You Are SOOOOO Right About Motro...
But, first, a little pooper-scooping about some really, really
old news (in Web terms) about software that blocks banner advertising. This little
bit of cyber-feces has been floating around now for, say, four
months. Not causing shudders at Yahoo! or XCIT or SEEK for that
matter. Block the banners, then you've got interstitials to
focus on. Block both of those... then you've got promotional
content woven into the context of the sites. Block all of that
and then you've just got some revenue-sharing buttons that drive
folks to say, Dell's store. Block all of that and then you're
watching TV... which has... commercials.
I remember a few years ago all the fuss about something that
would zap commercial content from TV. Maybe, not a bad idea.
And, if I'm not mistaken, somebody had some kind of doohickey
to do just that. Didn't exactly take off. Why? Some folks
actually like commercials. And as we get into video banners
on the Web (already happening) and then full-bore video ads
(already happening), I suspect nobody will be trying to buy
any banner killers.
Incidentally, if you're an AOL-er, every time you sign on,
you get hit with a splash screen (sometimes more than one)
about some sort of deal or another--lately its been the 9-cent per minute phone stuff.
I find it irritating. But, the AOL executive in charge of this
area was quoted recently as saying something to the effect that
"our customers actually like being made aware of deals." Seemed
a stretch to me.
Back to the banners, for a painful moment. Honestly, I think the ONLY folks who are utterly fascinated
with tools to block banners are those who might want to buy some
puts on--or short--search engine stocks. Not an insubstantial market, I
suppose.
Which is why I'm launching a bit of vaporware (I'm going
to get VC funding for this as soon as the orders start pouring in):
MICHAEL MURPHY'S "BANNER BUSTER"
Bust The Banner. Short The Stock.
****A software package designed by the notorious search-engine
shorter AND former 1970's folk rock star (remember "Wildfire"?)****
Now, back to the short-term "realities" of SEEK. I'm actually a little
surprised that more weak hands did not fold today. From the
standpoint of wanting to see a real run for the roses around
earnings time, I'd have been heartened (I mean no harm to
traders) to see a little more acceleration on the downhill slolom.
So, maybe there isn't a sucker shakeout in the making. Time
will tell.
Best Regards To All Good SEEKers,
c m |
