Image Credit: AWDP ~ Click Image to Read Google Acquires PostRank
As I predicted, Google has killed PostRank. Whenever something is truly useful, it is absorbed by what I call collectively “The Borg” – then crippled (as PostRank was) and later killed off (as is happening to PostRank May 1, 2012).
The same thing happened when Yahoo! acquired MyBlogLog and I wrote that Yahoo! Killed MyBlogLog.
Here is the text of the email I received today:
| PostRank Sunsetting May 1, 2012 |
It is bittersweet news that we remind our users that PostRank will be sunset on May 1, 2012.The sweet part is that Google Analytics now allows you to conduct much of the same measurement and analytics that you’ve enjoyed through PostRank. We invite you to access the new Social reports within Google Analytics. If you don’t already have a Google Analytics account it’s free and easy to sign up. Learn more about the new Social reports in our blog post.As of May 1st, PostRank.com, PostRank Analytics, Top Posts widgets, and Google Reader plugin, will be taken offline.Regards, The PostRank team |
| PostRank has been acquired by Google, this communication is from © 2011 Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043Email Preferences: We sent you this email because you have indicated that you are willing to receive updates about PostRank’s products and services. If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future you can opt-out here. |
Fortunately for businesses and bloggers, there are now two solutions that are better than PostRank was:
- GroupHigh Blogger Outreach for large agencies and businesses – see my GroupHigh Blog Outreach Management Tools Review.
- BlogDash Blog Outreach network for small businesses and bloggers – I recommended bloggers list your blogs on BlogDash in February 2011 and will be doing a follow-up post on using BlogDash.
BlogDash Sunset
- PostRank blog: PostRank sunsetting post has already been removed by Google – As of May 1st, 2012, PostRank.com, PostRank Analytics, Top Posts widgets, and Google Reader plugin, will be taken offline.
- CMSWire: Google Killing PostRank.com and PostRank Analytics on 1 May
- ReadWriteWeb: they also accurately predicted Google will kill PostRank
- YourDigitalSpace: New Google Analytics Social Reports Will Replace PostRank
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Twitter: gameutopia
April 30, 2012 at 10:15 pm
Well that’s a bummer and a little disappointing. I used the Google Chrome postrank extension all the time. It would be nice if there was some kind of alternative.
ray would love you to read ..The observant preacher’s daughter
Twitter: amar_aaleemyahoo.com
April 30, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Hi
This is really disappointing that google kills the pagerank. By doing this google is loosing its customers. Thanks for sharing.
Google is the giant of the Internet but I don’t think this is necessarily bad, I need to get used to these new times, and not be against these developments.
Advogado Tributarista would love you to read ..20-04-2012 Jornal Extra (Direiro Tributário)
Twitter: hypnodudeitaly
April 30, 2012 at 8:29 am
I would add a couple of predictions: Google will soon nuke Dropbox, Sugarsync and Mozy. Later, as soon as their comment system goes live, they’ll nuke also Livefyre and CommentLuv, not sure abour Disqus and Intense Debate. To be fair FaceBook will probably kill Instagram.
Unfortunately that’s the way it goes these times.
Andrea Hypno would love you to read ..Intuition VS Sixth Sense
Twitter: stevescott1
April 30, 2012 at 7:33 am
Gail,It is sad that The Big G has killed such a useful servcie as Postrank. To be honest I am getting a little sick of Google these days, and having some of the function on Analytics is nice…but not the same.
Anyhow, thanks for a interesting POV on this topic.
Have a great day,
Steve
Steve would love you to read ..How Often Should You Send Email to an Affiliate List?
Google does seem to be quite a force with this kind of thing, though I am not sure if the result is a positive or a negative. Sure, Google is a bit of a giant with a monopoly on basically everything important online, but their output is so useless and streamlined and seamless to use. I think we should be a little nervous about the power and influence of Google, but their content to this point is just so good! It’s a dangerous line of thinking, I know, but in truth, I use Google’s software for pretty much everything, not because I love Google, but because I love what works the best.
I find myself agreeing with this idea as well. As much as we dislike the idea of power resting in a fairly singular place, Google puts out the best content! I’ll continue to buy into their products as long as they continue to put out the best option. Google, you sly devil.
Twitter: 3mwindowfilmto
April 30, 2012 at 7:05 am
The way that Google monopolizes the industry and kills off competition still amazes me. Very disappointing for Postrank but I have to admit that Analytics does have most of the same features and I use it all the time. Still good to know there are viable alternatives out there. Looking forward to your post about Blogger Outreach on Tuesday.
I think big companies like to reduce the numbers of their competitors in a corporate way. Sometimes customers will benefit or not from that. Here we have to wait to see what will happen!
Very disappointing, this is a huge loss to me ;/
Twitter: internetkhazana
April 30, 2012 at 1:39 am
I can’t decide this is a good new or bad news. Google is no doubt the giant of internet and i personally don’t like Google take control on each and every thing.
Mohsin Ali would love you to read ..Giveaway Get Free Norton AntiVirus 2012 Product Keys
Twitter: rkrenin
April 30, 2012 at 1:36 am
Sad to see Postrank go. Indeed it was a very useful tool but never knew that some of the greatest bloggers are also a big fan of Postrank like me. Anyways lets wait and watch what happens next!
Well no wonder. They are trying to make you use their tools. But hopefully there will be alternative.
Twitter: blogger-navin
April 29, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Google is killing every thing and merging services to its own. there will be huge impact. thanks for awesome alternatives.
Navin Kunwar would love you to read ..CREATEJS: Building Rich, Interactive Experiences with HTML5
Twitter: rancorinfotech
April 29, 2012 at 9:14 pm
This is clear indication that Google don’t want you to use any alternative. It has enough money power that it can easily buy most of competitors and that’s what it’s doing currently. If you can suggest any alternative to PostRank that would be awesome.
Aasma would love you to read ..MLM Software Development in Delhi Noida Pune India
The news you given in your blog is really disappointing, I don’t understand what you say about analytics.
Very disappointing news. Through Google Analytic, traffic is checked with post rank.
Twitter: AskKim
April 29, 2012 at 8:34 pm
This is disappointing news. I use PostRank both as a widget and to sort my Google Reader. I’ll be interested to see if you have an alternative for high-value filtering of Google Reader to replace PostRank.
Kim
Kimberly Castleberry would love you to read ..How To Leave a Facebook Group
Twitter: smonline-business-virtual-assistant.com
April 29, 2012 at 7:38 pm
@Ileane I saw your report and it was good and very much informative. Thanks for the share.
Twitter: brphollis
April 29, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Hey Gail,
I’m gonna get it for this one for sure. I think it is really important to get away from Google Analytics altogether. It is inaccurate and untrustworthy which says a mouthful about virtually any “Big Bad Wolf” service. There are so many other ways to monitor these items. For site analytics, bloggers need to go back to an absolute – Awstats or Webalizer. These are available (at least one or the other) through most web host providers. They are open-source and have no incentive to offer anything but the exact details. Anyway, Google is currently the best search engine in the world, and I wish that they would remain just that; however, we are far beyond this point.
Bryan
Bryan P. Hollis would love you to read ..A Special Thanks To a Talented WordPress Programmer
Twitter: Ileane
April 29, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Hi Gail, I hope you get the chance to explore the new social media monitoring report available in Google Analytics. I just posted a presentation on Slide Share introducing people to the reports and how to set them up. You can see the presentation here http://www.slideshare.net/Ileane/introduction-to-google-analytics-goals
This is the first in a series of report I started to help educate people on how to navigate the reports and gain knowledge that will help them determine the real ROI of the time they invest on social networks. The golden nuggets of information we can see in the off-site interactions with our data from the Social Data Hub Partners is invaluable. Stay tuned for more info from me on the subject.
Ileane would love you to read ..Secret Blog Traffic Strategy That Gives You More Leads and Higher Conversions
Twitter: wabbitoid
April 29, 2012 at 11:21 am
Usually it is indeed Yahoo! as the place where good ideas go to die, but google is now stepping into the void left by … well, Yahoo! is kinda one big void these daze.
PostRank can and should be a vital part of google+, not analytics, because it has always been first and foremost a useful tool for aggregators who need to separate the gold from the dirt in the blog world. Alongside google’s ability to identify authority this should be part of an engine to create “newspapers” that are personalized by topic and bridge the gaps between what people already know is out there and what they should know. The power of this would be remarkable.
But no, it was not to be. Google+ remains relatively useless and PostRank is not used to compare the relative popularity and genuine reach of bloggers in a way that readers can make use of. The blog universe will remain focused on BS and those who tout themselves the loudest rather than a genuine vote of the readership that PostRank gave us.
A big loss – especially if google makes a habit of being so unimaginitive in the future.
Erik Hare would love you to read ..GDP: The Bet
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