Online advertising - all sewn up by the big guys?

This image from eMarketer shows just how sewn up the online ad world is by the big four...

When Google drops the branded terms rules on 5th May I reckon their revenue and share will leap as the cost of those terms in PPC rises!

AOL buys into the affiliate model

AOL has bought Buy.at the affiliate network. This is the first affiliate buy I've seen by a major portal like AOL, there's been a lot of other ad network buys but it's good to see an affiliate network securing such a deal. Affiliates were always going to be huge in 2008 as technology advances and publishers get onboard more, perhaps this is a sign of things to come?

WAYN to be sold to AOL?

Interesting exclusive from Techcrunch UK this morning. They are carrying the story that WAYN may be sold to AOL for the sum of $200m. WAYN themselves haven't acknowledged the deal but Techcrunch's reporter claims three independent sources have verified it.

It's a possibility. Maybe the founders and investors feel it's time to cash out before the larger social networks take over the travel network mantle. Facebook is well on the way to providing the same functionality as part of it's package. Once WAYN's core users realise this they could see a large dip in traffic as users stop feeling the need to visit.

With the above in mind $200m does seem like a lot for something which could tank anytime soon! It would though be a good complement to AOL's portal and if anyone is going to make a success of a niche network like this a portal which still has a semi-walled garden approach (such as AOL) could do it.

Personally I think it would be a better fit for Yahoo...

Google can't get no satisfaction

For the second consecutive year, Google has slipped in the rankings of a US consumer satisfaction survey. This year they've slipped so far they actually come below Yahoo!

According to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, Yahoo's customer satisfaction score rose by 4% to 79, while Google fell by 3.7% to 78. Other search engines measured in the rankings were Ask.com, which posted the biggest increase to score 75, making it equal with MSN.com. AOL dropped by 9% to record a satisfaction score of 67, making it the biggest loser in the survey.

Foresee Results who run the survey said that it is an indicator of the financial success of a business in the wider marketplace and reckon that the next year could show a turnaround for Yahoo. Music to Jerry Yang's ears I'm sure, they could do with some new found success!