Google, Microsoft Moving Forward With Health Ventures


The International Herald Tribune reports (story also in the NY Times) on new developments at both Google and Microsoft concerning their health product strategies. The long-rumored Google Health is apparently almost here. (See screenshots at Google Blogoscoped.) Health care-related advertising and marketing is a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. and Google and Microsoft are seeking to get a chunk of that spending. There’s also high consumer demand for the information. At the same time, however, there are challenging issues surrounding government regulation, as well as issues of consumer trust and privacy that dwarf the current controversy associated with cookie retention.

Metrics firm comScore previously reported that 31 percent of the total U.S. Internet audience (55.3 million monthly U.S. uniques) visit sites in the online health segment. And JupiterResearch found that 71 percent of consumers use search engines to find health-related information (with varying degrees of success).

Google recently invested in biotech firm 23andMe, which seeks to “help you make sense of your own genetic information . . . [and] put your genome into the larger context of human commonality and diversity.” And Microsoft recently acquired health search engine Medstory as part of a key verticals strategy. Here’s previous coverage of Google Health.

Despite the fact that that online health is a competitive segment with established leaders, such as WebMD, the usage of search engines as a consumer starting point for health information means that Google and Microsoft have a big opportunity, provided they can get the privacy issues right, and balance consumer interests against the potential ad dollars.



Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land, and writes a personal blog Screenwerk, examining the broader world of media and advertising. He also posts at a Local Mobile Search, which is focused on the mobile Internet.

See more articles by Greg Sterling >


Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:


Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter


See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Google: Health, Microsoft: Other Search sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!

Comments are closed.


RECENT COMMENTS

  • dian said " I haven't tried that yet but if it is the way Mazter is saying I think it won't going to do any good"
  • dian said " It really helps me a lot. The methods step by step explained the important factors easily and all th"
  • T Campbell said " Ah, that's SPIDER-Man, said the comics guy."

See All »


FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!

Stay on top of all the search news with our daily summary, the SearchCap newsletter. View a sample ›

STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY

RSS Feeds

The Search Engine Land feed keeps you informed as news happens. SEE ALL FEEDS »

Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences

Advertise With Us »

Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.


SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »


Join us at an upcoming SMX event:

Search Marketing Now Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:


See more webcast topics »

TRACK US SOCIALLY
Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences

Get Your Search Engine Land
Premium Membership!

Become a premium member today and receive:

  • Express commenting privileges & photo.
  • Exclusive videos & newsletters.
  • Discounts to our SMX conferences.
  • Access to "How To" & Other Archives.

Learn More

Upcoming Search Engine Land Conferences
Add to GoogleAdd to My Yahoo!Add to BloglinesAdd to NetvibesAdd to Windows Live