There has always been a question mark as to whether Google will start indexing videos. Well, it has begun. Google has started indexing the political channels in YouTube. It is still in the Google Labs but as far as I am concerned, if Google is prepared to launch something in Labs then it is good enough to be taken seriously.

Google has posted a FAQ document that gives an in depth description of the new audio indexing. Indexing the political channels in YouTube has been a success thanks to massive campaigning by the two major US candidates over the last 20 odd months. Obama, who has no doubt dominated the social media thanks to a clever move to employ the co-founder of Facebook, Chris Hughes, had the advantage with his social media campaign.

My worry right now is that Google is only indexing YouTube (oh and for those who aren’t in the geek loop – Google owns YouTube). This is, once again, clearly going to give Google further advantage over its competitors. One has to admire their business model and global domination of search but it is worrying to think where they might be in 10 to 20 years time. Will they still stand by their motto, “Don’t be evil” when they have so much dominance?

Local player, Zoopy must wonder where this puts them. I have emailed Zoopy with a couple of questions but with no reply as yet. If Google only indexes YouTube it puts Zoopy in a much weaker position within South Africa. I wonder what Zoopy will do? They have a large following in South Africa. So will Google South Africa ever approach Zoopy and collaborate (or rather buy Zoopy out) with them and use Google’s speech recognition technology?

Google has definitely put a positive spin on SEO with its GAUDI. I just hope it doesn’t only favour YouTube!

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