June 13, 2007 Comments
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Ed Adkins at E-Marketing Performance makes a very interesting (and entertaining) observation this week. With the recent launch of Ask 3D, Ask.com has become the Target of the search engine world. That makes Google...you guessed it...Walmart.
In a bold move, Ask.com has risked its 1.01% share of the search engine market by positioning itself as the Target of the search world… forcing me to make the obvious comparison between Google and Wal-Mart.
Consider this: Who can compete with Wal-Mart on price? No one. If you are a store and you sell, pretty much anything, then it will crush you beneath its giant, omnipotent smiley face. So how did Target survive its battle with the juggernaut? Target offers something Wal-Mart can't: a fun experience. It's cute, it's cuddly and you can admit to your friends you go there. Shopping at Wal-Mart on the other hand, offers a glimpse into a nightmarish hell from which you only escape with a fraction of your sanity.
Likewise, how can a little search engine compete with Google? Offer a better experience. Now, Google may not be filled with screaming children and lumbering, mulleted employees, but its strength has never been its ambiance.
Enter the new Ask.com. It's cute, it's got great atmosphere, and best of all it has hot chicks with swords.
Ed goes on to draw some great comparisons that may not be the most accurate way to describe Ask or Google, but will certainly give you a good chuckle.
Personally, I like the comparison. WalMart and Google are both the leaders in their industries but tend to annoy as many people as they impress. In fact, many consider them to be necessary evils. Target, on the other hand, has a generally good public image with almost everyone, despite their incredibly annoying tv commercials.
Besides, lots of famous people shop at Target. How often do you think Sarah Michelle Gellar and Eva Longoria venture into their local Wally World to do a little shopping?
I don't know about the rest of the country, but Target is doing pretty booming business around these parts. Maybe that bodes well for Ask?
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