Uclue

Uclue is a fee-based research service staffed by former Google Answers Researchers (GARs). Uclue launched on February 28 2007 [ [http://nancylynn-ga.blogspot.com/2007/06/uclue-many-of-your-favorite-gars-are.html nancylynn-ga's research: Many of Your Favorite GARs are Back at Uclue! ] ] . As of May 2007, 37 former Google Answers Researchers have signed on to answer questions at Uclue [Roger Browne, librarian.net, [http://www.librarian.net/stax/2037/google-answerers-a-tally/#comment-89347 first response to "Google Answerers, a tally"] , May 3, 2007] . Researchers are located in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and the Philippines. Thanks to this international diversity, Uclue is able to provide research and translation in English, German, Spanish, Tagalog, and conversational French. [ [http://nancylynn-ga.blogspot.com/2007/06/uclue-many-of-your-favorite-gars-are.html nancylynn-ga's research: Many of Your Favorite GARs are Back at Uclue! ] ] Over 1000 people from 6 continents have registered at Uclue as both clients and commentators. [ [http://uclue.com/?page=faq Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ] ] (Commentators are non-researchers who post helpful comments on questions and answers.) As of July 2008, over 2100 questions have been posted at Uclue. [http://uclue.com/?section=all (Includes the number of questions at bottom of page.)]

ervices

Uclue's researchers can provide answers spanning a broad and eclectic array of topics. Categories include Business, Genealogy, all the Sciences, Technology, Computer/Software Help, Health, and the Arts. [ [http://uclue.com/?section=browse Browse Categories ] ] Questions range from high-level business research: "Research on the NGO sector," [ [http://uclue.com/index.php?xq=466 Question: Research on the NGO sector ] ] to locating equipment and other items: "Color NTSC video camera for low-light usage," [ [http://uclue.com/index.php?xq=442 Question: Color NTSC video camera for low-light usage ] ] to the quirky: "How to Amuse a cat." [ [http://uclue.com/?xq=126 Question: Amusing a cat ] ]

The fee range is $10 to $400, and customers select the fee based on the complexity and/or obscurity of the requested information. Customers are encouraged to use the lower end of the fee scale only for relatively simple questions. [http://uclue.com/?page=faq (See "What Price Should I Set for My Question?")] Customers also have the option of tipping researchers. [http://uclue.com/?page=faq (See "Can I Tip the Researcher?")] Uclue customers pay via PayPal when they post a question. (There is no question listing fee.) If the question isn't answered within 14 days, the customer will receive a refund. Customers also have 30 days to request a refund if dissatisfied with an answer; however, customers are encouraged to use the Clarification process to refine the answer to their satisfaction before seeking a refund. [http://uclue.com/?page=faq (See "What If I'm Not Satisfied with the Answer Provided?)]

Origins

Uclue's origins are rooted in the closing of Google Answers to new questions on November 30 2006. Shortly after Google announced that Google Answers was being retired, Tomi Poutanen, Yahoo's Product Manager for Social Search, set up a group discussion with Google Answers Researchers (GARs). [ [http://www.internetmarketingmonitor.com/0202/yahoo-answers-to-ex-google-researchers-come-play-with-us.html Yahoo Answers to Ex-Google Researchers: Come Play With Us ] ] Poutanen explained Yahoo! was considering augmenting Yahoo! Answers with a "Premium" paid research service to be staffed by displaced GARs. Poutanen sought GARs' input on the proposal, but discussions soon fizzled. ["Answers Marketplace: Google Folds, Yahoo! Explodes, and Helium Rises," by Parry Social, Jack Myer's Media Village, December 04, 2006: http://blogs.mediavillage.com/bloom/archives/2006/12/answers_marketp.html See paragraphs: "While there was a real sense of community on Google Answers, researchers were frustrated that the upper limit of a transaction in GA was $200..." And: "Since the Google announcement, Yahoo!'s Poutanen has taken the initiative to set-up a Yahoo! group for ex-GARs to float a trial balloon of how Yahoo! might best use their expertise…" ] (To date, Yahoo! Answers has not added a fee-based "Premium" tier to Yahoo! Answers.)

Even before Yahoo's short-lived overture, ex-GARs were already focusing on plans to form their own fee-based Q&A service. Computer programmer and former GAR Roger Browne (known as eiffel-ga at Google Answers) announced he was starting a new Q&A service, Uclue. [ [http://web-owls.com/2006/11/29/a-new-paid-research-service/ Web Owls » Blog Archive » A new paid research service? ] ] ["Ex Google Answers Researchers Launch New Q&A Site": http://www.vivavip.com/go/w12511 ]

Startup of Uclue in Beta began on February 28 2007, and the launch was publicly announced on March 7 2007. Browne explained, "We were all saddened at the demise of GA, but we know there is a terrific need for a place where users can get fast, professional, high-quality research at a surprisingly low cost. Uclue is that place, and we're thrilled to announce that we're now in business". [ [http://web.vivavip.com/forum/Wire/read.php?i=12511 VIP Wire: Ex Google Answers Researchers Launch New Q&A S ] ]

In Computerworld's March 8 2007 feature article on Uclue, Emily Moore (Uclue researcher "journalist") expanded on Uclue's mission, which is "to assist people who don't have the time to search for themselves, or don't know how to search, [or] how to get into the deep Web. . .The niche that Uclue fills is for quality detailed, comprehensive information. People are quite willing to pay for that."

Comparison of Uclue to Google Answers

Uclue explained the differences in response to a question from Philipp Lenssen of Google Blogoscoped. (Lenssen is a former GAR known as j_philipp-ga): Question: How does Uclue compare to Google Answers? [ [http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2006-11-29-n37.html Google Answers Shuts Down ] ] [http://blog.outer-court.com/faq.html: " I'm a contractor for Google Answers as Researcher j_philipp"]

Currently, only former Google Answers Researchers may apply to become Uclue Researchers. [ [http://uclue.com/ Welcome to Uclue (Beta) ] ]

Business model

Uclue founder Roger Browne explained Uclue's business model in his answer to the question "Uclue itself": [ [http://uclue.com/?xq=369 Question: Uclue itself ] ]

"The financial basis for the business is straightforward. The income comes from question fees and tips. A few percent are lost due to payment processing costs. Of the remainder, 100% of tips and 75% of question fees goes to the researchers, and 25% of question fees goes to the service where it pays for hosting, software development, software maintenance, administration, marketing, legal expenses, etc. ... Apart from software development, the other costs are roughly proportional to question volume. Therefore, in the long term once the software development costs are amortized, the business is financially sustainable at any size - large or small."

References

External links

* [http://uclue.com/ Uclue.com]
* [http://www.vivavip.com/go/w12511 Uclue launch press release: "Ex Google Answers Researchers Launch New Q&A Site"] , March 7 2007
* [http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9012620 "Google alumni launch new answer brokering site"] , feature article on Uclue in Computer World by Heather Havenstein, March 8 2007
* [http://www.examiner.com/a-634733~Just_call_him_the_everyday__Answer_Man_.html "Just Call Him the Everyday 'Answer Man' "] a profile of Uclue researcher David Sarokin, written by Melissa Frederick, Examiner.com, March 23 2007
* [http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070307-former-google-answers-researchers-get-uclue.html "Former Google Answers Researchers Get Uclue"] by Jacques Cheng, Ars Technica, March 7 2007
* [http://web-owls.com/ Web Owls] : search tips and observations about the Web from former Google Answers Researchers and current Uclue researchers
* [http://groups.google.com/group/GAalumni/about Google Answers Alumni Group]