Comments on: When Will Ask.com’s Ad Campaign Start Paying For Itself? http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:47:45 -0800 hourly 1 By: Hits Singapore » Blog Archive » Microsoft Should Look To Ask.com For Commercial Ideas http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-2499169 Hits Singapore » Blog Archive » Microsoft Should Look To Ask.com For Commercial Ideas Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:47:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-2499169 [...] ads. The campaign failed to drive any traffic, and was abandoned only $15 million into the $100 million contract. The same firm was in charge of Microsoft’s recent botched campaign featuring Bill [...] [...] ads. The campaign failed to drive any traffic, and was abandoned only $15 million into the $100 million contract. The same firm was in charge of Microsoft’s recent botched campaign featuring Bill [...]

]]> By: Microsoft Should Look To Ask.com For Commercial Ideas http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-2486269 Microsoft Should Look To Ask.com For Commercial Ideas Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:45:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-2486269 [...] ads. The campaign failed to drive any traffic, and was abandoned only $15 million into the $100 million [...] [...] ads. The campaign failed to drive any traffic, and was abandoned only $15 million into the $100 million [...]

]]> By: It’s Over For Seinfeld, But Crispin Porter Keeps Microsoft Business http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-2472839 It’s Over For Seinfeld, But Crispin Porter Keeps Microsoft Business Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:13:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-2472839 [...] their 2007 work for Ask.com was horrific. The company budgeted a $100 million campaign to a campaign that included strippers with swords (here’s the video), urine-themed display [...] [...] their 2007 work for Ask.com was horrific. The company budgeted a $100 million campaign to a campaign that included strippers with swords (here’s the video), urine-themed display [...]

]]> By: desktop flower free photo site wallpaper http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1923409 desktop flower free photo site wallpaper Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:47:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1923409 the perks of being a wallflower day flower name prune tree valentine bead does easy flower it wire flower flower garden garden rose rose <a href="http://flowers-for-people.com/" rel="nofollow">desktop flower free photo site wallpaper</a> where have all the flower gone flower and gift delivery for valentine flower and wine for valentine day flower flower garden garden rose rose the perks of being a wallflower day flower name prune tree valentine bead does easy flower it wire flower flower garden garden rose rose desktop flower free photo site wallpaper where have all the flower gone flower and gift delivery for valentine flower and wine for valentine day flower flower garden garden rose rose

]]> By: Barry Diller Uncomplicates His Life—Splits IAC Five Ways http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1729008 Barry Diller Uncomplicates His Life—Splits IAC Five Ways Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:33:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1729008 [...] Diller is finally streamlining his life by deconglomerating IAC. The Internet giant (with quarterly revenues of $1.5 billion) announced this morning that it will break up into five separate companies, each [...] [...] Diller is finally streamlining his life by deconglomerating IAC. The Internet giant (with quarterly revenues of $1.5 billion) announced this morning that it will break up into five separate companies, each [...]

]]> By: Sherwin Shao http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1724845 Sherwin Shao Sat, 03 Nov 2007 19:27:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1724845 Simple was nice, but that's passe. Ask.com has an amazing interface, and will continue to gain market share in my opinion. It's like kijiji will gain over craigslist, just by giving a much richer user experience. I also like HelpGlobe.com. Simple was nice, but that’s passe.

Ask.com has an amazing interface, and will continue to gain market share in my opinion. It’s like kijiji will gain over craigslist, just by giving a much richer user experience. I also like HelpGlobe.com.

]]> By: j moss http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1721805 j moss Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:31:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1721805 Ask needs to adopt Cost Free Economics, a patent pending economic technology that changes commerce as we know it. It can convert search to a meaningful targeted result that benefits the consumer directly and ultimate consumer self interest. This converts search to real purpose with results that actually address what a user is searching for as opposed to most results that are ranked in some way with false SEO optimization. Ask.com needs to develop a consumer benefit business model search. A search widget that gives access to any consumer to the “save all you spend ” economics process would create an unstoppable, perpetual growth economic search engine that would benefit all parties. Ask search users, the sites and the markets will all benefit if this shopcostfree.com economic technology goes mainstream. Ask needs to adopt Cost Free Economics, a patent pending economic technology that changes commerce as we know it. It can convert search to a meaningful targeted result that benefits the consumer directly and ultimate consumer self interest. This converts search to real purpose with results that actually address what a user is searching for as opposed to most results that are ranked in some way with false SEO optimization. Ask.com needs to develop a consumer benefit business model search. A search widget that gives access to any consumer to the “save all you spend ” economics process would create an unstoppable, perpetual growth economic search engine that would benefit all parties. Ask search users, the sites and the markets will all benefit if this shopcostfree.com economic technology goes mainstream.

]]> By: sputnick http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1718393 sputnick Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:32:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1718393 What they need to do is get webmasters to stick Ask search bars on their sites. That's how Google grew their market share, back in the day when AltaVista reigned supreme. What they need to do is get webmasters to stick Ask search bars on their sites. That’s how Google grew their market share, back in the day when AltaVista reigned supreme.

]]> By: John Wooton http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1718038 John Wooton Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:45:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1718038 I agree with Dave and David above. It's going to take something substantially huge to give them the shift they need. The results just aren't as relevant as you would expect to find. A great concept and attractive UI don't make up for the overall consumer experience. I agree with Dave and David above. It’s going to take something substantially huge to give them the shift they need. The results just aren’t as relevant as you would expect to find. A great concept and attractive UI don’t make up for the overall consumer experience.

]]> By: David Mackey http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1716376 David Mackey Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:43:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1716376 Its gonna take something big to get me to switch to Ask - and advertising isn't gonna do it. When you have a pretty presentation but no real substance, you fail. People might stick around for a few weeks - but then they ask themselves why. Its gonna take something big to get me to switch to Ask – and advertising isn’t gonna do it. When you have a pretty presentation but no real substance, you fail. People might stick around for a few weeks – but then they ask themselves why.

]]> By: Dave http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1716174 Dave Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:04:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1716174 Like Matthew, I too checked out Ask to see what the fuss was about. I thought the ads were good and they made me want to check it out. So I did a search. Couldn't find what I wanted. I knew it was out there because I was searching for an actual web page I had hit a day or so earlier. No matter what I tried, no dice. So then I gave Google a shot. Guess where my result was in the returned list? #2. So sure, the ad campaign is dandy, but do you think I'm going there again. The real issue in my opinion is that unlike other services; side-by-side comparisons are not only easy; they are inevitable. So unless the "core" search results improve, the fluff around the edges is moot. Like Matthew, I too checked out Ask to see what the fuss was about. I thought the ads were good and they made me want to check it out. So I did a search. Couldn’t find what I wanted. I knew it was out there because I was searching for an actual web page I had hit a day or so earlier. No matter what I tried, no dice. So then I gave Google a shot. Guess where my result was in the returned list? #2. So sure, the ad campaign is dandy, but do you think I’m going there again. The real issue in my opinion is that unlike other services; side-by-side comparisons are not only easy; they are inevitable. So unless the “core” search results improve, the fluff around the edges is moot.

]]> By: hi http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1716051 hi Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:12:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1716051 it won't fly. it won’t fly.

]]> By: yasam http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715965 yasam Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:37:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715965 check this blog site and get an idea http://lapnol.blogspot.com check this blog site and get an idea
http://lapnol.blogspot.com

]]> By: Rishi Rawat http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715954 Rishi Rawat Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:31:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715954 We might poke fun on this topic but I believe this is a rather interesting business case. The ask.com commercials clearly show features not available in Google and I am sure internally their marketing folks are wondering why people aren’t switching on the basis of those cool features. The thing they need to know is that one reason people aren’t making the switch is because Google works just fine. While features are cool I don’t see any reason to leave Google as long as it lets me get all the information I am looking for. We might poke fun on this topic but I believe this is a rather interesting business case. The ask.com commercials clearly show features not available in Google and I am sure internally their marketing folks are wondering why people aren’t switching on the basis of those cool features. The thing they need to know is that one reason people aren’t making the switch is because Google works just fine. While features are cool I don’t see any reason to leave Google as long as it lets me get all the information I am looking for.

]]> By: Stu http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715943 Stu Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:25:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715943 When they stop spending so much. When they stop spending so much.

]]> By: Alex http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715616 Alex Wed, 31 Oct 2007 19:17:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715616 I think Ask.com has the nicest UI of all the portals. Part of the problem lies in "brand". Knowing that ultimately you are using Google search (via Ask.com) this is self defeating. Although $100M is a rounding error on the balance sheet of IACI, I really believe they could use a different strategy that would give them a better ROI/IRR, search market share and revenue. The strategy still leverages the search assets they already own, but, it takes them down a path that translates into "real" measurable results. What is keeping them from achieving this is ONE acquisition...oh ya, and execution. Somebody get me Barry Diller's email address. I think Ask.com has the nicest UI of all the portals. Part of the problem lies in “brand”. Knowing that ultimately you are using Google search (via Ask.com) this is self defeating. Although $100M is a rounding error on the balance sheet of IACI, I really believe they could use a different strategy that would give them a better ROI/IRR, search market share and revenue. The strategy still leverages the search assets they already own, but, it takes them down a path that translates into “real” measurable results. What is keeping them from achieving this is ONE acquisition…oh ya, and execution.

Somebody get me Barry Diller’s email address.

]]> By: Fabian Schonholz http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715581 Fabian Schonholz Wed, 31 Oct 2007 19:06:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715581 I had not seen the commercial before. I like it. I had not seen the commercial before. I like it.

]]> By: jccalhoun http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715575 jccalhoun Wed, 31 Oct 2007 19:03:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715575 At least they dropped that whole "Its the algorithm" campaign. I have the customize google extension and will frequently use it to hop on over to ask and live and yahoo. They are all about equal in my opinion. At least they dropped that whole “Its the algorithm” campaign.

I have the customize google extension and will frequently use it to hop on over to ask and live and yahoo. They are all about equal in my opinion.

]]> By: Yakov http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715536 Yakov Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:47:24 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715536 they would have rather spent 100m to re-do a search engine.. they would have rather spent 100m to re-do a search engine..

]]> By: Search◊ Engines Web http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715476 Search◊ Engines Web Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:27:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715476 ASK has really improved dramatically. But how does one chose among Google Yahoo and Ask - Most searchers will use Google Most portal browsers will use Yahoo and MSN Ask may be trying to become an alternative to going to the 2nd or 3rd page is the first page does not bring up the results one wants. Unlike Yahoo or MSN it is strickly a search homepage - so there is no multimedia entertaiment or news buz intrigue ASK has really improved dramatically.

But how does one chose among Google Yahoo and Ask –

Most searchers will use Google

Most portal browsers will use Yahoo and MSN

Ask may be trying to become an alternative to going to the 2nd or 3rd page is the first page does not bring up the results one wants.

Unlike Yahoo or MSN it is strickly a search homepage – so there is no multimedia entertaiment or news buz intrigue

]]> By: 42mb.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715422 42mb.com Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:57:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715422 Ask need to come forward with more payout to their publisher and better ROI to their advertisers. Ask need to come forward with more payout to their publisher and better ROI to their advertisers.

]]> By: Ask.com is wasting even MORE money on ads! | Jessica Mah Meets World http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715419 Ask.com is wasting even MORE money on ads! | Jessica Mah Meets World Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:56:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715419 [...] response to a comment #9 on TechCrunch, I agree - The money spent on advertising could have been spent on database storage [...] [...] response to a comment #9 on TechCrunch, I agree – The money spent on advertising could have been spent on database storage [...]

]]> By: Richard Corsale http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715382 Richard Corsale Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:43:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715382 whats odd, Ask HAS a good search algo... its better than MSN and I personally think its better than Y! , what they lack is capacity . Their indexed site volume is weak. Which means that they fall short on more specific searches. 100m buys a lot of database storage :) whats odd, Ask HAS a good search algo… its better than MSN and I personally think its better than Y! , what they lack is capacity . Their indexed site volume is weak. Which means that they fall short on more specific searches.

100m buys a lot of database storage :)

]]> By: Chris http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715355 Chris Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:32:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715355 "Hey Chris, I’ll give you $20 for it. final offer. note that this is an awful lot to pay for a sight-unseen vaporware product that may or may not exist, but i’m willing to take that risk." Actually, I'm tentatively making it so that everyone can have $5-10 of free keyword advertising when they sign up after filling out a buyer profile and enter the credit card data. That way they can buy more keywords when they run out without thinking about it too much. So perhaps you can save that $20 and use it after your trial runs out. The mini-search we are launching with is actually done. This is the tech I would license ask if they knew that they needed it. The keyword purchasing interface is not complete. I am working on that now. AKA bids for higher advert ranking ect... I am sorry an off colour comment turned into this though, I would encourage the convo to get back to why ask's advert campaign ultimately is failing. “Hey Chris, I’ll give you $20 for it. final offer.

note that this is an awful lot to pay for a sight-unseen vaporware product that may or may not exist, but i’m willing to take that risk.”

Actually, I’m tentatively making it so that everyone can have $5-10 of free keyword advertising when they sign up after filling out a buyer profile and enter the credit card data. That way they can buy more keywords when they run out without thinking about it too much.
So perhaps you can save that $20 and use it after your trial runs out.
The mini-search we are launching with is actually done. This is the tech I would license ask if they knew that they needed it. The keyword purchasing interface is not complete. I am working on that now. AKA bids for higher advert ranking ect…

I am sorry an off colour comment turned into this though, I would encourage the convo to get back to why ask’s advert campaign ultimately is failing.

]]> By: gilltots http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/comment-page-1/#comment-1715334 gilltots Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:21:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/31/when-will-askcoms-ad-campaign-start-paying-for-itself/#comment-1715334 Hey Chris, I'll give you $20 for it. final offer. note that this is an awful lot to pay for a sight-unseen vaporware product that may or may not exist, but i'm willing to take that risk. Hey Chris, I’ll give you $20 for it. final offer.

note that this is an awful lot to pay for a sight-unseen vaporware product that may or may not exist, but i’m willing to take that risk.

]]>