The Golden Hat

I love checking in on a few of my favorite blogs each morning to see what’s going on in the search industry, but I must admit that the Microhoo headlines are wearing me out. Although I understand the strategic importance of Microsoft’s bid for Yahoo!, especially in terms of securing a hope for greater market share in the search landscape, I feel that as an industry we are better off having Google, Yahoo! and MSN separate and independent of each other. Below are my top 5 reasons why:

1. Three unique engines means three unique search avenues for users to take advantage of. In the end each of the engines is aiming to provide optimal relevancy and quality to the user, but none can say that their search results are 100% relevant or accurate. So at this point the more search avenues that we can provide to the user, the better.

2. With Google, Yahoo! and MSN as independent companies they will continue to innovate to try and gain a competitive advantage. Innovation in an industry that has built in obsolesence is mandatory. Constant innovation leads to a greater user experience and continued industry acceleration and growth. Limiting the competitive landscape by forming search conglomerates is bad for users and the industry as a whole.

3. I can’t take the constant word play! Microhoo….. Yahoosoft…… Microhooyasoft….

4. Let natural selection (in the business sense) determine who is the strongest and who is the weakest. Bringing it back to #2, innovation and thought leadership should trump takeovers to ensure the industry continues to provide a great user experience. If an industry leader exits the market place it should be due to a natural process (think Infoseek).

5. To ensure consumer confidence, a strong industry image, and continued growth the search industry cannot engage in buyouts and takeovers that are currently rampant in the finance and credit markets landscape. Search remains strong despite macroeconomic conditions, so let’s preserve the industry leaders as they currently exist because “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

There you have it….. my top 5 reasons. Anyone else feel the same way or think I’m headed in the wrong direction? Leave a message and let me know!

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