Google Video Ads are A'comin'

Google's VP of Search Products and User Experience announced that video ads will start to be displayed on Search Engine Results pages. Those ads with a video ad will feature a plus sign, when clicked, will display the video ad.

Does that mean a double charge for our ads? My biggest fear is that someone might click on both ads, doubling the price, but doing little else.

A little testing and some reporting will go a long way in figuring out if this is a good move for SEMs. It really could be.

Long gone are the days of the uncluttered Google SERP page I guess.

Tags: google, google video ads, you tube

Microsoft & Yahoo - It's ON

Like a scorned lover, Microsoft is taking the offensive in it's takeover of Yahoo.

They are waging a proxy battle against Yahoo now. For those of you (like me), who weren't quite familiar with a proxy battle, it's defined as:

Strategy used by an acquiring company in a hostile takeover attempt whereby the acquirer challenges the target company's management and solicits support from the target company's shareholders for proposals that would effectively give the acquiring company control of the target without having to pay a premium.

Microsoft has previously contacted Shareholders in an attempt to sway them over to Microsoft's side. (Did I mention acting like a scorned lover yet?) to which the larger shareholders have requested that the Yahoo board consider the offer.

Yahoo wants Microsoft to up it's bid, but in this latest turn of events, Microsoft could get out cheaper waging the proxy battle and ousting the current Yahoo execs.

On the SEM side, Yahoo and Microsoft both need help with their UIs for the paid search arena. Would a merger mean even more screwy interfaces or would we actually get something that is fairly user-friendly and interactive?

With AOL and NewsCorp looking to jump on the Yahoo purchase bandwagon, only time will tell where the SEMs end up on this deal.

More to come, I'm sure.

Tags: microsoft acquisition, proxy battle, yahoo shareholders, microsoft, microsoft buys yahoo, microsoft buys yahoo

Microsoft Shows the Money to Yahoo

This morning, Microsoft announced it's proposal to Yahoo!'s Board of Directors for $44.6 billion in cash and stock.

Yahoo! is reportedly considering the deal, as talks in February 2007 resulted in Yahoo! Board sending a letter to Microsoft, stating:

"now is not the right time from the perspective of our shareholders to enter into discussions regarding an acquisition transaction.”

One year later, and one day after Yahoo!'s shares dropped significantly, layoffs are announced and everyone is predicting the end of Yahoo! (again), Microsoft is riding in on it's white horse to save the day.

Microsoft's rebuttal (I mean, proposal) this year states,

"Microsoft’s consistent belief has been that the combination of
Microsoft and Yahoo! clearly represents the best way to deliver maximum
value to our respective shareholders, as well as create a more
efficient and competitive company that would provide greater value and
service to our customers."

The combination of these services include:

• Search & Display Advertising (obviously)
• Competition in the Realm of Search (Paid and Unpaid)
• Expanded Research & Development
• Operational Efficiency & Reduced Operating Costs (more layoffs coming??)
• Emerging Technology - Video, Mobile, Online Commerce, Social Media and Social Platform

My opinion coming shortly..

Technorati Tags: microsoft buys yahoo, microsoft, yahoo, microsoft acquisition, yahoo acquisition, search engine marketing, SEM, search engine

Free Music = Free Marketing

So, Radiohead is giving away it's newest studio release for free, understandably causing quite the stir in the music industry. On the official website for the band, you select how much you want to pay for the digital download of the album, including nothing (c'mon nothing for Radiohead??). From what I can tell this is more of a pre-sale for the box set coming out in December.

Just like any other digital download, there are no lyrics or album images. The box set will contain vinyl, CD, a wealth of images and more, all for just about $65 US (40 pounds). Or you could just use this cover image in iTunes.

What's fantastic about this model is that before you can get your activated link for the download, you have to Register and provide your name, address and mobile number in order to proceed. These people can now be remarketed for other efforts. I like that they collected a mobile number vs. landline because mobile is the most effective way to reach me and I know that in my generation, most of us are using mobile phones and technology on a daily basis.

While the immediate revenue and value probably aren't going to be seen on this venture, gathering this information for later ventures is golden for the Radiohead folks. By the time the box set comes out in December, how many reminders do you think the people who downloaded the album already will have received?

So how much did I pay for my Radiohead download? Only time will tell.

Update-a-palooza

I swear an update is coming soon.

I went to Ad-Tech.

I saw The Simpsons Movie.

And much, much more. Be patience, my pretties, it's coming...

Tags: ad tech, ad-tech, the simpsons movie

Where are The Simpsons Tie-Ins?

I don't know about you, but at my local 7-11, The Simpsons are about as prevelant as a sober college student at 2 a.m. Maybe I'm just not being fair. Maybe everything is just sold out. And maybe, just maybe, this is sour grapes, because my 7-11 wasn't one of those picked to be turned into a Kwik-E-Mart, but still, shouldn't I at least be able to go buy a can of Buzz Soda or Krusty-O's brand cereal? (August edit: They finally have the Buzz Cola for $.99, but alas, no Cereal)

It might not be a right, but I sure did want to spend some of my cash on that stuff prior to seeing the movie this month.

Complaining aside, I'm still going to see the movie.

Tags: the simpsons movie, buzz cola, krusty os, product marketing

New Google Offerings Matrix

Just released by Google today:

I love stuff like this. You better believe this is hanging my cube. Like I said, I love Google. (click on the small image to get the ful-sized one)

Download yours here.

Tags: igoogle, google mobile, google earth, google maps, google checkout, google matrix, google, google offerings, you tube, google radio, google content network, google adwords, google newspaper, google tv, google calendar, download google offering matrix

Funny Things at 7:45am

It's strange the things you notice in the shower when you're running late to the office.

For instance, this morning, I noticed that the circles on the logo for the Schick Intuition razor are very similar to the new DoubleClick logo. Don't you think?

Although it's entirely possible that I still need coffee. See for yourself and decide:

vs.

Tags: advertising logos, doubleclick, double click, schick, schick intuition