This morning, Facebook announced the expected relaunch of Atlas, the ad serving and measurement challenger to Google’s DoubleClick. Both Marin Software and Kenshoo have been named as Atlas’ paid search partners. Facebook describes the partnerships working this way: Using a Search Engine Management (SEM) tool, a marketer can create paid search campaigns at scale and […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Insanity: Google Sends New Link Warnings, Then Says You Can Ignore Them Google’s war on bad links officially became insane today. For months, Google’s sending out warnings about bad links and […]
By all accounts Microsoft is struggling. It’s true that Bing is growing, but only slightly, while partner Yahoo continues to lose search share (to Bing) keeping the “Search Alliance” in the doldrums. Microsoft also recently took $6+ billion write-down on its 2007 aQuantive acquisition, resulting in a loss for its most recent fiscal quarter. Its […]
Over the past week there were rumors that Google and Facebook were both interested in buying Skype. Then Om Malik reported that Microsoft was really the one interested and the Wall Street Journal confirmed yesterday that Microsoft would be paying a remarkable $8.5 billion for the company, making it Microsoft’s largest acquisition to date: At […]
Quick: Are you a digital marketing pro? If so, complete this sentence: In the future, advertisers will combine online media with mobile ads to drive:____________. What did you put in the blank? Let me guess. Branding, combining rich online experiences with mobile mini-experiences? E-commerce, as more people surf the Web using both devices? Coupons and […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google Pitches Benefits, Ease Of Using Google Maps Google’s outreach last week was all about Street View. This week it appears to be Google Maps’ turn in the spotlight, thanks to […]
Yesterday Microsoft and French advertising holding company Publicis Groupe announced that the latter was buying agency Razorfish. Razorfish came to Microsoft as part of the $6 billion aQuantive deal, the largest acquisition in Redmond’s history. As part of the deal Publicis will give Microsoft 6.5 million shares, amounting to a roughly 3 percent stake in […]
The rumor becomes reality. Microsoft has named Dr. Qi Lu, formerly of Yahoo, to run its Online Services Group. And Brian McAndrews, as AllThingsD highlights, is leaving Microsoft. More details in the release below:
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Fortune magazine asks why Microsoft can’t make money online, and shares some striking numbers: The company’s Online Services unit, which includes Live Search, aQuantive, and the MSN portal, lost $480 million in the quarter that ended September 30th — 80% more than the same quarter a year ago. Ouch! Why the struggles? The article suggests […]
AdAge reported that Microsoft and mega-agency WPP have restarted talks that may result in the sale of Interactive agency Avenue A to the latter. Avenue A was part of the $6 billion deal for aQuantive that also included Atlas and the DrivePM ad network.
At one point or another, most of the big online media companies have talked about buying Facebook. Yahoo is rumored to have made an early offer of almost $1 billion for the company, which was (obviously) turned down. But as the MicroHoo discussions appeared to be deteriorating, Microsoft apparently made some formal inquiries about Facebook’s […]
At long last, Google owns DoubleClick. In doing so, the company has done something else that many people would have never believed possible. Become an SEO. That’s right — Google’s in the SEO business now, selling services through DoubleClick’s Performics to people who want to rank well on — um — Google. Conflict of interest? […]
This afternoon, Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft Platforms & Services Division, issued an email to Microsoft employees (that was released via its PR firm). The letter has a tone of confidence that assumes a deal with Yahoo will ultimately take place. It reiterates what Microsoft believes to be the benefits of that deal and looks […]
According to CNET, Microsoft isn’t waiting for the Yahoo acquisition to happen before it reorganizes. Several internal groups are slated for leadership change, and Steve Berkowitz, former Ask.com CEO and current SVP of Online Services for Microsoft, is apparently part of the changes.
The conference call has happened, and despite saying it has a plan to digest Yahoo, Microsoft didn’t share that with the world. Indeed, at one point it was said any plan depended on what Yahoo’s leadership would suggest. That means it’s time for What If. Some thoughts below from me and contributing editor Greg Sterling. […]
Danny and I just got off the Microsoft conference call. He’s already posted live notes from the call. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said at the outset, “This is a decision I’ve thought long and hard about. This is the right path for Microsoft and it’s the right path for Yahoo.” Ballmer added that “A year […]
The Microsoft conference call on the Yahoo bid is happening now. I’ll live blog rough notes. Greg Sterling will do a formal write-up later.
Microsoft announced this morning that it has acquired UK-based mapping platform and consumer destination MultiMap. Deal terms weren’t disclosed. MultiMap will reportedly operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft but within the Virtual Earth and search teams. According to the press statement issued, MultiMap brings “new location and mapping technology to complement existing offerings […]
Today, US senators Herb Kohl and Orrin Hatch published a letter (PDF) urging the US Federal Trade Commission to carefully consider the proposed Google-DoubleClick deal. Sure, who doesn’t agree with a careful review? But sadly, the letter gets a lot of things wrong, which is alarming coming out of the US Senate. Or perhaps predictable. […]
There are rumors and reports circulating that AOL is about to add Quigo to its now pretty full roster of online ad networks and technologies, which includes Tacoda, Advertising.com, Third Screen Media, Lightningcast, and AdTech. These entities are the backbone of AOL’s “Platform A” integrated online (and mobile) advertising, er, platform. AOL now claims that […]
The Microsoft adCenter blog has announced a private beta of their web analytics program: Project Gatineau. The blog entry notes that features include: Click and visitor tracking reports Marketing campaign reporting and conversion tracking Unique demographic and geographic information from your site visitors If you want to try it out, you can request an invitation. […]
Because Google has been so successful financially, one tends to think of Microsoft as the underdog these days. It’s not. Microsoft had a huge overall quarter, with revenue of $13.76 billion and profit of $4.29 billion. Vista appears to be selling well, despite mixed to negative reviews. So are Office and Halo 3. The Online […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
With the aQuantive acquisition now done, Microsoft is moving to try and thwart Google on multiple fronts, both competitive and regulatory. It is lobbying in the U.S. and before the EU to stop the DoubleClick acquisition, arguing it would create an online ad monopoly. And the longer the investigations, discussion of investigations, and hearings (which […]
The NY Post is reporting that Microsoft is weighing two big investment options: buying a 5 percent stake in Facebook (at rougly $500 million), which was widely reported yesterday, or buying some or all of Yahoo. But the options are probably mutually exclusive, given the earlier $6 billion acquisition of aQuantive.
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Microsoft has officially completed the acquisition of aQuantive Inc., which includes agency Avenue A | Razorfish and the Atlas ad-serving platform. The acquisition was the largest in Microsoft’s history, valued at roughly $6 billion. The company has also simultaneously created a new group that it’s calling the “Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group.”
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Microsoft vows it won’t let its core businesses be undermined by “the cloud.” This article from the NY Times (and related discussion at Techmeme) quotes Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer saying that Microsoft will compete aggressively with Google and other online alternatives to Office and will offer Web-based versions of all its core software: “We’re not […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Microsoft’s acquisition of aQuantive was recently approved by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Yahoo completed its acquisition of ad exchange Right Media after a green light from the FTC. That just leaves Google-DoubleClick as the last major acquisition on the regulatory table. Now a telecom consultant, Scott Cleland, president of Precusor LLC, has […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Microsoft’s bid to acquire online marketing firm aQuantive for $6 billion has cleared an antitrust regulatory hurdle, the companies said today. The FTC-mandated waiting period to review anticompetitive fallout from large mergers has passed without additional inquiries from the FTC, clearing the companies to move forward with the deal. A shareholder meeting is scheduled for […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
FTC Examines Web-Ad Deals Involving Microsoft, Yahoo from the Wall Street Journal reports both Microsoft and Yahoo will be undergoing antitrust reviews. The Federal Trade Commission will be reviewing the $6 billion bid by Microsoft to buy aQuantive and the $680 million bid by Yahoo to buy Right Media. Google is already under antitrust review […]
Back at the beginning of this year, my 14 "Is Google Evil?" Tipping Points Since 2001 covered the history of how Google has been deemed to be too Big Brotherish or too dominant over the years. Another wave of Google hatred and fear is washing across the great sea of Blog. Here’s a look at […]
The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) ran an article quoting Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi, who made the following statements at a Goldman Sachs Internet conference: “Yahoo has a great business. Kudos to them, but we’re bigger globally. We have half a billion people . . . I still don’t think it’s the end of inning one. […]
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web:
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web: