Google Confuses Us with Its Charming TV Appearance

February 8, 2010 By Dena Cassella

We are still puzzled by Google's Super Bowl commercial advertising its "search engine capabilities," rather than one of its other products.

Riddle me this, Google execs and PR department: Why did Google choose to market its search engine—probably the only product that doesn’t need advertising—in a very expensive Super Bowl commercial? That, Google, is the only real question we have for you. Why market something that’s already a winner in its space and beyond? Google’s search engine already holds roughly two-thirds of the market.

What about the Nexus One? The new smartphone has not done well in the mobile markets, selling only a mere 80,000 handsets since early January. The Nexus One could use a little bit of advertising—aside from YouTube—don’t you think?

The Wall Street Journal thinks the endearing Super Bowl advertisement was nothing more than Google finally realizing how it can market itself—something the company has steered away from and seemed to do just fine without. In the past year, Google has promoted its new Chrome browser via television and billboard, but that’s about the gist of the company’s advertising campaign. Baby steps, Google, baby steps—you too could have ads featuring Megan Fox and Luke Wilson someday.

In case you missed it, here is Google’s commercial called “Parisian Love.”

Showing 5 comments

bigmike111 at 4:12pm 23rd February 2010 you're an idiot.

It's not supposed to tell you something you don't know--it's supposed to be a charming anecdote portrayed through their online service.

The production value was in showing us that google is important to everyone--in everyway
Bruce at 7:28pm 12th February 2010 Actually I thought it's aim was to show all the things you could do from one interface - the google search home page. So we saw maps, dictionary definitions, wikipedia, flight arrivals, street photos... it just started from what everyone knows well - plain ol' search.

As to whether it should be using TV, and a superbowl TV spot in particular, is a good question. Perhaps they have identified that people don't know all the things that can be done from that original simple interface?
James at 12:51pm 9th February 2010 I thought the commercial was pretty old looking, like something you would see in the 1990's. Not very forward at all.
Mike Jones at 12:38pm 9th February 2010 The Google commercial was one of the worst commercials in the super bowl. Google is the most overrated company in history. They are the AOL of present day. Google's commercial had 0 production value, wasn't funny, and didn't tell me what I already know about Google.
Fayetteville Video at 4:23pm 8th February 2010 Great commercial, really nice way to tell a story. And I find it funny that the WSJ is writing a story on Google and Google can't index it. :) Way to go Rupert!