Comments on: If Ask.com = Target then Google = Walmart

By: Kellie

Kellie — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:09:45 +0000

I just did the same search in Ask as I did in Google and the results were impressive. I’ll definitely be using Ask in the future. The results were ordered and easy to use with "narrow your results" recommendations. I was a google aficionado. By the way in my Google search the ask.com result was the first one listed (of the free results) and is how I came to know about Ask. I do agree with John that Ask needs to build on it’s on unique capabilities and highlight those.

By: todd

todd — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:10:20 +0000

Does anyone even use Ask. I think its like 2% Dancer Pole Reviews

By: Tafiti - Another New Way To Search » (EMP) E-Marketing Performance

Tafiti - Another New Way To Search » (EMP) E-Marketing Performance — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:54:40 +0000

[...] is Microsoft’s latest attempt to capitalize on sites like Ask that offer a unique search engine. Tafiti is based on Microsoft’s own Flash-type viewer that users must download before using [...]

By: John W Ellis

John W Ellis — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:50:27 +0000

The problem is Ask is trying to hard to compete with Google and Yahoo. That idea needs to go.

By trying to compete with Google, it becomes obvious to the consumer. That will just remind the consumer that Google is still #1. Ask.com needs to be its own system, unique.

The commercials may be entertaining, but so what? That does not convert to revenue.

And the algorithm advertising has got to go. Frankly, dare I say it; we don’t care as much about algorithms are even accurate results. Yes, it’s important but it’s not our top priority.

By: Katy

Katy — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:13:54 +0000

Okay that was one of the cleverist posts I have ever read. But I think there is a great deal of similarities between the Target and Ask. Wal-Mart is an embarrassment but Target is the cool store, that if you buy some cute clothes there, you are proud. Similarly I tried out Ask.com’s search and was really impressed by their new site. I used the ask jeeves site before Google came along and set the bar for search (much like wal-mart set the bar for unbeatable prices) but now that ask is advertising on tv, I think their chances are good at picking up the part of the population that hasn’t quite decided which search engine to use. I almost feel like I’m cheating the system by using Google, just because it’s so good….

But to try and answer what Anna has asked, I actually had the same question run through my head. Why do Ask and Yahoo feel the need to run ads, but Google doesn’t. And I think the answer is because everyone already knows about Google. They don’t have to advertise. The fact that they have something like 70% of the market share of search and 99% of their revenue comes from online advertising, I’d say TV doesn’t really have much to do with it. Whether they spend money to create an ad or not, people know Google is there…..they’ve done enough advertising for themselves in the news with all these lawsuits.

By: Anna Green

Anna Green — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:08:51 +0000

I know that this is slightly off topic, but I first have a question – Why doesn’t Google have a tv ad? What is their logic there?

Secondly, I agree with this post in that I have actually been all four of these places (Target, Walmart, Ask.com and Google.com) in the past two days. It does seem that Ask is quietly working on a good user experience while the rest of the world screams about privacy on Google, and functionality and focus on Yahoo and MSN. Google has so many fun qualities about them in terms of a company image – such as their regular April fool’s day jokes – but they don’t seem to implement that in their daily search very well.

Good post, thank you.