Jon Haarstad had a great post on his blog about the Google page ranking system. The mysterious ways of page ranking are really not that mysterious as you’ll see here…the Google geeks have a rational for it all. If you really want to get in depth on this topic, follow the links on Jon’s blog and you’ll get all kinds of fun calculations, charts, and formulas (and by fun I mean “fun” for the kind of people who know things like the numerical value of Pi beyond the traditional 3.14). If you’re not into that just know it all seems to boil down to this…links. When you get linked to your page rank goes up. If you aren’t linked to, your page rank will stay down.

I’m more convinced than ever that a blog is for every organization in some form or fashion. Just yesterday I was talking to a friend who’s a pediatric dentist. I was telling her that a blog will allow her to differentiate her practice from the others here in town. Whereas the other guys will give the standard “here’s what we do” and “here’s why we’re different” and “here’s where we’re located” information, a blog can say all of those things with personality. In fact, that’s exactly what sets blogs apart from standard websites…they have personality.

So, back to my friend…if she blogs on her site (and still says all the same things the other guys are saying) then she’ll be introducing herself (and therefore injecting her personality) to all those parents looking to find a dentist for their kids. This is the same thing as trying to sell something to someone in person rather than with a brochure or direct mail piece. If I get the chance to meet a person and try to sell to them while the competition only sent a brochure I really like my chances of success. Her blog is the closest thing she can get to being able to meet all these potential clients in person. Every other website is just putting out a digital brochure.

By the way, my friend doesn’t even have to be an avid blogger to win either. In her case she’ll be fine updating the blog every other week…just enough to keep it current, but more importantly to give that extra nudge to a person comparing information with the other guy’s brochure sites. Oh, and in no time her blog will be the top one in a Google search for dentist offices of any kind in this area. After all, Google does love blogs!

By now you’ve seen and heard numerous stories about the Google acquisition of You Tube this week. You know technology news is big when it’s the leading story on all the major news outlets. It’s so big, in fact, that I’m hearing people talk about You Tube who I suspect didn’t know what You Tube was this time last week. The fact of the matter is if someone hadn’t heard of You Tube before this week, they know who they are now…even if they don’t understand what it is.

Does this matter to your organization?
Yes, and here’s why: This acquisition is a major step toward the adoption and mainstream knowledge of online video. This story is bigger than Google or You Tube. What it really signifies is that online video is moving out from the fringes and into the mainstream.

All the hype around this acquisition has just put online video on the radar screens of an entirely new segment of the population that knew little or nothing about it just a few days ago. It’s raised awareness to a new level. After awareness comes adoption and in time those who don’t adopt will find themselves on the outside looking in.

So now what?
Any organization that was already using online video now has the opportunity to establish itself as a leader and trendsetter. Any organization that was considering using online video may very well pursue it more actively with this new level of attention, and for the people who had never thought of using online video for their organization…well, they will be jumping on board soon enough.

I believe conversations will move from “do you use online video?” to “how do you use online video?” The difference between these questions is dramatic. The first one is solely about using the technology and whether you’re “in” on it or not (awareness). The second question assumes you’re already doing it and takes the conversation to a deeper level of use, quality, messages, technology, influences, strategies, etc. (adoption).

Where’s Your Investment?
So what are you doing about online video? Where’s your investment in online video? Don’t have a billion dollars handy…ok, try investing in some time learning more about how online video can work for you. Maybe you know enough to get started and just need to make an investment in some equipment. Maybe your organization needs to invest in some personnel (even on a contractual basis) to get online video up and running for your site. Google saw enough long term potential to invest a load of money in this technology (and they even had their own competing service too!) so where are you investing in online video? Google just took care of the big investment…now take care of yours.

In my daily work I have a chance to interact with a lot of graphic designers. Our company has three designers on staff…two for print design and one for web design. Add to that a full arsenal of freelance print, web, and video design specialists along with an occasional art director and I’ve got a world of creativity around me on a regular basis.

I don’t know if I’m simply more aware of good design (and bad design too) now more than ever or if it’s just becoming so pervasive (it’s probably both or these) but design for everything these days is HUGE! Look at how important design is to so many of the products we have. Every coffee company in the world has adopted the Starbucks style of coffee packaging. It was a design that’s come to symbolize high quality coffee and now even the old school coffee companies like Folgers are on board with this…they call it their gourmet coffee. Here’s another example…look at Apple computers, they’re a combination of both good form (visual design) and function (ease of use).

This trend toward high quality design is inherent in many things web 2.0. Yes, there are certainly some exceptions like MySpace, but for many sites it seems clear there is specific attention given toward and open, intuitive design. That design is often combined with a plain-talking, straight-forward tone. There are four things I’m seeing regularly in many of these sites:

• An attention to the use of white space - The attention to using white space is most noticeable at Google, but I’m seeing it all the time like at eBible and myChurch. One great thing about a lot of white space is that it leaves little room for doubt as to what is most important on your site…and that’s a good thing.
• Predominant graphics - Many of the good web 2.0 sites focus on showing a few predominant images rather than multiple (and often smaller) images. Compare Flickr to Kodak to get the idea. Again, the focus is on directing people down a very specific road rather than the “shock and awe” approach where you overwhelm them with information or options.
• Straight-forward information - The straight-forward information an approach that communicates “mean what you say, say what you mean” kind of attitude. It is also a non-corporate approach…which is also fitting for most web 2.0 organizations. I love the way FeedBurner uses this tone on their site.
• Simplicity - It’s all about ease of use and accessibility. If the person can quickly find what they’re looking for then the site is sufficiently simple.

The distinctions are becoming so stark that the very design of any organization’s website communicates a lot about it. Does your site say you’re accessible and personable or rigid and corporate? Does it communicate with clarity or confusion? Does it show that you’re clunky or nimble?

With the trend on an every growing importance on good design, it would be worth a little extra consideration toward your next project..particularly if that next project is a website. It will say more about you than you can anticipate…so will that be a good thing or a bad thing?