Engagement: Google Gadgets a Yahoo! killer?
The last week has been fantastic. Between the IAB Mixx & Expo and other events associated with Advertising Week, i’ve learned much more than i imagined.
I attended this session by Google on Ad-Innovation, where they spoke extensively about Gadgets and other innovation on Youtube etc. If Google Docs is Google’s attempt at hitting at Microsoft (albeit a VERY long shot), Gadgets (IMHO) is aimed square at Yahoo! by hurting their biggest stronghold (rich media & innovation) by adding longevity (users can save ads) and no hosting/serving costs in a bidded marketplace.
Engagement is clearly the new benchmark. The Live platform is rife with gadgets developed for it and given that these can integrate across the platform on Spaces or Messenger or any other catchment area owned by Microsoft…the only person missing this party is Yahoo!
Given their dependance on rich media (and the possible impact), it will be interesting to see how they comeback.
September 27th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
[…] InsideMicrosoft wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt If Google Docs is Google’s attempt at hitting at Microsoft (albeit a VERY long shot), Gadgets (IMHO) is aimed square at Yahoo!… […]
October 1st, 2007 at 4:34 am
From what I have understood of Google gadgets…its applications that are widget based. The US is very widget enamoured viz rest of world. Yes, most ppl in the states access digital content from feeds linked to a widget service of their choice.
APAC Europe are not widget markets…ppl log onto net vibes, MY Y!, iGoogle or traditional websites to get their daily dose of content and news.
So from that perspective Google could make a dent in the graphical advertising SOV / SOW in North America where 48% of all active net users are on widgets…but they are a far cry from competing with Y! in graphical for rest of world.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:32 am
Hi Sid,
A little more than that….since integration can happen across the ad platform and iGoogle. And its not just text…but videos and other stuff that can get integrated into the widget…these widgets are no heavier than good online banners since they are capable of streaming data….so dont let the nomenclature sidetrack you…
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:36 am
And given that Google is currently the world’s biggest ad-network, they have more inventory than anyone else… ad-sense offers the option of serving text & image ads in the same spot… due to the amount of data they keep about users they monetize very efficiently … so Y! or anyone else is bound to lag the volume/efficiency game…the differentiator is rich media/innovations…and they’ve unshacked inventory from the restraints of time… kinda like TiVo… The Live Platform can do that too … and Y! is not there yet on this one…
PS - I am not for a minute ruling Y! out… that would be very myopic
just why i said interesting to see how they comeback….
October 29th, 2007 at 12:50 am
Sid, one more thing…. no ex-Yahoo! i know (including me) has anything but great memories of working there…