[Search-l] Mahalo Greenhouse

[Jason Calacanis]

On 6/13/07, Allen Stern <allen at centernetworks.com> wrote:
> There is a HUGE difference between paying someone to blog and paying
> someone for a search result page. I keep going back to my bias argument
> and it's even more evident here. A blog by it's nature is opinion based.
> Your search engine is supposed to be objective (which it isn't now).

I think we're very objective. Have you found anything that isn't? If
you find bias bring it up on the message board for that serp or
suggest links and we will certainly fix it! Also, please let me know,
because we're trying really hard to have an NPOV on these SERPs a la
Wikipedia.

> Hiring writers that are not employees will allow for more favoritism.

How so?

> Google works because everyone has the same hand, with Mahalo, there is
> the human factor which puts certain sites (like your old friends and
> your new friends) higher than others. I asked about why Gizmodo wasn't
> on the iPhone page while engadget is there and received no reply.

I posted a reply to that on techcrunch today. Gizmodo is on the iPod
page and many, many other pages. Frankly, the folks at Mahalo a) don't
care about what blogs I worked on two years ago and b) they pick what
they think is best. If Gizmodo isn't on a  certain page suggest it and
I'm sure they will add it quickly.

> Wikipedia offers users a chance to correct what's wrong, Mahalo does not
> have that ability.

Actually, we do. We take suggestions on the message boards and you can
suggest a link. If you haven't gotten a reply yet it's probably going
to take some time since we've been crushed by submissions. I'm sorry
if we're not keeping up right now... it's been crazy!

> And the problem is that once you pay x person $15 to make a page about
> CenterNetworks, 15 minutes later it's already out-of-date.

We think we can keep them up to date compared to Google, Yahoo, and
Ask. However, it is gonna be a challenge and we're open to any
suggestions you have to make the page fresher.

> And Jason, understand that for most people, any money people will run
> to. You are basically standing on the corner handing out cash, who
> wouldn't take it? C'mon. Do you think the Wikipedians are coming over
> saying, "boy this is better than anything ever, I want to work here?"

We're not really standing on the corner giving away cash. We offering
people money for creating great search results. It's a new concept
I've come up with: compensation. It;s gonan be huge i tell ya! :-)

Also, I wouldn't underestimate the Wikipedians... the ones i know are
very principled in what projects they will and won't work on.

> No, they are saying, "I can make a few bucks". Knowing that a page
> probably takes 15 minute of searching Google to create, there is
> obviously a lot of money to be made. Any average earner would want to do
> this.

Does that mean you've signed up? :-)

> And what happens when these new search engine authors get paid off to
> link x or y from a page. What controls do you have in place to protect
> from that?

We do. We have to accept each search result from the greenhouse. So,
we check for bias and spam. If someone includes spam we let them know
and we don't accept it. If someone submits spam over and over we would
not let them continue on in the program.

Do you have any other suggestions for how to fight this?

> Do you have a list that you are using to determine who gets
> pages made first, or can these new people just make pages about whatever
> they want? I am still a bit confused as to why there is a CK page when
> he is not a top 10k. I have said all along that you would have earned
> brownie points with me had you stuck to the top 10k and not put your
> friends in there first.

There is a list of terms we want to do on the Greenhouse right now.
Also, we are taking suggestions from folks.

Not sure why there is a CK page--he certainly isn't that notable (not
in the top 10,000), but he is a nice guy. I think he created his own
page early on as a template.

The top 10,000 is not determined by me, it's determined by the Guides
and I think they're doing a great job so far.

Mahalo for the feedback Allen!

best, jason
---------------------
Jason McCabe Calacanis
CEO, http://www.Mahalo.com
Mobile: 310-456-4900
My blog: http://www.calacanis.com
AOL IM/Skype: jasoncalacanis

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