2007 Round Up - What Nilhan Jayasinghe Thinks

What's been your highlight of 2007?

From a natural search point of view, I would have to say Google introducing ‘Google Universal’ earlier in the year. In my opinion it has set the wheels in motion for major changes, which we’re only beginning to understand and work out the impact of. I am also interested in the growth of social media and the way that is altering our industry as well. All-in-all it’s been an eventful year

What are you looking forward to in 2008?

Well, seeing the first two examples, Google Universal and social media, come to fruition. We’ve witnessed many more content-driven sites and user-driven sites and this is certainly affecting the digital marketing industry overall.
We have also seen some really clumsy experiments from brands on Facebook, trying to capitalise on social media, but I don’t think anyone is quite there yet.
I feel 2008 is the year we are going to see that happen though. Open Social and Open ID is also very exciting. These might seem like minor changes, but let's see how things play out. What with the release of the iPhone, and consumers using the internet on their mobile phones or at least getting used to the idea, I think 2008 is going to be a big year where it all ties together.

If you were in charge of Google for a day, what one thing would you change?

Wearing my natural search hat, I’d have to say I would get rid of link spam. I would dearly like to see it cleaned up.

And finally - what's on your Christmas wish list?

Like many other people this year I am hoping for an iPhone, but I have a little add-on. I’d like one that will work on the Orange network.