Comments on: Ask Trims Headcount, Goes After Women Searchers http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/ Startup and Technology News Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:09:22 -0800 hourly 1 By: allan75 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2027364 allan75 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 08:06:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2027364 Hmmm, interesting idea. But, i think they are definitely in the right area. The Married women is one of the biggest but untapped markets out there... For example, go check out http://www.listentoyourwife.com. They might sound like a site for angry women, but it's definitely in the same space as ask.com is aiming for. Hmmm, interesting idea. But, i think they are definitely in the right area. The Married women is one of the biggest but untapped markets out there… For example, go check out http://www.list...ntoyourwife.com.

They might sound like a site for angry women, but it’s definitely in the same space as ask.com is aiming for.

]]> By: Jim Zamboni http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2017971 Jim Zamboni Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:47:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2017971 Apparently tons of people have resigned (are you ready to service "desperate housewives"?). A number of people have been moved to "new venture" or "consulting" positions. So they probably have or will lose about 12% or more of their staff. Apparently tons of people have resigned (are you ready to service “desperate housewives”?). A number of people have been moved to “new venture” or “consulting” positions. So they probably have or will lose about 12% or more of their staff.

]]> By: cuzican54 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2017012 cuzican54 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:33:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2017012 Ask.com has a great graphical interface and a great brand... their search, however, is not as good as Google or MSN (from personal experience).... I think they should just outsource their search results... more of my criticisms here: http://chide.it/post/53/ Ask.com has a great graphical interface and a great brand… their search, however, is not as good as Google or MSN (from personal experience)…. I think they should just outsource their search results…

more of my criticisms here:
http://chide.it/post/53/

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016483 Jonathan Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:49:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016483 Ask.com is like the odd guy at the office who announces that he's gay and is opting for a sex change operation.... Ask.com is like the odd guy at the office who announces that he’s gay and is opting for a sex change operation….

]]> By: pink http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016318 pink Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:45:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016318 Lol Ask is so lame, does anyone even use it anymore? Lol Ask is so lame, does anyone even use it anymore?

]]> By: Fitz http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016221 Fitz Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:00:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016221 Ask.com needs to innovate or die. Cause this is not cool. This is lame. Ask.com needs to innovate or die. Cause this is not cool. This is lame.

]]> By: Red http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016202 Red Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:21:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016202 @Everett: Gimmicky is right. Safka is way over-matched for this job. He's a pitch-man and political animal, but not a good marketer, and certainly not a good product guy or organizational leader. Isn't it too late for a marketing-driven approach for search? Mighta worked in 2002. With Safka it's all about keeping his boss happy, even if the strategy and game-plan is off-track. I'm sure Barry "Algorithm" Diller likes his story. That's all that matters at IAC, I suppose. Ask is in serious trouble... @Everett: Gimmicky is right.

Safka is way over-matched for this job. He’s a pitch-man and political animal, but not a good marketer, and certainly not a good product guy or organizational leader. Isn’t it too late for a marketing-driven approach for search? Mighta worked in 2002.

With Safka it’s all about keeping his boss happy, even if the strategy and game-plan is off-track. I’m sure Barry “Algorithm” Diller likes his story. That’s all that matters at IAC, I suppose.

Ask is in serious trouble…

]]> By: isedb.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016117 isedb.com Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:27:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016117 <strong>Ask Trims Headcount, Goes After Women Searchers...</strong> Rumors last week that Ask, the IAC-owned search engine, was about to cut 100 jobs overestimated the body count. In fact, Ask is trimming 40 jobs, or about 8 percent of its workforce.... Ask Trims Headcount, Goes After Women Searchers…

Rumors last week that Ask, the IAC-owned search engine, was about to cut 100 jobs overestimated the body count. In fact, Ask is trimming 40 jobs, or about 8 percent of its workforce….

]]> By: TonyW http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016066 TonyW Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:19:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016066 The bottom line for me is that Ask.com's search results are inferior to those I get with Google and Yahoo, which makes them basically useless. Barry Diller, Interactive's CEO, made the terrible decision to spend $100M last year on Ask.com marketing, but this is an area where all of Interactive's marketing dollars can't put lipstick on a pig and call it pretty. Are older women less astute about search results? I don't think so, and the whole planned campaign looks like a huge insult to them. The bottom line for me is that Ask.com’s search results are inferior to those I get with Google and Yahoo, which makes them basically useless. Barry Diller, Interactive’s CEO, made the terrible decision to spend $100M last year on Ask.com marketing, but this is an area where all of Interactive’s marketing dollars can’t put lipstick on a pig and call it pretty. Are older women less astute about search results? I don’t think so, and the whole planned campaign looks like a huge insult to them.

]]> By: Jim Zamboni http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016059 Jim Zamboni Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:08:55 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016059 What a loser management team. Their head of products (do they still have more than one?) was a lawyer at Yahoo. Wooohooo! Their CTO (do they still have more than one?) is a bitter old man from a B-rate comp. sci program (ie Rutgers). Safika? Well looked at what happened to HSN -- it tanked and is now getting spun out. What a loser management team. Their head of products (do they still have more than one?) was a lawyer at Yahoo. Wooohooo! Their CTO (do they still have more than one?) is a bitter old man from a B-rate comp. sci program (ie Rutgers). Safika? Well looked at what happened to HSN — it tanked and is now getting spun out.

]]> By: Definitions.net http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016052 Definitions.net Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:02:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016052 Ask.com going down, index never update, inquiries never answered and search results always outdated. No wonder they think a less techie audience is what they should aim for. They are wrong. Ask.com going down, index never update, inquiries never answered and search results always outdated. No wonder they think a less techie audience is what they should aim for. They are wrong.

]]> By: Jon http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016036 Jon Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:26:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016036 Is this 8% fat they are cutting or 8% of a core that will hurt them well into the future. Short of turning their website pink and having women showcase their shoe collections, I don't exactly see how you "target" a female audience away from using Google. Jon http://woodmarvels.com - Create Unique Memories Is this 8% fat they are cutting or 8% of a core that will hurt them well into the future. Short of turning their website pink and having women showcase their shoe collections, I don’t exactly see how you “target” a female audience away from using Google.

Jon
http://woodmarvels.com – Create Unique Memories

]]> By: Peter Harrington http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016032 Peter Harrington Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:16:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016032 It seems like they are focusing on a target audience that will be very hard to take away from the major search engines. I do like how they are trying to compete in ways other then technology. But without competitive technology they are turning a cold shoulder to most internet users. It seems like they are focusing on a target audience that will be very hard to take away from the major search engines. I do like how they are trying to compete in ways other then technology. But without competitive technology they are turning a cold shoulder to most internet users.

]]> By: Everett http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/comment-page-1/#comment-2016014 Everett Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:01:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/ask-trims-headcount-goes-after-women-searchers/#comment-2016014 Sure hopes this works. Sounds gimmicky to me. Sure hopes this works. Sounds gimmicky to me.

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