Google is calling Blogspot bloggers to participate in a user experience study to improve Blogger. The only qualification required to participate in this Google Blogger study is that you should be above 18 years of age and maintaining a blog for at least three months.If you think that you fit the bill, just type in your details in the following survey and wait until you receive the call from Googleplex [no guarantees though]
Google Blogger Study [Referral Code: blggr102006sf]
This initiative is part of a recent announcement where Google would pay users upto $75 per hour for testing products that are either released or still in development.
According to Jordan, they are especially looking for people in New York City and San Francisco Bay Area, but others are welcome to participate in the study as well.
Related: Dangerous Bugs inside Blogger Templates
Blogger guy Jason has responded to allegations by Techcrunch and others that were concerning the security of Blogger as a Google product - "They may be missing an important point: because we are eating our own dogfood, Blogger becomes a better, more secure product."
Reader Comments
Good part on Google to offer $ for helping them out. I'm sure people would love that!
Written on 25/10/06 5:29 AM
I must say this is a nice move by Google. They get to know who uses their products and also make people happy by paying them for it. But the interesting thing on the questionnaire is "Do you work for a S/w company?" I bet they're upto something at least to help out their HR dept.
Written on 25/10/06 7:53 AM
This isn't a new move for Google. They've done beta testing for all sorts of products (including Blogger), with the same type of payment, for several years (I've done several studies and get announcements for others all the time). The question about who you work for is a standard one, and it's not to "help out their HR dept" at all. It's typically used as a filter to disqualify one from the opportunity to participate. Google HR doesn't need _any_ help, let me tell you.
Written on 25/10/06 2:36 PM
Thanks for your input Julie. I am sure you would know more than anyone else about this.
It's for the first time that Google has posted this on a public newsgroup. So probably they want to expand their invitee list.
Written on 25/10/06 2:45 PM
Actually, I started doing beta tests for them after I answered their ads on Craigslist.
Granted, SF Bay Area Craiglist is smaller than a newsgroup, but I understand your "expansion" point.
I'm just saying I wasn't special or anything. They've always advertised in a newsgroup/posting kind of way for beta testers of all sorts...just local because all the tests were done in person (filmed, screencaptured, 2-way mirrors, the whole thing).
I'm glad the have an online component for testing, so they can expand the base as you mentioned. I think I was just trying to say they weren't up to some nefarious purpose! :)
Written on 25/10/06 9:51 PM
Absolutely agree with you. These are just standard questions and Google aren't upto anything 'evil' :)
Written on 25/10/06 10:37 PM
It was nice to know that Google is inviting bloggers. Hopefully it will be something good.
Written on 25/10/06 11:26 PM