----------------------------------------------------------------- SearchReturn Discussion List "Understanding Internet Search Technology" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Moderator: Published by: Detlef Johnson SearchReturn http://www.searchreturn.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- December 29, 2005 Issue #025 ----------------------------------------------------------------- SEND POSTS: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Refer a friend: http://www.searchreturn.com/subscribe.shtml ----------------------------------------------------------------- .....IN THIS DIGEST..... // -- MODERATOR COMMENT -- // "Goodbye 2005" ~ SearchReturn // -- RECAP 2005 -- // "MSN Search Launches" "Google Extends AOL Partnership" "Race For China" "Google Analytics" ----------------------------------------------------------------- // -- MODERATOR COMMENT -- // ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> TOPIC: GOODBYE 2005 Hello everyone, Search had an incredible 2005, and we are looking forward to further growth in 2006. One memorable thing about 2005 is that news from mainstream press finally picked up big on search like never before. Googlemania led to some catchy headlines. This was a good thing when the story got search right. Regardless, the influx of search in the news brought Google and Yahoo! top of mind for most folks. Google is the top "Newsmaker Brand" during 2005, and expected to continue in 2006 according to a survey by Landor Associates and Penn Schoen & Berland. Yahoo! was number seven on the list of newsmaker product brands and celebrities. As mainstream press picked up, however, reporters consulted everyone under the sun for a catchy headline. PR machines from search engines serve their own needs, and spammy companies spin themselves to appear legitimate. Mainstream press has a habit of interpreting information with such newsroom frenzy, the facts or tone of discussion is often totally off base. The year of the blog helped make this much more fanatical, and often more wrong. Despite the blast of bad information, there were major search milestones throughout the year. What we'll do, is recap a few of the most important things here. We'll look for posts from you who want to include something not covered in this issue. That way, we can say a proper goodbye to 2005, and welcome the new year starting off thinking big. What do you suspect will be big for search in 2006? Stay tuned. -detlev ----------------------------------------------------------------- // -- RECAP 2005 -- // ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> MSN SEARCH LAUNCHES Essentials: Back in February, MSN began using Microsoft's home- grown search engine. Over a year in development, the search engine was highly anticipated. The launch fell far short of the quality search experience people expected, and MSN lost search marketshare. The year saw a number of quotes by Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer about matching Google relevance, including the "six-months" timeline. That did not materialize. This is version 1.0 of their engine, and we can expect further investment in advancing the state of MSN Search. Microsoft has shown their commitment to entering the industry with the October launch of AdCenter. The year 2006 should see MSN Search version 2.0, where we expect to see some quality enhancements that may come close to matching the other major players. Time will tell. There may or may not be anything to the rumored talks with Yahoo!. It could certainly make up for Microsoft missing an opportunity with AOL. What would that look like? ----------------------------------------------------------------- // -- RECAP 2005 -- // ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> GOOGLE EXTENDS AOL PARTNERSHIP Essentials: With Microsoft entering the search space, they tried very hard to come to terms with AOL for replacing Google as the default search engine and power the search ads. Google came out of the discussions extending their partnership with AOL for an additional 5 years. As part of the deal, $1 billion dollars buys a 5% stake in AOL for Google, and $330 million dollars buys Google advertsing (incluing image ads) for AOL. AOL represented about 10% of Google's 2005 revenue, so this may be a large amount of cash for the deal. It accomplishes some key things for Google which may make it a worthwhile gamble. It holds Google's search marketshare dominance for the time being, and the AOL investment can be sold off half way through the 5-year time period. It is a serious loss of opportunity for Microsoft who might otherwise have had a major search marketshare gain. ----------------------------------------------------------------- // -- RECAP 2005 -- // ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> RACE FOR CHINA Essentials: With the big prize of handling search for the most populous nation in the world, Yahoo! and Google are racing neck and neck. Microsoft has long held investments in China. With a high-profile battle over defector Kai-Fu Lee, Microsoft lost a key Chinese search expert to Google. Yahoo! meanwhile may be pulling ahead in the space. All companies are expected to cooperate with the hard-line Chinese governement, who have so far been less a vocal critic about American search company dominance than France or Japan. A feeling of threat, and cultural protectionism as response by France and Japan is something we might have expected from China. Yet the Chinese government is taking a much less adversarial approach. We can only guess cultural considerations are secondary for China when they want to encourage Western business interests. ----------------------------------------------------------------- // -- RECAP 2005 -- // ----------------------------------------------------------------- ==> GOOGLE ANALYTICS Essentials: All the search engines released a great number of innovative products and services during 2005. Most of these were released without cost and were seen to improve things for users. The release of (Urchin) Google Analytics, on the other hand, has far reaching consequences, and in particular, comes as a shock to the entire tracking industry. Though reactions have been minimized, the tracking industry will need to adapt to the news. Regardless of whether you feel anxious or not about Google tracking your stats, (including AdWords and other marketing referrals), Google will see a tremendous user install base in very little time. If you aren't already familiar with it, get familiar with the service now. Chances are a portion of your future clients will be using it, and you must be prepared. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Essential Headlines: http://www.searchreturn.com/newsworthy.shtml Archives: http://www.searchreturn.com/digest-archive.shtml Alternate formats: http://www.searchreturn.com/info-formats.shtml Manage Subscriptions: http://www.searchreturn.com/help/manage-subs.shtml Problems unsubscribing? Contact the postmaster: mailto:postmaster@searchreturn.com Information on how to sponsor this publication: http://www.searchreturn.com/help/advertise.shtml Published by SearchReturn http://www.searchreturn.com Website Membership: http://www.searchreturn.com/register.shtml The contents of the digest do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SearchReturn or Detlef Johnson. SearchReturn and Detlef Johnson make no warranties, either expressed or implied, about the truth or accuracy of the contents of the SearchReturn Digest. Copyright 2005 Detlef Johnson. All Rights Reserved. -----------------------------------------------------------------