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Ask bashes Google in the UK
Ask has been running some new controversial ads in the UK recently informing people about Google's huge success and the impact it could have.The campaign is trying to get across that 75% of all searches performed in the UK are done through Google, thus limiting the sources that people are getting information from.
Ask is trying to ramp up its search engine market in Europe by creating a tiny rebellious market through the use of a non branded campaign encompassing radio, street stunts, TV, and web. Most ads and materials do not even mention Ask, they just direct the audience to an Information Revolution website which encourages people to "Join the Revolution."
It's a very interesting and unique approach, and Google welcomes the competition, but has Ask gone a little far by creating a "Revolution" to gain a bit of market share in Europe?
Check out a video of the ads and commercials after the jump...
Additional coverage can be found on SearchEngineLand and WSJ.
Comments
10
Subscribe to commentsEveryday WeekenderApr 5th 2007 5:23PM
I don't know.. i don't think it's valid.
Everyday Weekender
GPApr 5th 2007 5:49PM
I've seen some of these ads, in the UK, but I can't remember any directions to this information revolution thing and they all ended with the Ask logo held up on one of those cards
Ive never liked Ask, anyway
dsfsdsdfsdfsdApr 5th 2007 6:18PM
Hopefully it's a revolutionary movement that has the better search algos (unlike M$'s current attempt).
flubukApr 5th 2007 6:26PM
Distant 4th lets you do crazy stuff. Google can't do crazy stuff because now they are "the man" in search.
james 42Apr 5th 2007 8:43PM
that just makes them look desperate, sad really.
alfApr 5th 2007 9:42PM
Maybe their time and money would have been better spent improving their search engine... Just a thought.
Ron LarsonApr 5th 2007 10:53PM
Wow. That is so pathetic. The red and black communist colors. The beards on the men. The berets. Che Guervera must be spinning in his grave.
ShibathedogApr 6th 2007 11:13PM
Now, they may have changed since i last used them, but back when they where still ask jeeves, and right after the switch (the last time i tried them) I always considered them to be the WORST of all the search engines, I could never find anything at all with ask (or at least not nearly as much/as decent information) I always hated them. While their message here is true, and its kind of a cool campaign, I'll pass on using ask.
base2waveApr 6th 2007 1:28AM
Che Jeevera,... You gave up the quiet life to fight a cause...
Gritty editing and teenag-ish rebellion makes not a revolution. Just makes you look angsty and desperate.
While I understand the potentiality of Google to manipulate search results and thus effectively become a subversive media giant, I think they're needs are better met by maintaining the Capitalist ideal and being the land on which the worlds largest billboard is built.
I'm not saying Google is the be-all-and-end-all, but lets face it, they do what they do, and do it well. Ask missed the boat. Lycos anyone? No? Yeah...
NoshApr 6th 2007 6:12AM
Aren't they the ones ripping off Wikipedia!
And reg. their attacks on Google - envy is a dangerous emotion.
What a bunch of desperate scumbags!