Google is one of the most recognized names on the internet and the doorway to the internet for most of the world. There are things that we can learn from Google based on their business sense and this is the best time to learn it, considering that there is a looming web app boom which might burst in the not so near future. Until then economies will continue to rise over this boom creating ample opportunities for all to make a good buck and a good living. If the growth is not a bubble all the more better considering that we will have a good basis to learn from. In fact these 10 things come from the largest Online company Google themselves. Here is what they want to say are the best 10 things they do to be who they are :

1. Focus on the user and all else will follow.

Or as it is commonly known in India, Customer is King. By tracking user browsing history, cookies and other personal data tracking (which is a privacy concern anyway) they have managed to keep the user at the centre of the operations, so that users will return for maximum value. The first and foremost step to take for me while working with some of my customers is also to track them. Be it through feedback forms, market research or other ways. You need to know what your customers want and give them that. You then have a winning business.

2. It’s best to do one thing really, really well.

Although we know Google does not just do one thing, they focus most of their energy on the one thing they do arguably better than anyone else. Catalog, Index and search the internet. We do know that their remaining products form the rest of the ecosystem around search. It is not a coincidence that most of their revenue comes through the ads on this channel.  All big companies who are successful follow a similar policy. Like reliance they are not just building one product but building a whole ecosystem around that product. Not only do they Make Vimal Fabrics, they make the factories that make the yarn and the fibre for the fabrics.

3. Fast is better than slow.

Case in point Google Instant. I mean it has transformed the search experience 4 fold by adding this feature into browsers, mobiles and now smart TV’s. Although the speed of Instant means that you do not get the right result you are looking for first time straight, but it learns what else you are typing and provides results accordingly. It just means that it is better to be proactive than reactive. We might get a few things wrong by bring proactive, but we can make up the rework because we were faster to make that mistake than everyone else. Gives you the additional time for rework.

4. Democracy on the web works. (or anywhere else for that matter)

Google has been a company that is driven a lot of the choice of its users. Unlike Facebook who is driven out of what they want to do and let users adapt. Democracy ! In business as well as on the web this is important. A boss who does not pay attention to the needs and voice of his employees and customers, will soon find out that he does not have much to boss over. This also means that anyone can become a competitor anytime, a former employee, a loyal customer anyone has the freedom to start something to compete with, but that is where point No 2 comes in. No matter how well they do one product, they will not have the ecosystem goodies that make that product the best.

5. You don’t need to be at your desk to need an answer.

The world is changing and business is growing mobile. More and more people are now looking at mobile apps and the internet on the go. With devices like the iPad, iPhone, Androids and the Blackberry. Smartphones are getting more and more accessible. What this means to business is that we all need to catch up, have a mobile enabled website, have your teams work across the internet for more flexibility. Business can very well benefit from the mobile revolution that is currently happening around us. We just need to figure things out correctly.

6. You can make money without doing evil.

Although Google tracking users is considered evil by many, the fact that they are able to provide relevant ads that fuel innovation from Google as well as free applications for all of to use just means that the fact that they do not do evil is highlighted. Until now they are not selling our personal information to others, and they will not do that in the near future. Businesses can learn from this, by giving back something to society and the customers businesses will be able to retain them for longer and thrive. You don’t need to pay bribes, just make their experience better.

7. There’s always more information out there.

When Google says something like that it seems very inappropriate, cos we usually go to Google to get answers for all our questions. But this just means that they are willing to believe that they have not yet achieved everything. Businesses no matter how big should realize that there is more out there that they can do, be it doing social good or just working with their competitors, there is more that can be offered to your customers with no additional cost. Its a question of the effort and the mind set to be able to do so.

8. The need for information crosses all borders.

The main catch word in this sentence would be borders. The global village as the world is now being referred to is a huge resource that people fail to tap extensively. From sourcing, to new customer bases from outsourcing to re engineering, businesses should not be stopped by the need to have new resources that are available only half way across the globe. Technologies enable us to get across borders now and we need to go around these borders to be able to make the best use of what is available.

9. You can be serious without a suit.

This is true and the world is warming up to this, but there are still traditional companies who are driven out of the fact that looks matter. Pleasantries included. If you achieve perfection it will be evident that looks are deceptive, what lasts longer is the quality of work and the quality of our products and services. Being serious at work is a mental thing and not a physical thing. I don’t believe the age old statement “dress for your next job” applies any more. But again the east is still to catch up on it, unlike the west.

10. Great just isn’t good enough.

Perfection. I don’t really think, the above sentence can be summarised better. If all of us aim for perfection in all the small activities we do no matter how large or small, we are for sure going to be successful. We will use less time to achieve the same task (no rework), have more content customers and employees. All in all makes for a better work environment along with having the best product. A business no matter how large can look at itself every few months to make things better. Just because it is done in a certain way is not the best way to do it, that’s what we need to have as our operations motto.