What Would Google Do? The Shocking Truth About How Google Changed Everything

In a world where technology evolves at lightning speed, understanding the forces that shape business success is crucial. Jeff Jarvis’s What Would Google Do? offers a masterclass in the new rules of business shaped by the internet giant, Google. This book is not just about Google as a company; it is about a mindset—a way of thinking that embraces openness, collaboration, and customer empowerment.

At the heart of Jarvis’s message is the radical shift in power from companies to customers. The internet has given customers unprecedented control and voice. Where once companies dictated terms, now customers can instantly share their opinions, influence reputations, and demand transparency. This is the new power of customer control. One striking example is how a single negative blog post about a laptop turned into a global conversation, forcing a major company to engage directly with its customers and rethink its approach. The lesson is clear: give customers control or risk losing them.

From there, the book explores how networks and platforms form the backbone of modern business. Instead of trying to do everything internally, companies focus on what they do best and link to others who complement their strengths. This idea, summed up as