DISQUS

VentureBeat: The Google API kerfuffle, and what it means for startups

  • Chris Zaharias · 3 years ago
    I'm glad Google's charging for AdWords API access; that'll keep VC's from pumping even more dumb money into the search mgmt space than is there already. You're right, though, in that Google is hurting their advertisers. They would rather advertisers trust G's broad matching than let the advertiser do the targeting themselves via Exact Match.
  • D G · 3 years ago
    Parasite should be taxed at least if they live well off the host. API to internal addresses integration and interoperability; to external, it meant bait and potential revenue stream.
  • Jack · 3 years ago
    It doesn't matter what's "available" or not available...if there's demand to use google's results (or anyone else's) somebody will figure it out...take http://www.srchr.com for example.
  • eWhisper · 2 years ago
    Google seems to be dividing the API users into 'platforms' and 'customers'.

    Customers who develop the API for their own spend may not incur all of the costs than an agency or platform does.

    Platforms and agencies are stuck with all of the costs regardless of their acting on behalf of a customer.

    The effect on this is that small businesses who rely on more technical 3rd party tools or agencies are being hurt by this decision.

    The SEM growth is small businesses - it's really unclear why Google is isolating them.
  • webprofessor · 2 years ago
    Basing part of your business off of free tools of obvious value and not expecting that somewhere down the line that the free part might get scribbled out is short sighted.

    I personally welcome the change. When the API first came out I worried that every one and there brother would be able to generate long tail campaigns. Not that the API is no longer free the value of having internal tools has increased.
  • Andrew Goodman · 2 years ago
    Re: "trusting Google's broad match".

    Chris, you left out phrase match. There's not as much need for trust there as I would assume that it works as billed.