Starting From Search

Microsoft Launches Left vs Right

Microsoft has launched a new front end for it's search engine, Live.com. Called Left vs Right, it is reminiscent of Ms. Dewey, a former personification of Live.com.

It is a funny take on political talk shows, with two commentators primed to argue with each other based on the search term you enter. The topics are limited, and as you begin to type in a search, it shows a small drop down box that shows what searches it can provide. The timing for this is perfect as political and issue-based searches are increasing due to the current campaign season.

I still liked Ms. Dewey better, mostly because she was sassy. I like a little attitude with my search engines.

I don't know how much Microsoft spend on Left vs Right, but with their falling market share quarter after quarter, they may want to invest that money into making a better search engine. Just a thought.

Special thanks to Lara for the tip on this one. See Lara, I told you I'd do it!

Changing Search Behavior with SpaceTime

A few weeks ago, I posted about the great things Ask.com is doing. (Read here.) Personally, I think it's a great demonstration of where search should be going.

Now enter an application called SpaceTime. It's not specific to search engines as it is more like a new method for browsing the web as a whole. But the demo does show how searching Google would be different using their application. It certainly have a wow factor, and changes browsing to be a more iTunes like experience. (Gord Hotchkiss has a good review also.)

While it is certainly novel, it won't catch on. Search behavior is getting very ingrained now. Any new search experience has to so greatly improve upon the previous in order for people to put forth the effort to actually change. That is why Windows users will continue to use Windows instead of switching to a Mac. Yes, the Mac OS is better than Windows Vista can ever dream of being. But the benefit a Mac is still less than the the perceived trouble of making the change. It would cause a consumer to learn a new way of doing things when maybe the current way isn't so terrible.

SpaceTime is too large a leap and would require changing too many ingrained behaviors by the general consumer for it to be taken seriously. That is why I think Ask.com is moving in the right direction. It's a big step forward, but builds upon what general consumers are already used to.

The Right to Buy Branded Keywords

This week, 1-800-Contacts sued LensWorld for allegedly purchasing branded terms in order to show LensWorld PPC ads when users are searching 1-800-Contacts. (MediaPost reports.) The key here is one company buying the branded terms of another company.

This is not the first lawsuit of its type. The question is around if it is infringement of any sort. Currently, engines allow advertisers to buy competitive brand terms if the competitors name is not used in the actual ad copy. Complaints to engines over this are handled on a case-by-case basis.

The main problem I see with a competitor buying the branded terms of another competitor is that it drives up the cost for that brand name. Simply, you could end up paying a high pay-per-click rate for your own name if your competitor purchased your brand name as well. (Many people I know in the industry follow an unwritten rule not to buy competitor brand names, often for fear of retribution on their own brand name.)

This is a problem that is very hard to solve, and sadly, will probably have to be sorted out in the court room. Is it Google or Yahoo's job to protect intellectual property? I say no, but engines constantly find themselves in the middle of this issue.

Honestly, it's not much different than two advertisers appearing on the same page of a magazine. It is up the professionals that create the ad to distinguish it among the competitors.

Besides, every company should rank highly in organic listings for their own branded terms. If a company can not stand out on a search results page for their own branded terms, they have much larger issues than a competitors bid price.

Friday Recap

Ask.com gets a new CEO. Ask is doing some great things right now. I hope this does not slow down their progress.

Bill buys Fast. Microsoft said this is to fend off competition from Oracle and IBM. It's not. Everything Microsoft does in search is about Google. All the time, every time.

Critics rail Wikia. They were right to call Wikia incomplete. Founder Jimmy Wales said Wikia would need 2 years to reach any real quality. In the search realm, 2 years might as well be 20.

What Has Your Search Engine Done for You?

While I was attending SES Chicago in December, this video was displayed at one of the Orion Panels.

It's a great commerical that shows where search is going -- more toward a helpful, portal-type interface. Frankly, I think Ask3D kicks Google's Universal Search in the junk.

While I'm on an Ask.com lovefest, they recently posted a wrap-up of what they have done this past year. Worth a quick read to see how far Ask has come.