Overture Digging Deeper

[pageoneresults]

Just received this...
Dear Overture™ Advertiser:

We have recently entered into a test agreement to expand our existing implementation with MSN. As a result, we will now deliver search results on MSN's primary search results page (www.msn.com), in addition to the search results we already deliver on the Microsoft Internet Explorer search pane.

Advertisers will see additional sales leads from this test on January 8, 2002 through the end of February. Overture's top three search listings will be shown for selected terms at www.msn.com in a section called “Sponsored Sites.” Users will see this same implementation for selected Spanish language terms when they conduct searches at www.yupimsn.com, MSN's
new Spanish site.

Its an Overture World out there!

[ihelpyou]

What the heck benefit is derived from exact duplicated search results of the top 3 or 5 across all the search engines?

Sheesh.

Why not simply have one single engine that shows all results on the net?

Why not have the whole first page nothing but damn Overture results? What the heck good does the same results on all engines do for the people who are looking for information?

[pageoneresults]

Its getting a little out of hand with the Overture listings. Just about anyone who is anyone on the search engine and directory scene is displaying Overture results.

Google, please remain pure?! Please?!

[Advisor]

I would imagine that it would start to get awfully expensive to be using Overture these days...

J

[pageoneresults]

Overture has implemented an agreement with Google to provide premium sponsorship listings to its users. This agreement will take effect on January 10th and users will begin to see sponsored listings on the first page of Google search results!

Nah, just kidding!:D

[ihelpyou]

LOL. That is one thing I do not think we have to worry about as Google does their own thing...

[pageoneresults]

Yahoo! did their own thing too, look what happened. Their results are more populated with Overture listings than anyone else outside of Excite and WebCrawler.

The SEO landscape is changing temporarily. Its only a matter of time before searchers rebel against the Overture infiltration into all the majors.

For now, we all have to seriously consider making Overture a part of our optimization campaigns. Its funny, we can now guarantee number one positions in just about any major if the client chooses to utilize the Overture bid program.

[ihelpyou]

yeah, and if they are willing to spend the bucks to do it so we can guarantee it. :)

naw, I'll stick to my thing and if the client wishes to do PPC as well, that is fine.

Like you said, it is only a matter of time... just like the banner ad binge of a few years ago. Besides, surfers will get very sick of seeing the same top results across all the major engines real soon.

[litmania.com]

"surfers will get very sick of seeing the same top results across all the major engines real soon."

One thing we net professionals who spend all day on our PCs forget is that nine of ten people are not that adept with the net. I mean how many people type in 'www.hotmail.com' in Yahoo's search engine? Millions!

I'm always amazed at how poor most people's knowledge of the net is. Even those who've been on it for years only visit a handful of sites and are amateurish when it comes to 'surfing' the web.

Most people only use one search engine as it is, therefore the Overture monopoly will not bother them too much. Heck, most people don't even know there are any other search engines apart from Yahoo, Google or MSN.

I, too, am frustrated by Overture's dominance, but we should try to look at it from the point of view of the 'average' net surfer, not us pros.

[ihelpyou]

Very true Litmania but if Overture does not get the sh__ together real soon, PPC will go down faster than I thought it would. They are having problems right now with complaints all over the net.

I know they have a manpower shortage of knowledgeable employees but they will have to straighten things out fairly soon.

[pageoneresults]

Earthlink dropped Overture in favor of a new program from Google.

Google's Syndication Program (https://adwords.google.com/AdWords/faq.html#synd_begin)

Check out the Syndication exposure! (http://start.earthlink.net/)

[ihelpyou]

Yes. Google might have more to offer than Overture does. Watch out for other partners coming Google's way now. :) How about AltaVista? MSN? AOL? Yahoo? lol

[litmania.com]

Good news. This is the first move I've heard of in years to counter the rise and rise of Overture.

Just wish other web sites would realise that adding Overture's shopping links, which is all they are, reduces the likelihood of them receiving repeat traffic.

You provide your site visitors with quality results, either your own or those from non-PPC search engines, and they are more chance they'll bookmark your site and visit it again and again.

Why sell out for the sake of a few cents from Overture?

[pageoneresults]

Shares in Overture Services fell 23% on Wednesday (http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/tech/georgemannes/10008354.html)

[ihelpyou]

Yes. Overture investers should be very nervous, and obviously they are. Google is one huge piece of competition, if you ask me. LOL
But perhaps investors are worried about Overture in the long run. Though it recently announced new contracts with BellSouth (BLS:NYSE - news - commentary - research - analysis) and AOL Europe, Google's EarthLink win -- which includes an advertising revenue sharing arrangement with the ISP -- represents competition for Overture's ability to help other Web sites make money from the searches people conduct through their sites.
Go Google Go.

[litmania.com]

I'm on a diet (too much sitting in front of PC - but on 5kg in a year), but I'm going to buy myself a Bounty chocolate bar today to celebrate Overture's share price drop.

One thing I don't understand, though, is why from a financial point of view EarthLink would drop Overture for Google?

Obviously, the search results are of a far higher quality with Google, whereas Overture are mainly shopping links, but surely Overture results would earn EarthLink far more revenue than Google?

Do Google earn that much with their Adwords?

Or is it just that, for once, a company cares about the quality of the search results...

[Advisor]

I wouldn't be surprised if the earthlink users were complaining about the lack of relevant results. Haven't heard anything to that effect, but wouldn't be surprised if that was part of the answer. I assume Google also gave them a good deal to make it worth it.

Jill

[ihelpyou]

Yes. Google is going to weigh all things and make an offer. We know the host site is sharing revenue from the adwords program of Google, but I also think Google is offering 'other' things depending on the host site.

For instance, if Google went after another one of Overture's partners, let's say AltaVista or MSN, either one of those would be offered more incentives in different forms to show Google's adword's program.

Or, a host like Bellsouth might get the same offer that Earthlink did to show both adwords and regular Google search results.

Many things happen behind the scenes. Look for more partners of Google real soon. :)

[pageoneresults]

The way I see it is Google is positioning itself to become a paid advertising player. They are going about it in a stealth kind of way but this is just the beginning.
Mark my words, over the next few months, Google Adwords will become the next big buzz phrase on the net. They needed a partnership like this for the exposure. Now that they have one, I'd be willing to bet that their Adwords campaign sees a spike in advertisers due to this recent syndication.

Once the other SE's see what Earthlink and Google have going, then it will all break loose and we will probably see an infiltration of Google results everywhere just like we are with Overture.

Its all about money these days. If it doesn't generate revenue, then don't even bother. Google's syndication program is the next level in the chain. Based on a different business model than PPC, this gives the SE's another resource for quality search results and at the same time generates revenue for all involved.