Yang to leave Yahoo

Thursday, November 20, 2008 by Dan Nolan

It seems the commotion surrounding Yahoo’s various PPC and search market troubles will rumble on, with the announcement that co-founder Jerry Yang is to stand down from his role as CEO.

Speculation has been mounting about Yang’s position at Yahoo ever since he was instrumental in turning down a $33 per share offer from Microsoft to buy the company. Some sources had thought he would use the recent Web 2.0 conference to announce his departure. Instead, the search mogul merely restated his yearning for a Microsoft buy-out.

Now, with the collapse of a potentially lucrative PPC advertising tie-up with Google and a falling share price still fresh in his mind, Yang has emailed Yahoo employees to tell them he’s quitting. "I will always do what is right for this great company," he said, adding that "All of you know that I have always and will always bleed purple."

(The latter quote is thought to be a reference to Yahoo’s predominant company colour, rather than an admission of bizarre biological properties.)

Yang and Yahoo chairman Roy Bostock will head the hunt for a new CEO, looking at candidates from within the company as well as the wider business world. What all this means for pay per click advertising, search engine optimisation and paid online marketing remains to be seen.

In the service of two masters

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 by Dan Nolan

You may remember that in October we introduced you to our new SEO copywriter Tom. Since he’s now been working here for a month, we decided to ask him for his thoughts on SEO writing and the nature of creating web-based content for clients. Here are his reflections.

As a journalist, I believe that regardless of medium or demographic, the interests of the reader come first. No matter what you’re writing for – print, television, B2B or SEO – you need to keep the reader entertained. Aaron Sorkin, West Wing writer, and hero of mine once said, “Our responsibility [as writers] is to captivate you for however long we've asked for your attention.” A tad pretentious, possibly, but it’s a mantra I try to stick to as a writer.

At theEword, it’s my responsibility to produce SEO content for a number of clients; a range of SEO material from blogs to news stories to bespoke content for clients’ sites. Each piece of SEO copy requires a slightly different tone and style depending on the client’s requirements. The trick is finding the balance that will keep both client and reader happy; something we strive to do at theEword.

Keeping your reader onside is more important in SEO writing than any other form of copywriting. Writing for the internet is an interactive experience. Visitors need to be enthused by your words, encouraged to not only stick around and read them but to share them through outlets such as Facebook, Twitter or Digg. Grabbing the attention of site visitors is one step away from turning them into customers.

A good flow of unique copy, optimised for search engines, can invigorate a website in manifold ways. It’s not enough to stuff your content with keywords and hope the gods of Google look down on you kindly. The internet and its users are evolving into something much smarter and we need to provide content that is as attractive to surfers as it is to our clients. As SEO writers, we should be aware that we’re working for two masters.

Yahoo to Microsoft: come and get us

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 by Dan Nolan

Here’s an interesting one: after Google backed out of the proposed PPC agreement with Yahoo, the latter have issued a renewed plea to Microsoft to come and buy them.

In a move akin to the web portal blowing kisses at Microsoft while waving a huge FOR SALE sign at them, Yahoo’s CEO Jerry Yang has said he would be willing to sell at any price, “whatever that price is.”

It started back in the summer, when the Windows giant offered $33 per share for Yahoo, which is the second biggest player in search after Google. That deal fell through amid claims Mr Yang’s company had been unwilling to accept Microsoft’s valuation. Yahoo has since seen its share price fall to below $14 a share.

Now, in an astonishingly confident statement at the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco, Mr Yang has said: “To this day the best thing for Microsoft to do is buy Yahoo” (he stopped short of adding “if they know what is good for them”). “I don’t think that is a bad idea at all,” continued the Yahoo chief, “We’re willing to sell the company.”

A Microsoft buy-out of Yahoo would be interesting for the search market as it would see the former dramatically increase their foothold in the Google-dominated field. Microsoft currently has a 5.5% slice of the search pie, but could supplement this by swallowing up Yahoo.

"As far as a search deal goes, we are open-minded about it. The last time we felt the deal was not a good one [Microsoft made a previous offer for Yahoo’s search arm which was rejected] for the company but that doesn't mean we won't do one," said Mr Yang.

Microsoft declined to comment on the come-and-get-us plea, although they have previously stated that they are no longer interested in buying Yahoo.

Microsoft promises to make new Windows less annoying

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 by Dan Nolan

Microsoft has answered the prayers of Windows users the world over with the announcement that the next version of its operating system will make fewer intrusions into the user experience.

As any Vista owner knows, use of the system involves facing a barrage of alerts and pop-ups, as the PC seemingly does its best to become unusable. And when it gets to a point where users are clicking a button, only to be asked if it was indeed them that committed the action and whether they would like to continue, it is clearly time for a rethink.

Fully aware of this is Julie Larson-Green, a Windows vice president, who recently said that some of the changes in Vista made sense at the time, but were not actually tested on PC users. As a result, the new Windows will come with an option to see fewer on-screen notifications and warnings.

Explaining the over-zealous Vista, Steven Sinofsky, another senior Windows vice president, said: “We had all the best intentions of helping to secure the PC platform even more, particularly for novice PC users who needed to be protected."

However, Larson-Green said that subtle-but-useful changes had to be made to the new Windows 7, which could be released to developers within the next six months. These include:

• Task bar – redundant buttons removed, easier switching between open windows
  
• ‘Jumplists’ (see video below) – quickly organise recently used files and sites or favourite program features
  
• ‘Libraries’ – automatically finds and arranges similar files (eg photos) on different drives

Interestingly, Microsoft also announced that it will be releasing versions of its Word, Excel and other Office programs capable of running in a web browser. This appears to be a direct retaliation to Google’s Chrome launch, and the search giant’s desire to develop interoperable ‘platforms’ aimed at integrating users’ personal computing experience.

Google gets cold feet over Yahoo search ads deal

Monday, November 10, 2008 by Dan Nolan

The much-discussed agreement that would have seen Google provide PPC advertising around Yahoo search results is no more.

Google decided to back out of the search advertising deal – first announced in June – after widespread criticism, including notable comments from rivals Microsoft, that it would create an effective monopoly in the search and PPC markets.

The agreement had also been reviewed the by the US Department of Justice, who informed Google that they would be issued with a lawsuit if they pressed ahead with the plan. Faced with what it called a “protracted legal battle”, Google decided to pull the plug. The decision looks set to cost Yahoo an estimated $800million (£494m) a year.

Speaking about the collapsed PPC deal, Yahoo’s co-founder and CEO Jerry Yang (right) said that, although he blamed the government for things not working out, he was “disappointed” that Google had not chosen to fight for the deal in court:

"I really thought the government in this case does not understand our industry. They have a market definition that I think is too narrow and I think things like this tend to have unintended consequences for our entire industry.

"So I clearly don't agree with what the viewpoint is, but they are the government and they can decide on these things."

New senior developer joins theEword team

Friday, November 07, 2008 by Dan Nolan

All the valuable online marketing work theEword does with SEO and PPC campaigns would count for nothing if we didn’t have websites to promote in the first place. Sometimes our clients have sites that they need our help marketing; often, they call upon theEword to design them from scratch.

We’ve become used to building sites that are tailored to our clients’ needs. However, our recent expansion means we now have a lot more web pages to put together for our growing list of clients. So many, in fact, that we’ve had to hire an extra developer to handle the workload.

Max Hooton, our new senior developer, joined theEword in October. Put simply, Max is the man who designs the behind-the-scenes processes that make our websites work. He’s developed sites for a string of national and international organisations, including Monster Mob and Newsquest.

Let’s find out some more about him.


What is your favourite aspect of the job you do?

Problem solving – before there are problems to solve.

Name an advertising campaign you’ve particularly enjoyed.

I’m still impressed by the Honda Rube Goldberg advert from 2003:




What do you usually have for breakfast?

Coffee.

What is your favourite flavour of smoothie?

Apple, cranberry and watermelon.

Outside of work, what has been your greatest achievement?

Competing on the world stage by playing a computer game (In his spare time, Max is a professional gamer. His love of gaming doesn’t stop there; he’s worked on websites for companies such as Tomb Raider publisher Eidos and was lead developer on the 2007 Pro Evo fan site for Konami.)

What do you like to watch on television?

Most problem-solving dramas: House, CSI, Cold Case, Numb3rs etc

What is your favourite website?

Digg.com

Tell us an interesting fact.

A Dzo is a cross between a Himalayan yak and a domesticated cow and will get you 20 points in Scrabble.

Clientwatch: Tangkoko update

Wednesday, November 05, 2008 by Dan Nolan

It’s been a while since we checked in on Tangkoko, our client of the ethical Indonesian and Indian furniture. Here, site editor Louise Lyne gives an update into all things wooden and eco-friendly.

Titivating the Tangkoko furniture website has kept everyone at theEword busy over these early autumn days. The site is constantly expanding, with snappy product reviews being uploaded weekly.

Behind the scenes at theEword hub, plans for more Tangkoko content are afoot. This is set to include a broader look at lifestyle issues surrounding the Tangkoko ethos – everything from planning an ethical Halloween party to volcanic activity in Indonesia.

With all this green research, theEword’s directors are feeling an ethical vibe, and have even made the brave and (uncharacteristically) healthy decision to purchase organic blackcurrant cordial for the office.

This move towards a lard-free lifestyle has also seen a dangerous demand for smoothies raspberry-rippling its way through the office. Although it must be said, these aren’t always up to Mark Baker’s superior tastes (Guava, mango and Goji berries, indeed).

In other theEword news, the office fan has finally been switched off (with the clocks going back and rain drowning us all daily, we have officially let go of summer). This is good because it means I can get on with my work without looking strange and windswept. Which is more than can be said for some of the team.

PPC is fastest-growing advertising medium

Tuesday, November 04, 2008 by Dan Nolan

New research claims PPC growth set to continue into 2009

A new study that claims PPC is “the fastest-growing advertising medium” says growth in the online pay-per-click advertising market looks set to continue, with broadband being the main driving force.

The Key Note Publications ‘Internet Advertising Market’ report says that the industry’s online PPC spend will increase by a further 31.4 per cent to the end of 2008.

The report attributes the growth in PPC expenditure to the boom in take-up of internet packages and the increased penetration of broadband, which allows the transmission of more adverts.

The survey found that the transmission of more PPC ads, coupled with the fact that half of consumers reported themselves more likely to click on graphically rich broadband banners, put online marketers at an advantage.

"We forecast that the internet [PPC] advertising market will continue to expand at a strong pace in the immediate future and that it will experience a less steep but steady momentum thereafter to 2012," said Key Note Publications in a statement.

With figures putting UK broadband penetration at around 60 per cent, the news looks good for online PPC marketers hoping to reach a wide audience with their campaigns.

Meet the team Pt. 4793

Monday, November 03, 2008 by Dan Nolan

Last week we introduced you to our new writer Tom Mason, who joins the team creating SEO content for our clients. In the hope of learning a bit more about the Wolverhampton Wonder, we asked him some questions.

He was very forthcoming in his answers (he is a writer, after all) so we’ve provided edited highlights of them below...

What is your favourite website?

The cool kid in me likes The Onion. The geeky teenager likes Ain’t It Cool News. This conflict of character makes me a confused soul just right for The Guardian’s site.

What was the last amazing advert you saw?

The ‘Believe’ campaign for the Halo 3 videogame; a handmade diorama of humanity’s last stand, complete with rousing classical overtures.

What do you usually have for breakfast?

I think breakfast is an extraneous and unnecessary meal. However, if you held a cereal spoon to my head, I’d say Chocolate Cornflakes.

What is the worst job you’ve ever had?

Working as a tour guide for Wolverhampton Tourist Board. As there are only one and a half points of interest in the whole city, I found it to be a dull and pointless exercise.

What is your favourite flavour of smoothie?

Strawberry and Banana from the Innocent lads. Not for the taste you understand, but rather the witty comments on the side of the packet; they’re funnier on this particular smoothie than the other varieties. I usually buy in bulk and devote an entire evening every month to just reading the back of the cartons and laughing hysterically to myself.

What is your favourite TV show?

The Daily Show with John Stewart. I secretly long to be an American citizen and so laugh along with the jokes, regardless of whether or not I understand them.

What is your favourite genre of modern cinema?

Action rom-com. It’s a niche genre, but one that could become much more popular if only Richard Curtis would get Michael Bay to produce his films.