sounding board for exchanging intelligent conversation.
November 1st, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Thank you Steven, what a great comment
January 4th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
I’m getting just about sick of the Google/Wiki/Youtube/Facebook monopoly over the net and their move for absolute control. Who the f asked us if we wanted sidewiki? But what’s the betting it will become widespread and accepted?
It’s too late for me, my shiz is well and truly all over the internet, but if anyone is just starting out a site I truly advice going as anonymous as possible.
It really is turning in to evil sci-fi Orwell shiz.
January 11th, 2010 at 9:23 am
google side wiki feature is awesome. Keep improve it.