An interesting report was published today that display ads may be pretty (pricey) vehicles with bells and whistles that dazzle the eyes, but it seems that cheap but effective search ads get better results, according to a report in The New York Times. 

While online advertising is still much stronger than other forms of advertising, there are signs of weakness.

The evidence, per the Times:

Online publishers are (at least right now) getting less money for the ad space they sell. (The prices paid through online advertising networks plummeted 23% from March to April).
Display ad revenues declined at AOL by 18%, according to Time Warner.

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I first must say that I am sorry for not having posted in the last few weeks, I was on a search for a new home for eMarketing 101. Sonia & I as well as eMarketing 101 are officially moving on May 24. Moving in BC does suck, I can say that much. Thankfully, Sonia prepared a “marketing plan” that really helped the process. It involved a sales letter, a description of our couple (where we met and things like these) as well as an appropriate dress code. I did not believe in all of it but it all worked out in the end.

Over the last few months, there has been a lot of speculations over the Microhoo deal, the acquisition of Yahoo by Microsoft and I have been reading a lot about it, even though I am not interested in reading, writing or commenting on these issues. I found that most of these articles were lame and filled with speculative outcome and its impact on the search industry. I did not treat those news seriously as much as I never believe in any potential Google Killer. That terminology all in itself is arrogant & unfounded. I am wondering why that would be the least but interesting. But apparently, people love to read about those things.

Understandibly, since nothing major was going on, that potential deal had a lot of press. Nevertheless, the best comment on what could have happened is clearly summarized today by Gord Hotchkiss in a Search Insider Article called: Don’t Crown Google Yet—The Rules of Engagement Are Still Being Determined. In this article, the only one I enjoyed reading on the Microsoft-Yahoo acquisition, Gord points out that it is a little premature to declare unconditional victory to Google. Even according to Google, we’ve barely begun to play the search game. To declare it won now would probably be as myopic as awarding the crown to AltaVista in 1997. With his usual incisive style, Gord goes on by comparing Yahoo & Microsoft with 2 dysfunctional families that could have never made things better. Delicious.

It is the one and only article you should read on the Microhoo failed acquistion.

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