Posts on Search  

Barry Parr | April 21, 2008, 05:57 PM
Limitations of street view
I'm not sure what this means, but I used the Internet is a new way today. Sort of. I was trying to remember the name of a restaurant where I had dinner the last time I was in New York, and couldn't find it in Google Maps or any of...( more )

Nate Elliott | April 17, 2008, 01:32 PM
Free Search Marketing Survey Data! (In exchange for a few moments of your time)
I apologize for not being a very active blogger lately -- I've been traveling quite a lot, and most of my blogging impulses have been going towards Twitter the last couple of weeks. But I did want to take a moment to announce that Jupiter is conducting its annual Search...( more )

David Schatsky | March 24, 2008, 10:19 AM
Don't Blame Google for Search-within-Search
The New York Times reports today on Google’s addition of a search-within-search feature, to allow users to search specific sites without leaving Google's own site. Some brands will be upset by this, because it creates a situation in which other marketers can advertise to customers via AdWords even as they...( more )

Nate Elliott | March 03, 2008, 03:20 PM
Integrating Images and Video Into Search Results
I've just finished up a report on how Yahoo, MSN, and Ask are competing with Google in Europe. The short answer, of course, is that they're not competing very well: Google is incredibly dominant in all the key European markets. But there are some ways that the other engines can...( more )

Nate Elliott | February 25, 2008, 06:21 PM
Search Clicks Worth Twice as Much as Contextual Clicks
Efficient Frontier is reporting its clients' average cost per click on paid search and contextual advertising across a range of categories. The category splits are interesting (note that EF's auto clients pay more for contextual clicks than for search clicks), but more interesting to me is the fact there's still...( more )

Thomas Husson | February 14, 2008, 03:49 AM
Back from Mobile World Congress
It is difficult to wrap up so many news but I tried to step back a little from the flow of information when flying back from Barcelona. After the 2007 takeaways, here below is my vision of the 2008 mobile mecca pilgrimage. MWC is and will continue to be a...( more )

Nate Elliott | February 01, 2008, 06:44 PM
My First Take: Can Microsoft + Yahoo Challenge Google in Search?
There's no shortage of comment around the blogosphere today about a possible combination of MSN and Yahoo, and its potential to threaten Google's dominance. But while it's useful to keep in mind what impact this will have on music, messaging, or other verticals, I'm going to stick with talking about...( more )

Nate Elliott | January 28, 2008, 12:37 PM
AdSense Seems to be Working Better for Advertisers
Since Google's AdSense program (which places advertisers' search ads into content pages) was first launched almost five years ago, many search marketers have questioned its effectiveness. I remember seeing a room full of angry advertisers rip into Google at a Search Engine Strategies panel back in 2003 for the low...( more )

Thomas Husson | January 16, 2008, 03:49 PM
T-Mobile , Yahoo! and mobile Internet ad euros
T-Mobile and Yahoo! today announce a strategic partnership which will see the first display advertising appear on T-Mobile’s Web'n'Walk service. I don't think there is any major difference between this agreement and that already announced between Vodafone and Yahoo! Interestingly, both operators have selected Google as their mobile search engine....( more )

Nate Elliott | December 20, 2007, 10:40 AM
Great New Yahoo Maps Feature... But Again, It's US-Only
As reported by the Kelsey Group, Yahoo Maps has introduced a great new drag-and-drop route planning feature in the US version of Yahoo Maps. Based on Yahoo's past timeline for rolling out their US local-and-map features internationally, we can expect to see drag-and-drop route planning in Europe in... perhaps two...( more )

Nate Elliott | December 11, 2007, 11:03 AM
Orange Keeps Fighting Google in France
In an announcement that slipped somewhat under the radar, Orange announced last week that they have upgraded their search engine. They've increased the size of their index, improved their response speed, added new features to their toolbar, and introduced desktop search. The problem, of course, is that all of these...( more )

Nate Elliott | October 17, 2007, 02:05 PM
I Want to Search By Neighborhood Name!
In researching my new report on Local Search in Europe, one of the biggest problems I found was that European search engines all provide such varied levels of support for users who search local terms within general search engines. I did a little local search testing on four leading German...( more )

Nate Elliott | September 20, 2007, 03:45 PM
Optimizing for Local Search
We'll be publishing a new report soon on local search in Europe -- analyzing how many Europeans search for local businesses online, how many European search marketers use local search targeting, and how well engines support both the users and the marketers. But in the meantime, I've just seen a...( more )

Thomas Husson | September 10, 2007, 02:52 AM
1st European deal for MEDIO
As mentionned in this mobile search report a few weeks ago, US white-label search providers are trying to expand in Europe to offer mobile operators a customized search engine that will help them promoting their own storefront and avoid the GYM (Google-Yahoo Microsoft) domination. Infospace was the first one to...( more )

Sapna Satagopan | August 27, 2007, 04:21 PM
Talking Multimedia at SES
I moderated a panel on ‘Optimizing for video search’, a topic that we wrote on last year here. What has changed since last year? Increasing advertiser interest and agency enthusiasm, for one. According to our survey, 15 percent of search marketers performed multimedia search optimization in 2006, and 36% plan...( more )

Sapna Satagopan | August 15, 2007, 10:38 PM
Yahoo! Local Search - A Great Upgrade
Yahoo rolled out a solid upgrade to its local search interface today. See here for the press release. Even as my maps and directions came from Google, I have remained a loyal user for other Yahoo services that are strongly local in nature – e.g., movie listings and local businesses....( more )

Thomas Husson | August 10, 2007, 05:27 AM
European Mobile Marketing & Advertising Survey
I will have a few days break next week but our executive survey is still live here until August 20th. See my previous comments below on the context of this survey. --------------- Here at Jupiter we're conducting our latest mobile marketing and advertising executive survey. If you're a mobile operator,...( more )

Sapna Satagopan | August 08, 2007, 02:37 PM
What and Where of Search
Slate recently published an article that explores the Google ‘suggest’ feature on the toolbar. Basically, it lists search terms by popularity on the drop-down list, while the site itself shows how many results appear for the searches. [The Googleplex reception area has the infamous monitor of recently conducted searches all...( more )

Sapna Satagopan | July 02, 2007, 10:35 PM
Is there Scope to Build a better search experience?
Hakia, a search engine that had started a buzz a year or so back, recently briefed me on their features and concept. Hakia is the ‘Semantic’ Search engine. I tested some keywords over the weekend, and quite liked the results for ‘iPhone’ I can see why Hakia’s biggest claim is...( more )

Thomas Husson | June 22, 2007, 12:52 PM
European Mobile Marketing & Ad Survey
Here at Jupiter we're conducting our latest mobile marketing and advertising executive survey. If you're a mobile operator, a mobile marketing specialist, an advertiser (whether a content provider or a FMCG brand) or an ad agency in Europe -- we'd like to invite you to participate. In exchange for taking...( more )

Nate Elliott | June 19, 2007, 04:20 AM
Change at Yahoo
Card knows portals (and portals' politics) best, so check his blog for slightly deeper thinking on this. But on a shallower level, I find it odd that Semel's leaving while Panama is getting pretty good reviews in the US and just launching elsewhere. (And for what it's worth, I was...( more )

Sapna Satagopan | June 15, 2007, 04:43 PM
People Search: Who is the Owner of YOU?
Spock.com, the latest entrant in the very nascent 'people search' business briefed us this week. A couple of other recent players seem to be pipl.com, wink.com and zoominfo [which has been around for much longer]. Barry Parr pointed me to the phone-bookish Yahoo People Search. People Search sites’ argument about...( more )

Sapna Satagopan | June 05, 2007, 03:42 PM
Vertical Search Partnerships
Vertical Search Partnerships Last week, Kosmix briefed Belis Aksoy, our auto analyst and me on their recent partnership with Autobytel. Earlier this year, Autobytel announced its launch of myride.com, an automotive vertical search site [The site still seems to be under construction]. They seem to have eventually partnered with Kosmix...( more )

Thomas Husson | June 04, 2007, 05:11 AM
InfoSpace: toward a new mobile positioning
In Europe, InfoSpace has until recently been viewed as a player in the mobile content business, particularly invested in the mobile games business. Following the wave of consolidation (latest news being I-play's acquisition), the company is coming back to its historical roots: SEARCH. InfoSpace is now leveraging its online experience...( more )

Sapna Satagopan | May 18, 2007, 06:10 PM
Google Searchology-First Take
The Google Searchology Event this week was slightly shorter than earlier ones, but packed a lot more punch for the press crowd. Key takeaways: · Universal Search-In a significant change to their search interface, Google will include relevant formats such as news, video, local, book excerpts in their results. What...( more )

Nate Elliott | April 27, 2007, 05:07 AM
Take the Jupiter Ad Survey -- and Get Free Data!
Here at Jupiter we're conducting our latest advertising executive survey. If you're an advertiser or an ad agency in Europe or the US who uses any kind of digital marketing -- online or mobile, display or search, rich media or video or text or GIF -- we'd like to invite...( more )

Nate Elliott | April 14, 2007, 06:59 AM
Google Buys DoubleClick
In case there was any doubt left, Google has made the acquisition that formally confirms their ambition to become an advertising operating system. Reporters, if you want to talk about this, I'll be checking my messages today. You can reach me on +49 30 40 50 4889....( more )

Nate Elliott | April 12, 2007, 12:26 PM
Guest Blogger: Kevin Heisler on AOL Search Marketplace
There's been lots going on in search this week. SES New York was apparently bigger than ever, and there were some key announcements that affect not just US companies but the European search marketing industry as well. In a further sign that old-school agencies are increasing their focus on search,...( more )

Nate Elliott | April 10, 2007, 04:02 AM
Google Launches US Directory Assistance
It was bound to happen, right? I don't have a ton of time to parse this, but Google has launched free directory assistance in the US. I don't quite agree with Gary that US directory assitance is a "bad, overpriced system" -- I think they've made great strides recently in...( more )

Nate Elliott | March 20, 2007, 02:38 PM
New Report: European Search Marketing Agencies Outlook
As most people are now aware, search engine marketing has been the driving force in European online advertising these last few years. In 2006, paid search spending across Europe overtook online display ad spending for the first time, and at Jupiter we're forecasting that European marketers will spend €2.7 billion...( more )

Nate Elliott | March 19, 2007, 09:49 AM
Ballmer Quotes Me Again
It's great to know I have such powerful fans. A little while back I noticed Steve Ballmer had borrowed my line about Google. I wasn't angry, of course -- it's flattering, really. Apparently, he's been at it again. According to Battelle, Ballmer called Google a "one-trick pony" last week. It's...( more )

Sapna Satagopan | February 05, 2007, 07:47 PM
Searching for the Super Bowl
Are marketers connecting the dots? According to this yearly Super Bowl search ad report card from agency reprisemedia, they are doing a better job of it, but still have some scope for improvement. Auto marketers especially have done a poor job of integrating search with TV ads, says the article....( more )

Barry Parr | December 05, 2006, 10:20 AM
Ask City bets big on its users' sophistication
Generally, I'm reluctant to take on the marketing-speak associated with a new product launch. But when Ask.com described Ask City to me as "an application rather than a website", it really helped me understand what they were trying to do. The application they've created works well at connecting events and...( more )

IanFogg | November 16, 2006, 04:02 PM
3 U-Turns with X-Series; AOL MIA
Mobile operator 3, announced today a final break with its original strategy: today there was no mention of a fully walled garden and a per event charging model for media content downloads and viewing email messages. 3 announced that the X-Series line will: "...offer mobile Internet services free at the...( more )

David Schatsky | October 10, 2006, 09:55 AM
Google to Buy N. Korea?
Nothing has been been announced, but the logic is unmistakable, and not just because North Korea's track record of successfully commercializing weapons systems could mean a nuclear-powered revenue stream for the Silicon Valley Web giant. No, Google would acquire 23 million new users in a purchase of North Korea. Given...( more )

Barry Parr | June 01, 2006, 01:56 PM
ASK.com and Bloglines get real honest-to-goodness synergy going
Ask.com and Bloglines have delivered a blog search tool that demonstrates some real synergy between the two divisions of the same company. Back during Web Boom 1.0, I coined a term. "Dyssynergy" is a corporate combination that results in a net destruction of value. Back in the good old days,...( more )

David Schatsky | March 27, 2006, 12:23 PM
The Thinking Man's Luddite
I agree with Card's critique of Edward Tenner's NYY Op-Ed piece on how Google is making us dumb. Tenner, who might be taken for the thinking man's Luddite, after his book "Why Things Bite Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences," is probably temperamentally inclined to look for the...( more )

David Schatsky | March 27, 2006, 12:23 PM
The Thinking Man's Luddite
I agree with Card's critique of Edward Tenner's NYY Op-Ed piece on how Google is making us dumb. Tenner, who might be taken for the thinking man's Luddite, after his book "Why Things Bite Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences," is probably temperamentally inclined to look for the...( more )

Thomas Husson | February 16, 2006, 10:32 AM
Back from 3GSM's pilgrimage
Pilgrims moved from Cannes to Barcelona and the congress growing attendance reflects several trends in the industry: larger presence of new entrants from Internet and media companies (MTV 1st) to fixed telecom suppliers (Cisco, Lucent,...), mobile operators being more discreet (T-Mobile and Orange's booth were large but outside the main...( more )

IanFogg | February 08, 2006, 06:27 PM
FT.com : Ebay's Wishful VoIP Thinking
The FT reports that Ebay sees Google, Yahoo, Amazon becoming less competitive with them : The four dominant internet groups - Google, Yahoo, eBay and Amazon - will increasingly focus on their core activities rather than compete with each other head-on, according to Meg Whitman, eBay's chief executive. "I think...( more )

IanFogg | January 16, 2006, 05:25 PM
Google Pack - What's in it for Google
Ignoring the obvious but shallow: "because they can" / it seemed a "really good idea" / to annoy Microsoft / and Larry Page aspired to command the stage at CES '06 in the way Steve Jobs has done many times over the years at Macworld.... Potential benefits to Google of...( more )

Nate Elliott | October 12, 2005, 10:08 AM
Philanthropy As PR
Must be nice to be rich enough to buy karma. I did note that, according to the reports, Larry and Sergey are giving around $265 million of *Google's* cash and advertising inventory to charity over the next three years -- around $85 million per year, and not out of their...( more )

David Schatsky | September 08, 2005, 12:09 PM
Google Redefines "Local Search"
Not quite, but in its announcement that it had hired Vinton Cerf it did mention that "Cerf is also working on the Interplanetary Network, a project of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, which aims to extend the Internet into outer space for planet-to-planet communications." Maps; local; interplanetary. The implications are obvious....( more )

Nate Elliott | August 08, 2005, 01:12 PM
Is Spiteful the same thing as Evil?
Google loves nothing more than talking about their well-publicized "do no evil" corporate policy. But in the last two weeks we've learned that they blacklisted an entire news organization for printing publicly-available information about Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and that they allegedly did some other bad stuff too. I'm not...( more )

David Card | May 17, 2005, 09:27 PM
Recapitulating Phylogeny
As usual, Clay Shirky is wise. As usual, as an academic who gets paid by the pound, he is incredibly long-winded. Read this, it's worth it. Why tagging links makes more sense than directories in the long run. (Think Google vs. the original Yahoo.) There are places where directories work...( more )

Nate Elliott | April 25, 2005, 08:18 AM
Organizing the World's What?
Google, which absurdly still claims that its sole mission is to "organize the world's information," is officialy turning its crappy text-ad network into a crappy banner network. In the process, it's formally ditching the company's already marshmallow-soft promise of targeting ads solely on user intent and relevancy. As Battelle points...( more )

David Schatsky | April 11, 2005, 10:54 AM
Niki's Great Adventure
Faithful readers of Niki Scevak's blog may be wondering what has become of it. Niki has decided to trade in sleep for entrepreneurship and to invest his off hours in a new venture. He still works for us focusing on forecasting an array of new-technology sectors, but will not have...( more )

David Schatsky | March 28, 2005, 10:44 PM
Google to Acquire Urchin
Even as WebTrends spins off from NetIQ, Urchin gets sucked into Google. (Announced today; not yet on their site.) "We want to provide web site owners and marketers with the information they need to optimize their users' experience and generate a higher return-on-investment from their advertising spending," said Jonathan Rosenberg,...( more )