Help! DYING Google Helpouts YELPS out the door

Google has killed its Helpouts service less than two years since it first launched, because the ad giant failed to generate big bucks from a community of tipsters seeking to make small change from the venture.

As we noted at the time, Google was attempting to move in on the bottom-feeding "how to" publishing market and hoover up revenue from that biz.

But tips being shared via vids clearly didn't show the Larry Page-run company the money. So the product, which promised to distinguish itself from the competition, has been torpedoed by Google.

Mountain View said:

Since launching in 2013, Helpouts has been a home for people to connect with experts on topics they want to learn about or seek advice and solutions to everyday problems.

The Helpouts community includes some engaged and loyal contributors, but unfortunately, it hasn't grown at the pace we had expected. Sadly, we've made the tough decision to shut down the product.

Google Helpouts will be axed on 20 April. ®