Getting Granular: The DigitalGrit Blog

Microsoft on Entering the Search Battleground: It'll Take Time To Catch Up to Google and Yahoo (But we'll get there!)

In a week overflowing with news and rumors about Google and Yahoo!, Microsoft has made an announcement of its own -- No, they're not buying Yahoo! (or vice/versa), on the contrary, they have announced a five-year plan to catch up to the big guys. Recognizing that they're a late entry to the game, Microsoft will aggressively attempt to grab a honkin' slice of the online advertising pie:

"I don't think you will see some overnight transformation," [Microsoft CEO] Ballmer said. "It is going to have to be longer term. It makes sense for us to talk about five years."

Microsoft is making a big push into Web services and has vowed to keep investing in a variety of technologies as it seeks to transform the way both businesses and consumers operate on the Internet.

... At the core of this plan is Windows Live, an advertising-funded, one-stop shop for services from e-mail, to instant messaging, to blogs that targets the fast-growing online ad market. Forrester Research projects online advertising will grow to $26 billion in 2009 from a current $15 billion.

"We are a little bit late in the game," Ballmer said. "But at the end of the day it is going to be about the ability to create a mass marketplace for buyers and consumers....We are hard at work on our own core services where at the heart we want the users to be in control," Ballmer said. "There is a whole set of things we are doing to let the user be in control."

The game is heating up. Let's see if Microsoft can hold its own. Read the whole article. (UPDATE: Here's an even better article.)

Microsoft + Yahoo=Worthy Opponent to Google? The Rumors are FLYING!

The Wall Street Journal "heard" that Microsoft could be considering an equity stake in Yahoo! to compete with Google. (Search Engine Lowdown suggested as much yesterday, probably the Journal's source here.)

In a nutshell, it sounds like Microsoft is interested in a deal (although historically they've been more a "build-our-own" operation) but Yahoo isn't.

Currently, talks of an equity stake in Yahoo don't appear to be active, given that Microsoft is focusing on a reorganization that it hopes will re-energize its effort to compete with Google, the fast-growing provider of search services and advertising.

Two wild cards remain: Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, who has historically shunned large acquisitions, and Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, whose support would be key to bringing the necessary Yahoo shareholders on board for a deal. Mr. Yang and others in Yahoo would be hard-pressed to sell to Microsoft, people close to the company say.

However, people familiar with Microsoft say its top management remains open to a deal with Yahoo as pressure grows to perform better against Google.

The increasing pressure on Microsoft -- not just from Google, but also from its own shareholders, as well as from advertisers that want an alternative to Google -- could help to justify the acquisition or some kind of business collaboration, these people say.

It's clear enough that Microsoft is serious about getting a piece of the SEM pie while it's hot. Hiring Steve Berkowitz, reclaiming and revaming their search engine (Windows Live Search), integrating MSN with it's new browser, moving in on Alexa -- they're being pretty aggressive about it. John Battelle thinks Google's starting to feel the heat.

We'll see how much truth there is to the rumors. Google's growth may have slowed a bit, but they still rule search. And while there may be a Yahoo-Microsoft partnership in the works, based on Microsoft's history, it seems more likely that they'll try to build their own bigger, better, prettier version of Google.

Microsoft + Yahoo=Worthy Opponent to Google? The Rumors are FLYING!

The Wall Street Journal "heard" that Microsoft could be considering an equity stake in Yahoo! to compete with Google. (Search Engine Lowdown suggested as much yesterday, probably the Journal's source here.)

In a nutshell, it sounds like Microsoft is interested in a deal (although historically they've been more a "build-our-own" operation) but Yahoo isn't.

Currently, talks of an equity stake in Yahoo don't appear to be active, given that Microsoft is focusing on a reorganization that it hopes will re-energize its effort to compete with Google, the fast-growing provider of search services and advertising.

Two wild cards remain: Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, who has historically shunned large acquisitions, and Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, whose support would be key to bringing the necessary Yahoo shareholders on board for a deal. Mr. Yang and others in Yahoo would be hard-pressed to sell to Microsoft, people close to the company say.

However, people familiar with Microsoft say its top management remains open to a deal with Yahoo as pressure grows to perform better against Google.

The increasing pressure on Microsoft -- not just from Google, but also from its own shareholders, as well as from advertisers that want an alternative to Google -- could help to justify the acquisition or some kind of business collaboration, these people say.

It's clear enough that Microsoft is serious about getting a piece of the SEM pie while it's hot. Hiring Steve Berkowitz, reclaiming and revaming their search engine (Windows Live Search), integrating MSN with it's new browser, moving in on Alexa -- they're being pretty aggressive about it. John Battelle thinks Google's starting to feel the heat.

We'll see how much truth there is to the rumors. Google's growth may have slowed a bit, but they still rule search. And while there may be a Yahoo-Microsoft partnership in the works, based on Microsoft's history, it seems more likely that they'll try to build their own bigger, better, prettier version of Google.

Friday Fun: The Future of Search (Scott Delea's Presentation from eComXpo)

Well, education can be fun, too!

Want to see where search is heading? Watch this multimedia presentation on the Future of Search. Learn how local search and consumer-generated media will change the face of "the searchosphere." 

Download scottdelea_the_future_of_search_evolving_seo_ecomxpo_presentation_april_4.pps

Then start thinking about how you need to update your approach to search engine marketing and optmization to stay ahead of the curve -- and at the top of the SERPs !

Friday Fun: The Future of Search (Scott Delea's Presentation from eComXpo)

Well, education can be fun, too!

Want to see where search is heading? Watch this multimedia presentation on the Future of Search. Learn how local search and consumer-generated media will change the face of "the searchosphere." 

Download scottdelea_the_future_of_search_evolving_seo_ecomxpo_presentation_april_4.pps

Then start thinking about how you need to update your approach to search engine marketing and optmization to stay ahead of the curve -- and at the top of the SERPs !

Google AdWords New Demographic Site Selection

One of our account managers picked up on this this morning. A new Google feature, just slipped stealthily into AdWords. Now you can target your ad buy to your demographic, based on household income, gender, etc.

John Battelle blogged about this just before we caught on:

How has the company done this? It's working with Comscore/Media Metrix to stripe domains with Comscore's panel-based demographic data.

Battelle promises more info as he gets it. I'm most curious to learn about the accuracy, myself. Any opportunity to make your online advertising more relevant is fabulous -- as long as it works.

Google AdWords New Demographic Site Selection

One of our account managers picked up on this this morning. A new Google feature, just slipped stealthily into AdWords. Now you can target your ad buy to your demographic, based on household income, gender, etc.

John Battelle blogged about this just before we caught on:

How has the company done this? It's working with Comscore/Media Metrix to stripe domains with Comscore's panel-based demographic data.

Battelle promises more info as he gets it. I'm most curious to learn about the accuracy, myself. Any opportunity to make your online advertising more relevant is fabulous -- as long as it works.

Quick update from the Search Engine Strategies NY Exhibit Hall

Checking in from the wireless lounge at SES New York...which is lovely in that it CONNECTS. (The NY Hilton is kind of notorious for being a communications void!)

The show this year is actually really nice. One has to compare it to uber-tradeshow ad:tech, as it's held in the same venue, the New York Hilton, and they both target web marketers. (In fact, I've seen pretty much the entire ad:tech team wandering the floor, so I guess they're comparing, too.)

Truthfully, the shows are as different as night and day, at least from my standpoint as an exhibitor. Ad:tech is all hustle and bustle -- you can barely squeeze down the aisles of the exhibit hall floor. And ad:tech is all about the show floor.

SES, on the other hand, is a more laid back affair. Exhibit hall aisles are wide and lighting is more comfortable. The booths are spaced farther apart, and the whole show just feels more relaxed. It's not nearly as exhausting, IMHO.

And, what's really cool is that everyone here is really excited about the show's content. I'm hearing excellent reviews of the sessions, and apparently, they're really well attended. I haven't actually made it to any of them, but the buzz is very positive.

A few more observations from the show floor...in keeping with the low-key atmosphere, swag is at a bare minimum here. I've grabbed a few pens, a single t-shirt, and that's about it. Everyone's very serious about selling their services, and a lot less interested in giving away frisbees or die-cast cars. (And let's face it...as cool as it is to have good swag, the ROI is pretty low -- if it even exists. I don't know if anyone's ever landed a client on the basis of their adorably branded Post-It notes. I could be wrong, though! But this could just be sour grapes because I missed out on those nifty light-up pens Ask.com was giving away.) I should add, though, that although the gifties are few and far between, there are still plenty of giveaways including iPods and

Let me add that I don't think that these companies are cutting back on swag for any reason other than this: they don't need it. If anything, the atmosphere is changing for the better, and everyone's a lot more interested in just getting down to business. At risk of sounding cliche, my sense is that it's all indicative of an industry that really is "growing up."

And one last insight to share -- probably the only important one in this post: If you were at all concerned about the future of SEM, here's some news that may allay your fears -- next year, the exhibit hall at Search Engine Strategies New York will encompass three floors of the New York Hilton. Seems to me that this market is only getting bigger and hotter.

Quick update from the Search Engine Strategies NY Exhibit Hall

Checking in from the wireless lounge at SES New York...which is lovely in that it CONNECTS. (The NY Hilton is kind of notorious for being a communications void!)

The show this year is actually really nice. One has to compare it to uber-tradeshow ad:tech, as it's held in the same venue, the New York Hilton, and they both target web marketers. (In fact, I've seen pretty much the entire ad:tech team wandering the floor, so I guess they're comparing, too.)

Truthfully, the shows are as different as night and day, at least from my standpoint as an exhibitor. Ad:tech is all hustle and bustle -- you can barely squeeze down the aisles of the exhibit hall floor. And ad:tech is all about the show floor.

SES, on the other hand, is a more laid back affair. Exhibit hall aisles are wide and lighting is more comfortable. The booths are spaced farther apart, and the whole show just feels more relaxed. It's not nearly as exhausting, IMHO.

And, what's really cool is that everyone here is really excited about the show's content. I'm hearing excellent reviews of the sessions, and apparently, they're really well attended. I haven't actually made it to any of them, but the buzz is very positive.

A few more observations from the show floor...in keeping with the low-key atmosphere, swag is at a bare minimum here. I've grabbed a few pens, a single t-shirt, and that's about it. Everyone's very serious about selling their services, and a lot less interested in giving away frisbees or die-cast cars. (And let's face it...as cool as it is to have good swag, the ROI is pretty low -- if it even exists. I don't know if anyone's ever landed a client on the basis of their adorably branded Post-It notes. I could be wrong, though! But this could just be sour grapes because I missed out on those nifty light-up pens Ask.com was giving away.) I should add, though, that although the gifties are few and far between, there are still plenty of giveaways including iPods and

Let me add that I don't think that these companies are cutting back on swag for any reason other than this: they don't need it. If anything, the atmosphere is changing for the better, and everyone's a lot more interested in just getting down to business. At risk of sounding cliche, my sense is that it's all indicative of an industry that really is "growing up."

And one last insight to share -- probably the only important one in this post: If you were at all concerned about the future of SEM, here's some news that may allay your fears -- next year, the exhibit hall at Search Engine Strategies New York will encompass three floors of the New York Hilton. Seems to me that this market is only getting bigger and hotter.

DigitalGrit's Jonathan Mendez on Two Panels at Search Engine Strategies NY

Our own Jonathan Mendez has been tapped for two coveted panelist spots at next week's SES New York.

Jonathan will be participating on these two panels on Wednesday:

At 11:00 AM:

Putting Search Into The Ad Mix
Search engine marketing should be considered as an essential part of any overall marketing campaign, online and off. In this session, we look at successes from considering search from the very beginning, failures that result if this is not done and how other marketing can also help search.
Moderator:
Danny Sullivan, Editor, SearchEngineWatch.com
Speakers:
Ron Belanger, Senior Director of Global Advertiser Strategy and Development, Yahoo! Search Marketing
Chris Copeland, Partner, Managing Director, Outrider Search Marketing
Jonathan Mendez, Director of eMarketing, DigitalGrit
David Roth, Director of Search Marketing, Carat Fusion  (Didn't he front Van Halen??)

At 2:00 PM:

Branding & Search
What impact does search have on branding? This session look at the role of search in building brand, as well as how branding can support search.
Moderator:
Danny Sullivan, Editor, SearchEngineWatch.com
Speakers:
Cam Balzer, Director of Search Strategy, Performics Inc.
Ron Belanger, Senior Director of Global Advertiser Strategy and Development, Yahoo! Search Marketing
Rand Fishkin, CEO, SEOmoz.org
Jessica Koster, E-Commerce Marketing Manager, Danskin
Jonathan Mendez, Director of eMarketing, DigitalGrit

And of course, we'll also be exhibiting. We'll have booth 2112 in Americas Hall II. Want to set up an appointment with us? Email us or call 973-316-9696.