His passion for blogging and Google products, in that order, has landed Silicon Valley Tech blogger and startup consultant Louis Gray, a job as Product Marketing Manager on the Google+ team. From Monday onwards, Gray will be playing the role of an evangelist promoting the search engine giant’s social venture – Google+.
Though the role is fluid, what is confirmed is that Gray will work with Google+ engineers to improve the product, setting future goals and, importantly, promoting the social network. The jobs seems to be custom-made for Gray who has been writing about Google’s technology, innovations and its products on his personal blog.
Yet, until a couple of years back, Gray was critical of Google and was favoring Apple instead. However, slowly but surely he was drawn towards Google which he evinced on his blog as, “Google is growing on me in a big way, and they are the real alternative to Apple – something Microsoft never really was.” These days you’re more likely to find him using Chrome OS, Android phones and tablets, posting on Google+, and collecting cute Android figures.
Prior to being hand-picked by Google, Gray was the managing director of his own company Paladin Advisors Group, an independent strategic advisory firm for startups.
Maintaining and promoting the credibility of his blogs, Gray scrupulously disclosed that he holds equity in Teens in Tech, MyLikes and SocialToo, whenever he mentioned them or their competitors in his blog.
On his Google appointment, the Noogler (that is what new Google employees are called) said in his blog, “I have worked closely with and learned from some of the top people in the valley and beyond. I have spent time with different teams at Google and learned how they work, what they find valuable and seeing how their goals mirror many of my own.”
Commenting on his new employer, Gray says that Google has changed a vast deal since 2006, when he first started blogging about the company. He admired the company for being vocal in fighting for standards, data portability and bringing content to more users, faster. The Internet giant’s social endeavor also found favor with the blogger who thinks that it was the next logical step for Google.
Though he said he was keen to be on the inside and help build and promote a product that is not just fun but intelligent and useful, he confided that it was a bit daunting to be working for a company which is far greater and larger than any company he has so far worked with. However, he says his fears were unfounded as every time he asked about the potential for slowness and bureaucracy, he was told about how the company had been revitalized under Larry Page and had the enthusiasm and vivacity of a startup. Gray says Google does not flinch from experimenting which is evident from its projects such as the ‘drivereless cars.’
Gray assured his readers that though he would be busy with his new 9-5 work, he would be blogging with the same honesty and intensity but maintaining confidentiality where appropriate. He peaked readers’ interest mentioning that he had been holding back some ideas and feedback on Google+ which he would be sharing once he is a part of the project. He also confirmed that he would continue to remain a major advocate for small startups, niche apps and services.