Archives for posts with tag: miva

Is it time Miva gave up the ghost?

September 12, 2008 //
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Having been in search for quite a while, I remember when Miva, or e-spotting as it was at the time.  Was actually a valid addition to a paid search campaign.  Taking up 20-40% of click budget for some campaigns and a viable traffic stream so long as you could filter out the fraudulent clicks.

Right now, approximately 0% of click budget in general would go through a PPC campaign managed by me and it would take something pretty special to convince me to do otherwise.  They tried to rescue it as the slide began, with offerings such as pay per call and their precision network of verticalised search, but to no avail.

Today they have announced they are launching a new online advertising platform but I am starting to think they should just give up the ghost and shut up shop.  They surely cant be profitable in the UK, although I hear they don’t have many staff left!  And there is no way they have the funds, the standing or the money to realistically compete with the likes of Google, Microsoft and Yahoo.  Their only hope is that they come up with something so innovative and mind blowing, that no-one else can copy, that it completely revolutionises the market.  Pretty unlikely if you ask me.  Is it time for Miva to give up the ghost and shut up shop?

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Categories Search Engine Marketing

Vertical communities are ‘the future of social networking’

June 18, 2007 //
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Vertical search engines have been discussed for a while now. They have obvious benefits in terms of targeting but limitations in terms of search volume. Miva have recently tried to tap into this market with their precision network which has shown rather underwhelming results, conversion rates 5-10% higher than the standard network but costs as much as 100% higher! effectively pricing themselves out.

Google’s site targeting function is another route into the vertical communities and this holds more benefits as it will be no more expensive, and possibly cheaper, than their standard network. It is effectively the Google content market bu with the ability to select the sites and verticals you wish to appear on, meaning you can choose those most targeted to your industry.

Vertical search marketing allows for more accurate targeting and potential higher conversion rates but it remains to be seen whether this will be the case for the time being, the jury is still out!

Vertical communities are ‘the future of social networking’
by Hayley Pinkerfield Revolution UK 18-Jun-07, 11:45
LONDON

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and 10Duke have launched the first tennis-dedicated online network, claiming that vertical communities will displace the likes of YouTube and MySpace.
The ATP is using 10Duke’s technology platform to take its existing offline community online. Users can upload footage to 30Love.net via online and mobile to show off their tennis skills. Tennis fans can access behind the scenes clips from the pro tennis tour, view exclusive player video clips and share photos, videos and personal profiles.
Etienne de Villiers, ATP executive chairman and president, said: “30Love.net will be the online home for everyone with a love for tennis and is the latest stage of our ongoing drive to ensure the sport remains relevant. Huge opportunities exist for our sport online and 10Duke’s social networking platform allows us to bring together the tennis community in a way that we have never been done before.”Michael Leavey, CEO of 10Duke, added: “This will be one of the first world-wide communities of its kind, based on a particular interest rather than general sites such as YouTube or MySpace. Vertical communities will be the future of social networking.”Chris Seth, MD of online teen network, Piczo, questioned the niche network business model: “It remains to be seen whether consumers have the time and inclination to visit multiple niche social networks online. The difficulty with a niche strategy is around being first to market. Piczo and others have gained critical mass to create a community and have a viable business proposition for brands.”
The 30Love.net site will launch at the start of Wimbledon with support from leading ATP Players, and will be promoted at ATP’s 63 tournaments this year.

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Categories Social Networking