4 Google Initiatives that Never made it Online

w ell everyone believes that Google is an untouchable brand with an array of stupendous products and online initiatives. But I believe behind every glorious picture there is a grey shade of reality. Google is a brand that has emerged as a prodigal online entity and with varied unique products and services the company never fails to impress.

But it looks like Forbes Magazine does not assert the same. Forbes annual A-list of world’s most reputable companies is out. And Google got a harsh reality check when it was ranked 23rd on the list amongst 200 esteemed companies across the globe. Based on Reputation Institute's Global Reputation Pulse Study of 2009 proclaims a fall in Google’s reputation by 6.4 %. The fall is significant as Google had ranked second in last years listing. The study was done on 600 companies in 32 countries.

But ironically the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2009 ranks Google numero uno. The search giant was the first one to touch the $100 billion value mark which gave it the title. Millward Brown Optimor is a WPP subsidiary which has created the BrandZ list wherein companies are ranked based on financial and market data. As a brand Google has created good equity with its product offering and constant innovation. Here are a Google initiatives examples other than sending a satellite into space (for Google Maps) or creating Android for the mobile-savvy generation.

They can sell anything … at least that’s what Google thinks
Drifting interest from the web content arena, Google has ventured into other markets. In January 2006 Google made headlines by purchasing radio advertising company "dMarc". In fact Google has even experimented with print advertising. The company is selling advertisement space for offline newspapers and magazines.

Space Continuum
Way back in 2005 Google had partnered NASA Ames Research Center and ended up building 1,000,000 square feet of offices which conducted research projects. The projects varied from data management to nanotechnology, and from distributed computing to entrepreneurial initiatives.

Environment Friendly
The company invested $45 million last year in solar, wind and geothermal-energy startups. Google had always been lobbying energy issues in Washington and this initiative gave hen them the freedom to work on the same front. In fact they are collaborating with GE for technological tools for an energy-efficient tomorrow.

Motivation with a Motive
Well here is an interesting fact. Apparently Google’s employee motivation initiative called ‘Innovation Time Off’ has given wonderful results. The regular Google practice encourages Google engineers to work on projects that interest them on a 20% time-out from work. These sessions gave birth to Gmail, Orkut, Google News and AdSense.

Well I have just listed a few of the offline Google initiatives that have helped earn them the top spot in the BrandZ listing. In case you have anything else to add please feel free to leave a comment.