If the day ends in the letter ‘Y’, I’m probably talking about Bing to someone outside of Microsoft. It really is the best part of my job and one that helps the product improve with every release as I get to see what people are doing and saying across the country (and world – thanks Germany!) with our product. Over the past few weeks I’ve been on both coasts talking to users, SEO wizards, ad buyers and agencies to show them what this Bing thing is all about and listen to what they think we need to do better.
Some of the best feedback comes from people who work in the agencies who help companies market themselves online and those in-house at companies who have to make sure their sites are discoverable by engines. I was in Raleigh, NC with a group of folks who hammered home the need to drive even better brand awareness for Bing. They see amazing ‘conversions’ and Return on Ad Spend when they use Bing and AdCenter – but they need more volume. I hear you and we are continuing to work across all forms of media, both grassroots and broad, to get the word out about out our Decision Engine.
I talked with a couple of radio programs while I was out including Let’s Talk Computers who helped me rediscover the power of Bing Maps and Birds-Eye Imagery. I’m pretty sure there is a radio dictum that says the host shouldn’t know more about the product than the ‘expert’ on the show (as did Alan with Bing Maps) but it highlights how certain features within the product garner amazing amounts of scrutiny and feedback that help us improve them over time.
On the west coast, I went to the wrong restaurant to meet someone (and no, it wasn’t Bing Maps fault. There are two restaurants with the same name) and got slobbered on by an awesome dog during another meeting. Good thing I’m a dog person. Were it a cat the conversation it would have headed south (sorry Ben).
Next week I’m back on the west coast at TechCrunch 50 where I can’t wait to talk with startups in the tech space (and generally hang out with people who are waaaay smarter, altho less sarcastic, than me). I’m also excited that we’ll be hosting the cocktail reception where we’ve invited a few cool search-related startups to show off their wares complete with signature cocktails. Sometimes my job is really, really good. When I’m not in seat 34B.
I think the coolest experience I had over the past few weeks came in Charlottesville, VA (which is spectacular, by the way; you can see why Monticello was built there) where I was sitting in my office-away-from-my-office, Panera Bread. Besides their tasty sandwiches they have free WiFi, which ranks second only to free Toblerone bars in my book. I was sitting waiting for a cab, surfing the web working diligently, and a youngish guy walked by, stopped and said: “Hey are you Bing?”.
Me: “Yes. I am Bing.” What else do you say to that?
Him: “Cool! I love Bing! Keep going, keep going! I love the stuff you’re doing. You’re my new default engine!”
Me (while brushing crumbs off my face from my second cookie): “Wow – thanks!” <awkward pause> “Would you like some stickers?”
Him: “Definitely!”
He took the stickers and went about his business, probably buying a delicious asiago cheese roast beef sandwich. But two things struck me: I’m not very witty when I’m tired and jet lagged. Second, that many of you are rooting for us out there. And that makes all of it worthwhile. So thanks – we’ll do our best to continue to build a product that you love to use and tell your friends about.
Stefan Weitz – Bing, Director