+ And in other Reed-Elsevier News: The UK's Daily Mail reports that publisher and database provider, Reed Elsevier "has called a truce" with Google. I wonder if Google knows that they were feuding? Reeds's CEO, Patrick Crisp, says both companies need to work together.
"'For the last year or two we have had a lot of discussion over whether Google is an ally or a competitor,' he said. 'But there is a logic to working with Google in one or two areas. Google brings its size and we bring our content.'"
Fine, toss some of your content into a large database and people might buy it. A sale is sale. It's good business. In most cases, the searcher will only find the abstract and then have to pay for the full text (unless they already have free access).
Many publishers are working with Google to add their material. Where these records fall on a search results page is another issue. They MIGHT turn up if the searcher knows the exact title of an article, but generalized subject searching is something else entirely. Every web page can't land within the first 10-20 results. However, Reed's databases (and other specialized search tools, free and fee) not only offer content unavailable (to this point) elsewhere, but they also provide:
+ Access points to material not available from general web engines.
+ Advanced search features that some users find useful and are willing to pay for.
+ A way for searchers to save time and aggravation by using a smaller, more focused database instead of one of the ever-expanding general web databases.
But people can't use what they don't know about, which is basically a marketing issue for Reed and others. Also, it's a significant challenge to change the habits of the searcher. That said, demonstrating how a more focused database can save time is a perfect way to begin.
Factiva's CEO, Clare Hart, said in June, "Our customers recognize the value in the comprehensive service they're getting and the time that they are saving. Time is one of the most important assets to business people." Hart also mentions that info quality counts. She's right.
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