More Search Engine Mublings

Writing by Nick Stamoulis Tweet

First we had MicroHoo, are we now going to go through a round of YahAol negotiations that have everyone talking until it all fizzles out – yet again.

You would have to wonder if an acquisition of AOL would really help Yahoo! at this stage of their business cycle. They are on the back foot when it comes to acquiring search market share and one would have thought that concentration in that area would be more appropriate.

Yahoo!’s biggest problem to date has been it’s inability to market itself has a viable search alternative. Relevant search results, accurate indexing of content and a friendlier face are needed if Yahoo! is ever going to match it with Google.

Buying out AOL will not do a lot for Yahoo!’s search bottom line. It may bring some peace to boardroom, but then a new broom could do that as well.

Yahoo! has a good base of dedicated users. In fact the demographic of Yahoo! users has enabled many SEO advocates to optimize suitable sites specifically for Yahoo! rather Google. Yahoo! should be capitalizing and developing, then expanding that existing base. If the purchase of AOL can help in that area then an acquisition may be valid – I doubt that AOL can deliver anything that Yahoo! couldn’t do through other means. Still, it makes for interesting discussions in many forums.