Yahoo Opens Up Search - Will It Matter Though?
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When I first heard about Yahoo opening up access to its search engine to outside devs, I laughed. I mean really, it must be like opening up the doors to the intensive care ward, right? But after I had a chance to ponder the significance a bit more, I was shocked when I read the following line - Google did this about six years ago.
Man, how did I forget that? Regardless of my own memory lapse, let us not forget that it was Netscape that also did this with their browser code back when Microsoft Internet Explorer seemed to be unstoppable. Years later of out of the Mozilla mines, Firefox was born.
What is unfortunate is that Yahoo’s approach is not going to be good enough. APIs are awesome, but only when the API is connected to something that people actually want to use. As badly as Yahoo is doing right now, Yahoo needs to completely rethink its search business. Instead, they are basically opening up their really lousy product for people to integrate into their websites? Seems confusing to me. They are providing people with the ability to use inaccurate search queries on their own websites? Seriously, do I need to spell this out. Listen and learn, after all you have no other choice right now.
Your company is about to eat itself. The last resort is to COMPLETELY open up your search engine, allow for spin offs and then provide services to those spin offs. Either that or abandon search altogether and simply become a content company like Netscape or AOL.
3 Comments
Chinookman
July 11th, 2008
at 9:08am
Every business must revisit its business model and look towards forward thinking processes…..How else did Jobs succeed with the iPhone….mere luck…NO!!!………
Yahoo! ….needs serious business brainstorming looking into its core values and core competencies and move forward………holding on to emotional ties because I’m the founder will not cut it….yeah you young guys did a great job at first, cutting edge…….within time maturity comes into play it’s part of the business evolution………….partner up with another company strong on its own core values and business models or do it yourself but it’s time to move forward……..and another “NEW” idea is not always the ticket to success………I do not use FaceBook to me it’s for kids I use Linked in for professionals and minimally at that….new is not always better……look how M$ is shooting itself in the foot it does lots of things and very few very well if at all……refine, redefine, implement, tweak and run it with conviction……..or sell and retire and enjoy the fruits of your labor……. :-)
OmniDrgaon
July 11th, 2008
at 9:26am
Yeah their search sucks SO BAD, that they’re second in the business and beating the hell out of Live Search. Balmer is practically down on his knees BEGGING them for their search business.
Chinookman
July 11th, 2008
at 3:31pm
I would get with Balmer and partner up with them…and move forward……………..or there will be a very acrimonious take over like the one right now in play to buy out A-Busch beer, by forcing their board of directors out…..so Yahoo!…wake up and smell the Ben Franklins, you can be in charge of your destiny or others will do it for your……..