I’m sure most people have seen the Ask.com “can your search engine do this?” commercials. They compare a search using their engine to a Google search. I have to say, I think these commercials are hugely effective, especially to the average consumer. Ask.com returns pictures, video, sound clips, related maps, etc, all on the results page of the item you are searching for. When they show Google’s search output as a boring list of text links, it’s a powerful comparison. I think if I wasn’t in the industry and had no idea of relevancy or search algorithms, I would give Ask a try on my next search. What do you guys think? Is Ask going to start chipping away at Google with these multimedia search results?
haha
One of the first things I saw in Ask’s big advertising push were billboards in NYC that didn’t even have their name on them. Just because of the business I was in, I knew who they were from. It seemed dumb at the time, but perhaps that was the point. The other advertising they have been doing seems much better.
However, looking at their traffic stats over the past year. I question how much this campaign has helped them.
That commercial makes Ask look pretty good. And the variety and ease of use even seem to beat this http://www.searchmash.com/search/eagles+of+death+metal
Now Ask.com is cool. It’s an add-on to top SE rather than competition. I think Google, Y!, MSN are happy to see how people respond to Ask.com to come out something based on that and that will be another challenge to Ask.com.
I just wonder the overall results will be… I think the key will make their search relevant and stand out cause there is only sooo many billions you can waste on commercials before you have to get a return… but i agree their latest commercials are compelling.