Steve Wagenheim’s Home Business Blog

The war has started and it’s going to be an ugly one. I can see the lawsuits a mile away. I am writing this, knowing full well that it may not even get published at any article directories for fear of repercussions from Google, to warn you that your site, your business, is at SERIOUS risk. I am talking about the new Sidewiki toolbar which has already been responsible for vicious attacks on several sites.

If you’re not familiar with Sidewiki, it is essentially a simple application. The web surfer downloads the Sidewiki toolbar. After they do, any site they visit, the toolbar will appear on the left hand side of the site itself in the same window. On this toolbar, visitors to your site can post their comments. Then, anybody who goes to visit your site can see those comments posted.

On the surface, this would seem innocuous enough. But in the wrong hands, this could become a deadly tool, as I have already witnessed. There is nothing from stopping a competitor from viewing your site and leaving a comment such as, “This person is a scam artist. Do not buy anything from them.” Then, any visitor who has the toolbar installed will see that comment. This can potentially destroy a person’s business if a mass attack is coordinated.

The problem I have with this whole application is that it is essentially giving Google the right to display adds and opinions DIRECTLY on your site WITHOUT your approval. It’s one thing if somebody goes to a forum or discussion group and makes a comment about your site. It’s another one for somebody to come to YOUR site and see such comments.

This should NOT be tolerated. I am thereby asking every Internet marketer and home business owner to write to Google and tell them that you are against Sidewiki. Contact some of the major online companies, such as Amazon and explain to them what kind of damage this toolbar can do to THEIR business. With enough muscle behind us, we can put a stop to Sidewiki.

Please do not take this lightly. This is as serious as it gets. It is no different from somebody coming to your restaurant and spraying graffiti all over your walls telling people not to eat there.

In my signature, you will find a link where you can contact Google about Sidewiki.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim
Don’t want to see your business destroyed? Go to http://www.google.com/support/toolbar/bin/request.py?contact_type=feedback and tell Google what you think of Sidewiki and that you want it taken down.