One of the former search engine leaders, LookSmart popped its head up to announce that its still here even when its year-end financial results are still sliding. LookSmart’s market share has been sliding for the last several years since they decided to convert all listings to paid listings whether those who were indexed wanted this or not.
A couple of years ago, MSN announced that they were dropping LookSmart as their results provider contributing to LookSmart’s ongoing financial slide. The demise of LookSmart has been predicted for some time now, so it is refreshing that every once in a while, they will pop their heads up and say “We’re still here!” Perhaps the upcoming Groundhog’s Day would have been a better time for this announcement.
For LookSmart to be successful again, they will need to come up with a new identity that will set them apart of Google, Yahoo! MSN, and Overture. Just being who they are isn’t working right now and hasn’t for some time. LookSmart needs to spend more money on R&D and come up with creative and innovative solutions that are more customer focused and less advertiser focused.
LookSmart needs to live by the old mantra “Give the customer what they want and the money will follow.”
Just my 2 cents (with a 50% rebate for filling out this coupon)
