Getting Granular: The DigitalGrit Blog

Microsoft Buys aQuantive

Microsoft announced this morning its acquisition of aQuantive, analyst darling of the online agency space. The parent company of Avenue A|Razorfish was picked up by the software giant only weeks after its loss of DoubleClick to Google -- any only days (day?) after WPP picked up 24/7 RealMedia, and hot on the heals of Yahoo's acquisition of Right Media.

I think that leaves ValueClick as the last publicly traded agency standing.

Yahoo/HotJobs in deal with local newspapers

Yahoo's struck a deal with seven major newspaper publishing groups will use its technology to sell ads and offer search on the Web sites of over 150 daily papers across 38 states. Ads placed in these papers will also appear on Yahoo HotJobs.

According to Reuters:

Yahoo aims to expand its reach into local markets, viewed as a key growth channel for the newspaper industry as it faces circulation declines and a migration of readers to the Internet and other media...

..."We believe the local segment is largely untapped and provides significant opportunities to expand audience engagement and subsequently grow local advertising," Yahoo Chief Executive Terry Semel said.

Local search is just getting hotter by the day. If you haven't started thinking about this as part of your marketing plan, START.

Google, Yahoo and Microsoft Working Together on SiteMaps.org

SiteMaps.org will do the impossible: Unite Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. The big three have agreed to work together on the Google-created, XML-based protocol.

SiteMaps has seen great adoption by search engine optimzation professionals and webmasters alike, as the tool makes it easier for search engine spiders to index a site and tell how frequently it's updated.

The Big Three will encourage other search engines, as well as CMS vendors, to support the protocol.

From Computer Business Review.

Ask -- not Google or MSN -- Powers Lycos Search

That's right -- Lycos has selected the dark horse, IAC's Ask.com, to fuel its search. See the article on MediaPost today:

STRIKING A BLOW AGAINST TWO of its far bigger rivals, Ask.com will replace MSN and Google as the natural search and sponsored listings provider on Lycos. Previously, MSN Windows Live powered organic search results and Google supplied sponsored search listings.

By partnering with Lycos, which had 25.7 million unique visitors in September, Ask.com will be able to boost its brand and expand its paid listings business. Lycos generates about 125 million search queries per month, according to internal company numbers. 

Ask has made headlines since its February relaunch, becoming the fastest-growing search engine among users this year -- but still owning only 5% marketshare, next to Google's 44%. The new partnership will help fuel that growth, making Ask.com a much bigger contender in the space.

Will Google be Bigger than Microsoft?

HipMojo predicts that Google could be bigger than Microsft by 2010.

Right now: Google is at $130 billion while MSFT is at $280 billion.  That’s less than 4 years to increase by $150 billion.  And yes, that assumes MSFT does not increase in value.  Is that realistic....

Today, MSFT has a market cap of $284 billion, and that includes a wallop of cash.

Tale of the tape: Google $287 billion; MSFT $284 billion

Pretty crazy, huh? Yet not unthinkable, considering how quickly Google innovates. There's something to be said for those massive beta launches; there's method to the madness there. Google's not afraid to make bold moves early on -- I mean, when did they launch Blogger? And how long did it take Microsoft to launch its own paid search, post-Overture? Microsoft may still own our desktops, but they're just not keeping up with Google in the Web space. And Google may just squeeze MS out of our offices, as well.

Thanks to Andy Beal for this one!

Windows Live Search -- Open for Business, Officially

The "beta" has been removed from WindowsLive Search. With a sleek, celan design that makes Google's look old and clunky, the new Microsoft Search is certainly attractive.

Now let's get some feedback on the results! (Jeremy Zwadony has already weighed in on speed and relevancy, with a review that's mixed overall, but notes that the Web search has "greatly" improved. Read his commentor reviews, too.)

Also, now in beta: QnA -- Microsoft's newest community effort, similar to Yahoo! Answers.

Google Apps for Your Domain (plus screen shots)

Google heats up the battle against Microsoft's Live offering with Google Apps for Your Domain.

Not exactly a catchy moniker (just call it Google Apps? GAFYD?) but something for Microsoft to freak out about until their new offerings are ready for public use!

Right now Google Apps includes Gmail, Google Talk, Google Calendar and a Page Creator. OfficeLive is also in a free Beta, offering similar apps, plus hosting and analytics.

Read more.

Google Apps for Your Domain (plus screen shots)

Google heats up the battle against Microsoft's Live offering with Google Apps for Your Domain.

Not exactly a catchy moniker (just call it Google Apps? GAFYD?) but something for Microsoft to freak out about until their new offerings are ready for public use!

Right now Google Apps includes Gmail, Google Talk, Google Calendar and a Page Creator. OfficeLive is also in a free Beta, offering similar apps, plus hosting and analytics.

Read more.

Blogs Fuel Record-Breaking Internet Growth in July

From TG Daily (via Micro Persuasion):

The Internet added 4.4 million new hostnames during July - the single largest gain of new sites in a single month, according to Internet services firm Netcraft. The growth surpassed the previous records set in June of this year, which saw a 3.96 million site gain.

The main reason for the quick growth, Netcraft said, is the battle between Microsoft and Google to attract users to their blog services. Both firms contributed significantly to drive the Internet to a new record number of websites, which now stands at 92,615,362 websites. According to the firm, Microsoft added about 858,000 new sites, while Google gained about 568,000 during the month.

(Yes, it ends up being about Microsoft and Google again.)

Blogs Fuel Record-Breaking Internet Growth in July

From TG Daily (via Micro Persuasion):

The Internet added 4.4 million new hostnames during July - the single largest gain of new sites in a single month, according to Internet services firm Netcraft. The growth surpassed the previous records set in June of this year, which saw a 3.96 million site gain.

The main reason for the quick growth, Netcraft said, is the battle between Microsoft and Google to attract users to their blog services. Both firms contributed significantly to drive the Internet to a new record number of websites, which now stands at 92,615,362 websites. According to the firm, Microsoft added about 858,000 new sites, while Google gained about 568,000 during the month.

(Yes, it ends up being about Microsoft and Google again.)