December 20, 2006 - Pilgrim Notes

Day: December 20, 2006

Google Checkout – Short Term Loss for Long Term Payoff

NYT offers an interesting update on Google Checkout.

Here are my highlights: Aggressively pursuing merchants, Google Checkout waived transaction fees in November (through the end of 2007), and it has also been Checkout users $10 off $30 purchases at many e-commerce sites and, in some cases, $20 off $50 orders. In fact, Google is prepared to lose money on every transaction for the next year. Why?

They see long term payoffs in expanding their base of advertising.

“It’s a way to incentivize more merchants to join our network,” said Benjamin Ling, a product manager for Checkout. “We want everyone who sells online to be a Google advertiser.”

The advantages for merchants include current savings, and a model that helps merchants generate more sales leads by increasing click-through rates.

Read the article at NYT.

Santa Spreads Cheer in Jewish Neighborhood

December 20, 2006 / dougfloyd / 1 Comment

NY Times tells the tale today of a Santa celebrating the season with Jewish families in Hollywood. Apparantly, Marie Loomis-Shrier, a Jewish lady, loves Christmas displays and fills her yard with lights, candy canes, snow, and Santa. Sitting on her porch, Santa exclaims, “What is this Hanukkah you speak of?”