Year in review: Searching for dollars
Commercial search was the saving grace of advertising sales in 2003 for many companies, reminding everyone of the early promise and growth of the online ad industry.
Search:
Commercial search saves the day
For many Net companies, commercial search was the saving grace of advertising sales in 2003, reminding everyone of the early promise and growth of the online ad industry.
But it also sparked fierce competition among Internet big wheels, foreshadowing greater rivalry and further clashes in 2004, as more advertisers and publishers depend on the efficiency--and riches--of paid-search listings.
Sales from paid search--Web marketing that pairs text ads with
keyword-triggered search results--
Early in the year, the
2003 was a year for experimentation for all the search players.
Google and Overture unveiled
Google, Yahoo and many others introduced applications that let users
search directly from their browser, while AOL
Google was
Search advances are expected from Microsoft's research department in 2004, and all the search players will be aiming to personalize and improve the relevance of search results. Internet heavyweights will be jockeying to dominate search outside of the browser as well, with likely new software geared to query information databases from the operating system.
New direction for Overture
The pioneer of commercial search listings has attracted its share of envy and imitators. Now it's decided it needs to be more like some of the rivals nipping at its heels.Feb. 26, 2003
The changing face of search engines
As search engines move from using listings backed by human editors to charging for placement, many people wonder what the future holds for search tools.March 24, 2003
Yahoo's bid to own search
The Web portal's Overture buyout would make the company the top contender in the race to win online advertising's hottest prize.July 14, 2003
Microsoft, Google may go head-to-head
Microsoft's path to expand the Windows empire with a new search program called MSNBot is leading directly to search king Google.June 25, 2003
Searching for the personal touch
Start-up Kaltix is working on one of the toughest problems in search--technology that delivers personalized results. Could it elbow out Google?Aug. 11, 2003
Amazon gets into shopping search
The Web giant sets up a group to develop e-commerce search technology, an attempt to enter a lucrative market Google and Yahoo dominate.Sept. 25, 2003
Automated search ads can boomerang
A Google customer is criticizing the search engine's placement of a defense attorney's marketing pitch, in the latest example of the pitfalls of online advertising.Oct. 2, 2003
Craving for 'clicks' bogs down search
Hackers and mainstream Net companies are beginning to take extreme measures to grab a slice of search, sowing confusion for consumers and posing new challenges for search providers.Oct. 8, 2003
Google tests desktop search
The search company is testing software that lets people navigate the Web without opening up an Internet browser, placing itself in a field that Microsoft has designs on--desktop search.Nov. 6, 2003
Search engines face drug test
Calls to curtail advertisements from allegedly illegal dealers point to growing pains for the Internet's newest marketing powerhouses.Nov. 11, 2003
Customers rage at Google tweak
The search giant's new ad program is drawing some complaints from angry advertisers, who say the plan is costing them sales and money.Nov. 14, 2003
Microsoft aims for search on its own terms
The software maker is exploring ways to make search systems a greater part of its Windows operating system and to make searches better tailored to individual needs.Nov. 24, 2003
Google wants ruling on search trademark law
Aiming to pre-empt mounting complaints of trademark violations, the search company asks a court to rule on whether its keyword-advertising policy is legal.Dec. 4, 2003
Search:
Commercial search saves the day
For many Net companies, commercial search was the saving grace of advertising sales in 2003, reminding everyone of the early promise and growth of the online ad industry.
But it also sparked fierce competition among Internet big wheels, foreshadowing greater rivalry and further clashes in 2004, as more advertisers and publishers depend on the efficiency--and riches--of paid-search listings.
Sales from paid search--Web marketing that pairs text ads with
keyword-triggered search results--
Early in the year, the
2003 was a year for experimentation for all the search players.
Google and Overture unveiled
Google, Yahoo and many others introduced applications that let users
search directly from their browser, while AOL
Google was
Search advances are expected from Microsoft's research department in 2004, and all the search players will be aiming to personalize and improve the relevance of search results. Internet heavyweights will be jockeying to dominate search outside of the browser as well, with likely new software geared to query information databases from the operating system.
New direction for Overture
The pioneer of commercial search listings has attracted its share of envy and imitators. Now it's decided it needs to be more like some of the rivals nipping at its heels.Feb. 26, 2003
The changing face of search engines
As search engines move from using listings backed by human editors to charging for placement, many people wonder what the future holds for search tools.March 24, 2003
Yahoo's bid to own search
The Web portal's Overture buyout would make the company the top contender in the race to win online advertising's hottest prize.July 14, 2003
Microsoft, Google may go head-to-head
Microsoft's path to expand the Windows empire with a new search program called MSNBot is leading directly to search king Google.June 25, 2003
Searching for the personal touch
Start-up Kaltix is working on one of the toughest problems in search--technology that delivers personalized results. Could it elbow out Google?Aug. 11, 2003
Amazon gets into shopping search
The Web giant sets up a group to develop e-commerce search technology, an attempt to enter a lucrative market Google and Yahoo dominate.Sept. 25, 2003
Automated search ads can boomerang
A Google customer is criticizing the search engine's placement of a defense attorney's marketing pitch, in the latest example of the pitfalls of online advertising.Oct. 2, 2003
Craving for 'clicks' bogs down search
Hackers and mainstream Net companies are beginning to take extreme measures to grab a slice of search, sowing confusion for consumers and posing new challenges for search providers.Oct. 8, 2003
Google tests desktop search
The search company is testing software that lets people navigate the Web without opening up an Internet browser, placing itself in a field that Microsoft has designs on--desktop search.Nov. 6, 2003
Search engines face drug test
Calls to curtail advertisements from allegedly illegal dealers point to growing pains for the Internet's newest marketing powerhouses.Nov. 11, 2003
Customers rage at Google tweak
The search giant's new ad program is drawing some complaints from angry advertisers, who say the plan is costing them sales and money.Nov. 14, 2003
Microsoft aims for search on its own terms
The software maker is exploring ways to make search systems a greater part of its Windows operating system and to make searches better tailored to individual needs.Nov. 24, 2003
Google wants ruling on search trademark law
Aiming to pre-empt mounting complaints of trademark violations, the search company asks a court to rule on whether its keyword-advertising policy is legal.Dec. 4, 2003