Can Cuil Outdo Google Search Engine?

There's a new search engine in town and it vows to be bigger, badder and just plain better than its mentor Google. The site was in fact created by formal Google employees, looking to outdo the monster search engine we've all grown to know and love, and use on a daily basis..

Here's a bit more About Cuil.com:

Rather than rely on superficial popularity metrics, Cuil searches for and ranks pages based on their content and relevance. When we find a page with your keywords, we stay on that page and analyze the rest of its content, its concepts, their inter-relationships and the page’s coherency.

Then we offer you helpful choices and suggestions until you find the page you want and that you know is out there. We believe that analyzing the Web rather than our users is a more useful approach, so we don’t collect data about you and your habits, lest we are tempted to peek. With Cuil, your search history is always private.

Cuil is an old Irish word for knowledge. For knowledge, ask Cuil.

If you haven't tested it yet, stop by Cuil.com and enter some search queries. You may find some of your top search terms and blog site names already ranked. You'll also notice it's got a different look and feel than Google, and perhaps will continue to improve itself in the future. For now, most of us will continue relying on Google until the new kid on the block becomes the powerhouse of the net.

Learn more about Cuil's features here.

Cash Crate Crash & Customer Service

For the longest time, the Monetizer has been promoting the popular "Get-Paid-To" survey site known as Cash Crate. Personally I've earned at least 5 checks from them sent via US mail as promised and found their company to be reliable. Unfortunately for at least a month now, my attempts to use the Cash Crate site have been met with:

"You tried to access the address http://www.cashcrate.com/, which is currently unavailable. Please make sure that the Web address (URL) is correctly spelled and punctuated, then try reloading the page."

It appears the wonderful and reliable paying site has officially crashed, with no mention. At least you'd think the company would have some sort of announcement on the site, but there is none. It could be a sign of the times, but it's definitely a sign of inadequate service.

When I add this in with my recent experiences with Ximmy.com (they've yet to pay Monetizer for referrals, and aren't responding to emails about it), it goes to show that these days any online business must be serious about its customer service. Even if you're a blogger, you have a duty to respond to emails of your "customers" so that they realize their importance to your brand and or business. For some reason Ximmy and Cash Crate don't have this aspect handled, and there's plenty of other websites out there that make it pretty impossible to get a question answered. Amazon.com seems like one, as it doesn't offer a good email or online communications system.

The lesson to be taken from all of this is the concept of valuing your readers, site visitors and customers. Keep these considerations in mind with your own blog or website and avoid the trap of becoming a site that ignores its customer base...

Using Opportunity & Setbacks

There's two important concepts The Monetizer wants to contemplate today when it comes to making money. The first is one I touched on here a few weeks ago, finding opportunity. A great example of this recently surfaced with the current gasoline price situation. Mygallons.com is a recent website started which included a member's fee. The premise behind the site is members could "lock in" a current price per gallon for gas and then not have to pay above that if prices move up again. Don't rush out to join the site just yet though. According to a news report, the bank connected with the website backed out, leaving the site temporarily unable to fulfill its promises. Despite the fact the site is in a state of limbo, it still has a chance to be successful. Should they find a good bank to back the concept, this could be a highly profitable website based on a current problem people face: how to get the best deal on gas to save money. Most great ideas are born as a way to solve a problem or address the need of people, so it's possible to think up something else which could help people in these trying economic times.

The other concept to keep in mind is setback, or failures. A recent episode of "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsche" on CNBC discussed making comebacks. If you just suffered a job loss, or a business you were running went bad, the idea is to learn from the failure rather than wallow in it. In fact, many amazing businesses were born due to failures, including Henry Ford's highly successful automobiles. It's the idea of "try try again" which really drives many an entrepreneur. To allow one setback to ruin your spirit and possible success in making money could be the biggest mistake you make. That's not to say keep pouring money and time if you have a seriously failing business venture, but it is to say that if you re-evaluate, regroup you will eventually find success with the right plan. It's not so much about luck, but more about drive and determination.

The same goes for online money-making. If you're not reaching the minimum with Google Adsense, consider adding a few more blogs into the mix using the Adsense code. Or consider using other monetization strategies such as Widgetbucks, Shopping Ads, Chitka Mini Malls or even try for Affiliate marketing. Through experimentation you'll find what works best for you and be on your way to more money online.