Google has just changed the way it does business, and this is not only bad for businesses, but also for consumers. The tech giant says it’s part of its efforts to “address the quality of content that appears in search,” but that’s not what’s actually happening here.
Consumers use Google to shop, and when they do so, they are shown ads that generate significant revenue for Google.
Not so long ago, shoppers were seeing more product advice, and Google was leaving it up to others to recommend what to buy.
Google changes make finding coupons online nearly impossible
USA TODAY has a decades-long history of helping our customers live healthier, smarter financial lives through reports and other initiatives that inform personal choices about how they invest, save and spend. As part of these efforts, we have a dedicated team of journalists who cover the news, review products, help our readers find great deals on products and services, and offer coupons (such as this week’s updates from Google). We have a team of experts to help you. Many people rely on their families.
Today, coupons offered by newspaper websites are almost impossible to find on Google.
Reader coupons have been part of USA TODAY since 1982, long before Google existed.
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Consumers and retailers will lose out
If Google introduces policies that limit what consumers see when they search for deals, they may not be able to find the most valuable ones. From Google’s perspective, Google is trying to solve problems that exist within businesses in order to improve search results. But who is it good for?
Without a clear process in place, what they have done instead is wipe out professional adjudicators. This hurts families who need to save money and retailers who want to offer valuable discounts. Indeed, this has a negative impact on the entire consumer ecosystem.
The changes Google is making go far beyond just coupons, and these new policies don’t just affect the “big guys.” This will impact not only small and medium-sized businesses, but also the millions of people who rely on publications large and small. These actions will have a major impact on readers, consumers, and the broader concept of an open Internet.
Google has always built an ecosystem that works to its advantage. That dominance gives them power disproportionate to what people see in the marketplace of ideas, goods, and services.
What else will Google do to further impact our lives and our pocketbooks?
Scott Stein is vice president and general manager of USA TODAY.
