Categories: Business

Google proves the secret to success is failure, 36% of the time

The secret to Google’s success is in its failures. According to some nice research undertaken by The Next Web, 36% of all Google products since 1998 have failed. Out of a total of 251 independent Google products launched since then, 90 have subsequently been shelved, while the rest remain operational.

9% of all Google products are described as “major” or stand-alone. Coincidentally, 36% of these high-profile products have failed also. Major flops include Google Answers, Orkut and Wave, while major success stories are found in products like Android, Gmail and YouTube.

Google fails gracefully though. It has a culture of trying often and shelving under-performing products early. Google launch most new products in beta and to a small core audience of technology enthusiasts to minimise embarrassment. This community knows Google’s experimental nature and respects their approach.

With Google’s recent closure of Labs though, at least part of the era of experimentation at Google may come to an end.

Albizu Garcia

Albizu Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gain -- a marketing technology company that automates the social media and content publishing workflow for agencies and social media managers, their clients and anyone working in teams.

Recent Posts

DARPA to simulate disease outbreaks: model lockdown, vaccination & messaging strategies

Why is DARPA modeling disease outbreaks & intervention strategies while simultaneously looking to predict &…

2 days ago

ManagedMethods launches Advanced Phishing solution against rising tide of malicious emails 

Earlier this year, a report from non-profit organization the Center for Internet Security shone a…

2 days ago

DARPA ‘CoasterChase’ looks to mitigate stress with ingestible neurotech

DARPA is putting together a research program called CoasterChase that aims to mitigate warfighters' stress…

3 days ago

U.S. Fusion Power Plant Design Passes Independent Review

In the global race to develop and commercialize fusion power reactors, U.S. scientists have reached…

3 days ago

Pet Health Meets Convenience: New Partnership Aims to Empower Pet Owners with At-Home Testing

Innovative Pet Lab, a science-forward company offering at-home health tests for pets, today announced a…

6 days ago

Club of Rome launches joint taskforce that would restrict your food, travel & ownership choices

The 'Materials and Consumption Taskforce' is an attempt to micro-manage all aspects of your life:…

1 week ago