Microsoft: We Can Be ‘Riskier’ With Search
Mar 23, 2009 at 3:43pm ET by Matt McGee
Talk about finding a silver lining in dark search clouds: In two recent interviews, Microsoft has talked up its third-place position in search engine market share as something that gives the company more freedom than Google to take risks.
It started last week with a Bloomberg report quoting Steve Ballmer:
“Google does have to be all things to all people. Our search does not need to be all things to all people.”
And today, Live Search GM Mike Nichols echoed that in an interview on paidContent.org:
“…Google suffers from the innovator’s dilemma. To a degree, every change they make to their search engine has a potential revenue implication for them.
In our particular case, we, of course, care about revenue as well, but we’re not in the market position they are in. We are in a position where we can be a bit riskier.”
Nichols tip-toed around questions asking for specifics about the risks Microsoft is planning, but the Ballmer piece mentions “new business models and ways to present Web search results.” I’ve written recently about the company’s Demo Fest and Tech Fest, but the ideas mentioned there are said to be in very early stages. In any case, it looks like we can expect an update to the Live Search product this spring — possibly under the Kumo.com name, but possibly not according to Nichols. Either Microsoft isn’t ready to tip its hand, or it hasn’t figured out what cards it has.
On a related note, TechFlash has published the highly sarcastic The Top 10 Greatest Moments in Microsoft Internet Search History. And any big picture thinking about Microsoft’s search past and future should include Danny Sullivan’s Tough Love For Microsoft Search from a couple months ago.
Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:
Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter
See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Microsoft: Bing sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!
TOP STORIES
SEARCH NEWS BRIEFS
FEATURES & ANALYSIS
RECENT COMMENTS
- kloeprich said " The recent news confirms suspicions I’ve had that News Corp and MS were already in negotiations with"
- Susannah said " I can't wait to try some of these tips this week. What a resource! It's like having a coffee with 21"
- dian said " I haven't tried that yet but if it is the way Mazter is saying I think it won't going to do any good"
FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!
Stay on top of all the search news with our daily summary, the SearchCap newsletter. View a sample ›
STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.
SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »
Join us at an upcoming SMX event:
- SMX West - March 2-4, 2010
- SMX Munich - March 23-24, 2010
- SMX Toronto - April 8-9, 2010
- SMX Sydney - April 22-23, 2010
- SMX Advanced London - May 17-18, 2010
- SMX Advanced Seattle - June 8-9, 2010
- SMX East - October 4-6, 2010
- SMX Stockholm - October, 2010
Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:
- Making Online Marketing Relevant and Responsive: Tactics and A Tool for Success - November 17, 2009
- Ask the Search Engines: War Stories from the World Tour - December 1, 2009
- Turning Clients Into PPC Champions: How to Make PPC Meaningful to "the Other Guys" - December 8, 2009
TRACK US SOCIALLY
- Wall Street Journal Recommended Reading
- Ad Age Power 150 Blog
- Technorati Top 100 Blog
- Techmeme Leaderboard Source
- Best Search Engine Community/Forum
Featured sites from our Blogroll
Get Your Search Engine Land
Premium Membership!
Become a premium member today and receive:
- Express commenting privileges & photo.
- Exclusive videos & newsletters.
- Discounts to our SMX conferences.
- Access to "How To" & Other Archives.
© 2009 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Google, Yahoo & Microsoft logos trademark respective companies and used with permission.
