LookingConfident's Instablog Longstanding investor in Looksmart (and a 68 yr old ex-tradesman), who has a passionate interest in the problems of newspapers along with their success in all their monetisation attempts made, on the web. For the "times are indeed, a changin", I feel. [17th of Aug, 2011 - Print media (sadly), has lost a sense of that preponderance it once held in our society. There is hope. - But it needs a fundamental change in that ingrained culture that has been the way, of the past. Please read the article linked below (and especially all the 'free' user comment), that has also been added today.] And, history will soon show that ACAP (the, Automated Content Access Protocol), that I have been so "passionate" about in many a post made everywhere over the past few years, will not only become a part of our every-day lives, but will be fiercely-enforced along the way...And rightly so... Where your "free" (Local) "rag", may well even survive and become (as was also predicted by myself back in 2005). the very "lynch pin" between local business and the web! :) And it seems that Europe will lead the way....It's a lengthy read, that some will find is well worth-while to do so. "Publishers demand IP Rights To Protect Journalism" < I firmly believe that Digital Europe cannot afford to turn a blind eye to its ecological potential, which in turn can open up new business opportunities for European ICT companies.> <....I therefore hope that, after some weeks of hesitations and doubts, we will now swiftly get back to business. In view of the economic crisis, wait and see is certainly not an option for Europe. I personally feel very confident that with a strong, independent European Commission that seeks inspiration from the principles of the social market economy, we will indeed manage to bring Europe swiftly back on the path of sustainable growth. A clear strategy for boosting a digital economy for businesses and citizens, as outlined in my Digital Europe plan, should play an important role in this. If we keep Ludwig Erhard, his principles and the importance of psychology for economic development in mind, we may even be able to perform a small "economic miracle" in the coming years.> <http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00200.htm> Cheers!! Added August 16th, 2011 - "Newspapers Need a DNA Transplant" http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Newsletter/Article/Newspapers-Need-a-DNA-Transplant < "Newspapers now must find new ways to cost-effectively create content; build new Web, mobile, and social audiences; and monetize their traffic as profitably as Facebook and Google do. To do that, they will have to bring the creative chaos of Silicon Valley into every corner of their businesses. - - - This means launching multiple, carefully planned initiatives across the full array of print and digital media. To be sure, this must be done with discipline and care." > March 6th, 2012 - "Newspapers: It’s not a revenue problem, it’s a culture problem" http://gigaom.com/2012/03/05/newspapers-its-not-a-revenue-problem-its-a-culture-problem/ “Publishers need to think how that [their] brand lives on the Web" - http://www.digiday.com/publishing/in-turnabout-publishers-act-like-marketers/ Rupert Murdoch: The future of newspapers is all digital http://dlvr.it/1V8dPY New Orleans, newspapers and the beginning of the end By Mathew Ingram May. 25, 2012 http://gigaom.com/2012/05/25/new-orleans-newspapers-and-the-beginning-of-the-end/ Friday Sep 21, 2012, 11:22pm EDT LOOK: $0.89 Up 0.08 (+10.53%) 4:00PM EDT|After Hours : 0.89 Up 0.00 (0.03%) 4:09PM EDT Two excellent articles I've just read (I feel) encapsulate this lon 'drawn out' road to come up with a solution that becomes, the 'intersection of search and display'. Read on.... "Do you hear that rumble in the distance? It’s change coming. What sort of change, you ask? Well, the events of the last few weeks collectively point to a pretty big shift in the search landscape. First, has traditional search engine usage reached its peak? When people skip over a search engine and go straight to Amazon for product search, it’s clear that either Amazon is doing something very right, or search engines need to improve their results. Changes to Google Shopping may help improve the experience for users, but is it too little too late?" http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/183511/the-future-of-search.html Then.... "Google News, its executives tell me, now "algorithmically harvests" articles from more than 50,000 news sources across 72 editions and 30 languages. And Google News-powered results, Google says, are viewed by about 1 billion unique users a week. (Yep, that's billion with a b.) Which translates, for news outlets overall, to more than 4 billion clicks each month: 1 billion from Google News itself and an additional 3 billion from web search. As a Google representative put it, "That's about 100,000 business opportunities we provide publishers every minute." http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/09/google-news-at-10-how-the-algorithm-won-over-the-news-industry/262641/ It's been an amazing story all the way. With LUMA Partners publishing it's LUMAscapes that map over 1,500 companies across seven sub-sectors of digital:companies saying, that within the circles alone [they] represent approximately $3 trillion of market capitalization and $450 billion of cash and securities. - http://www.lumapartners.com/the-strategic-buyer-lumascape/ Where do they start to rein-in some of that invested capital? My thoughts are contained in the following two links: https://www.facebook.com/ross.bradley.18/posts/10151231209526605 http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/36191-lookingconfident/932031-an-rtb-global-open-marketplace-handling-up-to-100-billion-events-per-day?source=kizur#comment_update_link LookingConfident http://seekingalpha.com/user/36191/instablog Looksmart's Q-1 2013 Financial Results http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/36191-lookingconfident/1863711-looksmart-s-q-1-2013-financial-results?source=feed 1863711 ....."We have begun the process of bringing ownership thinking to our employees" is such a refreshing message that Looksmart's newest CEO Michael Onghai has passed on to shareholders.

Michael has just delivered the Co's First Quarter 2013 Financial Results, yesterday.

In a quickly changing world many may feel that too many young people are being told what to think rather than being told, "how" to think.

[Looksmart's] "Ownership thinking"....There's no doubt, that...

Education is the answer...not 'the stick' .. Education and NOT of the indoctrination kind, that will see future people becoming slaves under the control of, corporate ("board-room") idealism. No more, no less.

This can only (ultimately) result in NO more "free" thinking. People have a need to learn how to control their minds ....and for them to not have their minds take control over them or, have them controlled, by others.

In my (1st April, 2013) instapost Looksmart CEO Michael Onghai's Initial Report I'd opined the following:

........With operating expenses now down to about $2 million per quarter post 2012 (this estimate does include all cost related to the operating of the Company's data center) and a TAC going forward (my estimate only, of course) of just 20% of all post 2012 comprehensive revenue or, income, there's a distinct possibility now that Looksmart CEO Michael Onghai's 'intention of seeing profitable revenue growth in the future', may well come sooner than many could ever imagine.

It's pleasing to read (from the Q1 Report) that Looksmart's ... "Total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2013 were $2.1 million and included $0.02 million of non-cash, share-based compensation."

And for the Q2 Period we are currently in?

I see PROFITABILTY being announced for THIS period. [Note ps;]

Well played, Michael Onghai and Team Looksmart.

LOOK: $0.74 Up 0.03 (+4.18%) May 15

Always, only an opinion.

LC

ps; Not so soon though. (As I had though may happen.)

From the 10-Q ... HTML

In a mention of the Co's Advertiser Networks Revenue for Q1 (1.74M) and looking ahead, the Co advises that ..."We expect that in the near future advertiser network revenue will generally remain at levels realized in the first quarter."

With Publisher Solutions ($0.26M) possibly, likewise:

...."We expect that in the near future publisher solutions revenue will generally remain at levels realized in the first quarter."

"Operating expense for the three months ended March 31, 2013 ($2.09M) included $0.5 million related to the tender offer by PEEK. Excluding the effect of this charge, operating expenses decreased by $2.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012."

"We do not expect substantial future increases in general and administrative expense."

It can't get any worse that this quarter, surely?

"As of March 31, 2013, we had 17 employees."

(Trade accounts receivable, net $1.44M)
( Deferred revenue and customer deposits $1.10M)

Q2? Break-even, at best.

Disclosure: Long LOOK

]]> Thu, 16 May 2013 12:07:16 -0400 ....."We have begun the process of bringing ownership thinking to our employees" is such a refreshing message that Looksmart's newest CEO Michael Onghai has passed on to shareholders.

Michael has just delivered the Co's First Quarter 2013 Financial Results, yesterday.

In a quickly changing world many may feel that too many young people are being told what to think rather than being told, "how" to think.

[Looksmart's] "Ownership thinking"....There's no doubt, that...

Education is the answer...not 'the stick' .. Education and NOT of the indoctrination kind, that will see future people becoming slaves under the control of, corporate ("board-room") idealism. No more, no less.

This can only (ultimately) result in NO more "free" thinking. People have a need to learn how to control their minds ....and for them to not have their minds take control over them or, have them controlled, by others.

In my (1st April, 2013) instapost Looksmart CEO Michael Onghai's Initial Report I'd opined the following:

........With operating expenses now down to about $2 million per quarter post 2012 (this estimate does include all cost related to the operating of the Company's data center) and a TAC going forward (my estimate only, of course) of just 20% of all post 2012 comprehensive revenue or, income, there's a distinct possibility now that Looksmart CEO Michael Onghai's 'intention of seeing profitable revenue growth in the future', may well come sooner than many could ever imagine.

It's pleasing to read (from the Q1 Report) that Looksmart's ... "Total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2013 were $2.1 million and included $0.02 million of non-cash, share-based compensation."

And for the Q2 Period we are currently in?

I see PROFITABILTY being announced for THIS period. [Note ps;]

Well played, Michael Onghai and Team Looksmart.

LOOK: $0.74 Up 0.03 (+4.18%) May 15

Always, only an opinion.

LC

ps; Not so soon though. (As I had though may happen.)

From the 10-Q ... HTML

In a mention of the Co's Advertiser Networks Revenue for Q1 (1.74M) and looking ahead, the Co advises that ..."We expect that in the near future advertiser network revenue will generally remain at levels realized in the first quarter."

With Publisher Solutions ($0.26M) possibly, likewise:

...."We expect that in the near future publisher solutions revenue will generally remain at levels realized in the first quarter."

"Operating expense for the three months ended March 31, 2013 ($2.09M) included $0.5 million related to the tender offer by PEEK. Excluding the effect of this charge, operating expenses decreased by $2.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012."

"We do not expect substantial future increases in general and administrative expense."

It can't get any worse that this quarter, surely?

"As of March 31, 2013, we had 17 employees."

(Trade accounts receivable, net $1.44M)
( Deferred revenue and customer deposits $1.10M)

Q2? Break-even, at best.

Disclosure: Long LOOK

]]> ����When The Advertiser's ROI Becomes A Final Judgment http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/36191-lookingconfident/1752191-x01-x01-x01-x01when-the-advertiser-s-roi-becomes-a-final-judgment?source=feed 1752191 Friday's close gives Looksmart a Market Cap of just $12.53M.- And anyone who considers the Co is 'over-valued' down at these low levels (there are a few), must surely have rocks in their head. Certainly when considering that the Co had ended the 2012 year with $15.9 million in cash.

Looksmart are in with many other small Co's (and globally, they've had billions of $$'s invested in them), that are seeking a small yet profitable "share" of an ever increasing digital ad-spend.

Few AdTech Co's can boast they are making any real money outside of established big players, and led by Google. - While all are 'spending plenty' to create a 'unique formula' or, develop improvements that can assure them of a regular share of that total (growing), ad-spend.

In my previous post I expressed the feeling that operating expenses were now down to around the $2 million per quarter level. I'd also felt (with Comprehensive Revenues of say, around $3.0 to $3.5 million), a likely return to profitability won't be too far away.

This is in spite of the Co's uniquely independent search intent based marketplace (in the global ecosystem) being anything, other than an ongoing 'work in progress'. And in any assuming that Looksmart are actually adding more 'improvement/s' (to it's RTB AdCenter 'buy/sell' side offerings), becomes only a guess.

Targeting of Search Intent

To me, it has become a little comforting to read the following interesting comment to an AdExchanger article, and its from some-one who had actually departed from his CRO role at Looksmart, back in mid January.

Chris O'Hara says:
April 4, 2013 at 11:51 am

........."I was recently involved with a company trying to build a search retargeting technology that leveraged keyword-based search data & applied results to display inventory. The biggest challenge was that we knew SEM buyers demanded quality controls to prevent click fraud.

............They [the SEM buyers] trusted Google and other Tier One search clicks, but were not sure they were going to get quality when ads were delivered across display-based exchange inventory. ....After looking into quality control practices across a number of exchanges, we determined that there were no effective security measures in place to test quality at both query time and click time. That was a scary realization.

I hope we as an industry can solve this. Without strong quality controls in place, there is no way display will be able to eat into other channel budgets and exploit the "Meeker gap" in lost revenue opportunity, even as time spent in digital channels increases."

Chris' comment was to the above-linked article that's entitled "Display Advertising Fraud is a Sell-Side Problem" and he advises quality control is a concern for both search query & inventory, in some instances.

[Yet, for Looksmart buyers/sellers.] It's all happening in Real Time.

I'm wondering why there isn't more emphasis made on the "user" (who instigates the query and any resulting paid click - all in real time) rather than whose search engine/inventory that a user had originated [on] or, was found, on. And that on an impression by impression basis (that may or, may not lead to a paid click), each individual user must surely be of the utmost importance. When/then (ultimately?), its the advertiser's ROI that will always become the final judgment.

Just an opinion.

LOOK: $0.7240 Up 0.0240 (+3.43%) Apr 12, 3:42PM EDT

LC

Disclosure: Long LOOK

.

]]> Sat, 13 Apr 2013 22:09:24 -0400 Friday's close gives Looksmart a Market Cap of just $12.53M.- And anyone who considers the Co is 'over-valued' down at these low levels (there are a few), must surely have rocks in their head. Certainly when considering that the Co had ended the 2012 year with $15.9 million in cash.

Looksmart are in with many other small Co's (and globally, they've had billions of $$'s invested in them), that are seeking a small yet profitable "share" of an ever increasing digital ad-spend.

Few AdTech Co's can boast they are making any real money outside of established big players, and led by Google. - While all are 'spending plenty' to create a 'unique formula' or, develop improvements that can assure them of a regular share of that total (growing), ad-spend.

In my previous post I expressed the feeling that operating expenses were now down to around the $2 million per quarter level. I'd also felt (with Comprehensive Revenues of say, around $3.0 to $3.5 million), a likely return to profitability won't be too far away.

This is in spite of the Co's uniquely independent search intent based marketplace (in the global ecosystem) being anything, other than an ongoing 'work in progress'. And in any assuming that Looksmart are actually adding more 'improvement/s' (to it's RTB AdCenter 'buy/sell' side offerings), becomes only a guess.

Targeting of Search Intent

To me, it has become a little comforting to read the following interesting comment to an AdExchanger article, and its from some-one who had actually departed from his CRO role at Looksmart, back in mid January.

Chris O'Hara says:
April 4, 2013 at 11:51 am

........."I was recently involved with a company trying to build a search retargeting technology that leveraged keyword-based search data & applied results to display inventory. The biggest challenge was that we knew SEM buyers demanded quality controls to prevent click fraud.

............They [the SEM buyers] trusted Google and other Tier One search clicks, but were not sure they were going to get quality when ads were delivered across display-based exchange inventory. ....After looking into quality control practices across a number of exchanges, we determined that there were no effective security measures in place to test quality at both query time and click time. That was a scary realization.

I hope we as an industry can solve this. Without strong quality controls in place, there is no way display will be able to eat into other channel budgets and exploit the "Meeker gap" in lost revenue opportunity, even as time spent in digital channels increases."

Chris' comment was to the above-linked article that's entitled "Display Advertising Fraud is a Sell-Side Problem" and he advises quality control is a concern for both search query & inventory, in some instances.

[Yet, for Looksmart buyers/sellers.] It's all happening in Real Time.

I'm wondering why there isn't more emphasis made on the "user" (who instigates the query and any resulting paid click - all in real time) rather than whose search engine/inventory that a user had originated [on] or, was found, on. And that on an impression by impression basis (that may or, may not lead to a paid click), each individual user must surely be of the utmost importance. When/then (ultimately?), its the advertiser's ROI that will always become the final judgment.

Just an opinion.

LOOK: $0.7240 Up 0.0240 (+3.43%) Apr 12, 3:42PM EDT

LC

Disclosure: Long LOOK

.

]]> ����������Google? A Disruption To Search Is Imminent? http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/36191-lookingconfident/1723411-x01-x01-x01-x01-x01-x01-x01-x01-x01-x01google-a-disruption-to-search-is-imminent?source=feed 1723411 What's happening in Search? What lies ahead for Google?

In a comment made to an excellent WebProNews article by Chris Crum today (Will Google Ever Stop Dominating Search?), Kathy Alice Brown (a technologist, author, blogger & SEO consultant) advises readers that she had only written a blog post a week ago, "Will Google Search be Relevant in 5 years?"

...The question is being asked of Google in a number of quarters today (like 'here' & 'here') and coincidentally, they have all come at a time when Google's stock price happens to be taking a bit of a hit - after having reached an all-time high only last month. - Interesting.

Kathy says that..We are seeing the rise of "destination sites" that for specific searches, you use those sites' search functionality rather than searching on Google, because the results are more relevant & possibly more trustworthy - fragmenting the search landscape.

Just for fun, I asked someone not in the technology field a few days ago where she would search for "printer ink" and she answered "Amazon", so Amazon is definitely is making inroads into the shopping searches as this [Chris Crum's own], article states.

Kathy then explains that..With its complicated algorithm and periodic upheavals Google has made it hard for some businesses to do well in organic SEO. And that they appear to be favoring the bigger brands as one commenter as already noted.

The closing part of her comment (below), really caught my attention.

One disruption I see coming is a viable social search.- It might be Facebook's Graph Search or it might be something else- but regardless - I believe it's just a matter of time before we will have that as an alternative to some queries.

Who needs "Destination Sites"?

The ultimate in answering a user's search query habits will be a solution that can provide an instant (in Real Time) 'best' answer to each individual user, and no matter where that search query originates from.

Be it that need for 'a latté' & a phone app search via Yelp (for a nearby cafe) or, in buying an espresso machine by (as one suggests) searching Amazon.com.

That if a search was being conducted on Bing, Facebook's Graph Search, topical sites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor or Amazon or, any of the many other search engines ..... then a "same" set of (best) results can be provided on the SERP from off them all-that meets that (each & every) individual user's immediate want or, need.

For this to become that (Kathy's talked of) 'disruption' & the one RTB marketplace - that will favor neither big brands nor any small 'latte cafe' will most certainly require a total neutrality, access to real-time 1st party search data and the technology that can bring it all together - meaning, from 'both ends'/advertisers-publishers.

Have we (so quickly) forgotten PLAs? tinyurl.com/c5axczu

[That lend themselves to] An integration (of) Search & Display?

We'd been told within LookSmart's Rejection of PEEK Investment's Unsolicited Tender Offer that among its assets is LookSmart's market positioning as a:

  • Scalable search advertising platform for ad networks;
  • Independent ad network able to integrate Search and Display and deliver an efficient marketplace for advertisers and publishers; and, an....
  • Independent ad network able to deliver high quality traffic to advertisers and high value advertising opportunities to publishers.

Note PEEK were successful in their bid and new CEO Michael Onghai (who had headed up the consortium) has delivered his Initial Report.

(PEEK had actually purchased a total 8,447,647 shares adding to the 836,312 already owned by their affiliates. PEEK now own some 54% of the total outstanding shares of the Company.)

The Co's Shareholders had previously been told:

That: LookSmart is well positioned to capture the market (for the) integration (of) Search and Display and the global opportunities for an independent integrated online advertising platform. (Read it.)

Shareholders were also told in a conference call following Q2 results, that Looksmart's technology was now capable of 'handling' up to 100 billion 'events' per day within an OPEN, independent Marketplace.

How, Where and When?

It's from within the amended FORM SC 14D9/A (Filed 08/03/12) is the LOOKSMART LTD CC transcript-where Looksmart's previous CEO advises all of the Co's plans, for what lies ahead. (In 2013)

..."When discussing game-changing events for online advertising with our customers and partners, there is strong consensus regarding the significant value an integrated Search & Display open marketplace would have for them."

Hopefully (swanson1), the above opinion of mine is sufficient to answer your own (so sad), last four comments - that you have made, HERE.

As always, only an opinion.

LOOK: $ 0.85 0.00 (0.00%) 3:59PM EDT

LC

ps; "The truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed ~ Second, it is violently opposed and Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."- Arthur Schopenhauer

Disclosure: Long LOOK

.

]]> Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:51:29 -0400 What's happening in Search? What lies ahead for Google?

In a comment made to an excellent WebProNews article by Chris Crum today (Will Google Ever Stop Dominating Search?), Kathy Alice Brown (a technologist, author, blogger & SEO consultant) advises readers that she had only written a blog post a week ago, "Will Google Search be Relevant in 5 years?"

...The question is being asked of Google in a number of quarters today (like 'here' & 'here') and coincidentally, they have all come at a time when Google's stock price happens to be taking a bit of a hit - after having reached an all-time high only last month. - Interesting.

Kathy says that..We are seeing the rise of "destination sites" that for specific searches, you use those sites' search functionality rather than searching on Google, because the results are more relevant & possibly more trustworthy - fragmenting the search landscape.

Just for fun, I asked someone not in the technology field a few days ago where she would search for "printer ink" and she answered "Amazon", so Amazon is definitely is making inroads into the shopping searches as this [Chris Crum's own], article states.

Kathy then explains that..With its complicated algorithm and periodic upheavals Google has made it hard for some businesses to do well in organic SEO. And that they appear to be favoring the bigger brands as one commenter as already noted.

The closing part of her comment (below), really caught my attention.

One disruption I see coming is a viable social search.- It might be Facebook's Graph Search or it might be something else- but regardless - I believe it's just a matter of time before we will have that as an alternative to some queries.

Who needs "Destination Sites"?

The ultimate in answering a user's search query habits will be a solution that can provide an instant (in Real Time) 'best' answer to each individual user, and no matter where that search query originates from.

Be it that need for 'a latté' & a phone app search via Yelp (for a nearby cafe) or, in buying an espresso machine by (as one suggests) searching Amazon.com.

That if a search was being conducted on Bing, Facebook's Graph Search, topical sites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor or Amazon or, any of the many other search engines ..... then a "same" set of (best) results can be provided on the SERP from off them all-that meets that (each & every) individual user's immediate want or, need.

For this to become that (Kathy's talked of) 'disruption' & the one RTB marketplace - that will favor neither big brands nor any small 'latte cafe' will most certainly require a total neutrality, access to real-time 1st party search data and the technology that can bring it all together - meaning, from 'both ends'/advertisers-publishers.

Have we (so quickly) forgotten PLAs? tinyurl.com/c5axczu

[That lend themselves to] An integration (of) Search & Display?

We'd been told within LookSmart's Rejection of PEEK Investment's Unsolicited Tender Offer that among its assets is LookSmart's market positioning as a:

  • Scalable search advertising platform for ad networks;
  • Independent ad network able to integrate Search and Display and deliver an efficient marketplace for advertisers and publishers; and, an....
  • Independent ad network able to deliver high quality traffic to advertisers and high value advertising opportunities to publishers.

Note PEEK were successful in their bid and new CEO Michael Onghai (who had headed up the consortium) has delivered his Initial Report.

(PEEK had actually purchased a total 8,447,647 shares adding to the 836,312 already owned by their affiliates. PEEK now own some 54% of the total outstanding shares of the Company.)

The Co's Shareholders had previously been told:

That: LookSmart is well positioned to capture the market (for the) integration (of) Search and Display and the global opportunities for an independent integrated online advertising platform. (Read it.)

Shareholders were also told in a conference call following Q2 results, that Looksmart's technology was now capable of 'handling' up to 100 billion 'events' per day within an OPEN, independent Marketplace.

How, Where and When?

It's from within the amended FORM SC 14D9/A (Filed 08/03/12) is the LOOKSMART LTD CC transcript-where Looksmart's previous CEO advises all of the Co's plans, for what lies ahead. (In 2013)

..."When discussing game-changing events for online advertising with our customers and partners, there is strong consensus regarding the significant value an integrated Search & Display open marketplace would have for them."

Hopefully (swanson1), the above opinion of mine is sufficient to answer your own (so sad), last four comments - that you have made, HERE.

As always, only an opinion.

LOOK: $ 0.85 0.00 (0.00%) 3:59PM EDT

LC

ps; "The truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed ~ Second, it is violently opposed and Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."- Arthur Schopenhauer

Disclosure: Long LOOK

.

]]> �Looksmart CEO Michael Onghai's Initial Report http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/36191-lookingconfident/1710921-x01looksmart-ceo-michael-onghai-s-initial-report?source=feed 1710921 Looksmart's Q4 2012 Financial Results have now been posted.

http://yhoo.it/10jKGO7

Michael Onghai - Looksmart's Chief Executive Officer says, in today's Report:

"It is our intention to reinvigorate our team, work closer with existing & new partners [&] expand our revenue mix and position our company for profitable revenue growth in the future."

........With operating expenses now down to about $2 million per quarter post 2012 (this estimate does include all cost related to the operating of the Company's data center) and a TAC going forward (my estimate only, of course) of just 20% of all post 2012 comprehensive revenue/income, there's a distinct possibility now that Looksmart CEO Michael Onghai's 'intention of seeing profitable revenue growth in the future', may well come sooner than many could ever imagine.

http://bit.ly/YrQGp6

[Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2012 were $5.1 million and included $2.3 million in impairment of property and equipment & internally developed software & $0.1 million of non-cash, share-based compensation.]

........I'm very confident that the revenue from the Company's Publisher Solutions (of $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2012), will increase and that this can come as early as this (just gone) Q1 period, of 2013. (This revenue is net of any TAC, of course.)

............And, that this (the Co's Publisher Solutions revenues) along with an increase in revenues from "the Company's Advertiser Networks" will come from (I expect), the company now .....'working closer with existing and new partners'.

LOOK: $0.8545 Up 0.0045 (+0.53%) 2:40PM EDT

Always, only an opinion.

LC

Disclosure: Long LOOK

.

]]> Mon, 01 Apr 2013 23:18:40 -0400 Looksmart's Q4 2012 Financial Results have now been posted.

http://yhoo.it/10jKGO7

Michael Onghai - Looksmart's Chief Executive Officer says, in today's Report:

"It is our intention to reinvigorate our team, work closer with existing & new partners [&] expand our revenue mix and position our company for profitable revenue growth in the future."

........With operating expenses now down to about $2 million per quarter post 2012 (this estimate does include all cost related to the operating of the Company's data center) and a TAC going forward (my estimate only, of course) of just 20% of all post 2012 comprehensive revenue/income, there's a distinct possibility now that Looksmart CEO Michael Onghai's 'intention of seeing profitable revenue growth in the future', may well come sooner than many could ever imagine.

http://bit.ly/YrQGp6

[Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2012 were $5.1 million and included $2.3 million in impairment of property and equipment & internally developed software & $0.1 million of non-cash, share-based compensation.]

........I'm very confident that the revenue from the Company's Publisher Solutions (of $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2012), will increase and that this can come as early as this (just gone) Q1 period, of 2013. (This revenue is net of any TAC, of course.)

............And, that this (the Co's Publisher Solutions revenues) along with an increase in revenues from "the Company's Advertiser Networks" will come from (I expect), the company now .....'working closer with existing and new partners'.

LOOK: $0.8545 Up 0.0045 (+0.53%) 2:40PM EDT

Always, only an opinion.

LC

Disclosure: Long LOOK

.

]]> ���Looksmart Search Engine Traffic % Down - Marketplace Reach Up! (Facebook/Bing) http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/36191-lookingconfident/1653391-x01-x01-x01looksmart-search-engine-traffic-down-marketplace-reach-up-facebook-bing?source=feed 1653391 Today's Comic (as Linked) from AdExchanger is really so brilliant and conjures up all kinds of nice 'thought'. With only me (see me-among the huge crowd in Saint Peter's Basilica Square), pretending to understand the new Pope's message.

[It's all about] When Search finally meets Display.

seekingalpha.com/user/36191/instablog/se...%20display

In a quick check of Traffic @ Alexa.com, it was a shock to see advertiser traffic %'s arriving into Looksmart's exclusive Marketplace (as is driven by Search Engines), get to drop so low. (See, below.)

Since 'disguising' an announcement on dropping off of the Company's intermediary business (within the most down-beat report-of many over the past 6 or, more years), revenues are now fully derived (I feel), from that 'exclusive' RT real time (and extensive) first party (Search Query) Data - that will ultimately get to provide advertisers with such a broad range of 3rd party audience segments.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Forum

My emphasis on first party (search query) Data (as above) cannot be stressed much louder and 'news' of Mozilla's move to stop third-party cookie tracking in the latest version of its Firefox browser, even makes it all, so much better. AdExchanger covers this extensively.

On this move (by Mozilla) Aaron Bell (CEO of AdRoll) says:

"The Internet is great because it allows ideas and content to flow freely. You can hop from your custom radio station, to your bottomless Gmail account, to a friend's Twitter feed, to a foreign newspaper, to a game of Scrabble with your mom. [and within a ONE publisher marketplace that's global in reach, advertisers can get to follow-with use of 1st party data, only] We've come to rely on these services and expect to access them for free, without paywalls or contracts.

Display ads make this possible. They are the lifeblood of the Internet. The only form of display with a reliable return on investment for advertisers is audience-based targeting."

Microsoft's Bing, too! (In spite of initial reactions to it's DNT Policy.)

"A Do Not Track approach that automatically "opts out" consumers would harm virtually everyone who uses or earns a living from the Internet. [Slowing down my computer speed to zero?]

If advertisers and publishers can no longer utilize targeted advertising, it's hard to see a scenario - that doesn't result in a pay-for-content model."

http://tcrn.ch/NtZYML (Don't miss my "Top Commenter" award.) :)

The (new) Pope Francis Message?

He's talking about DSP's.That every (advertiser) should have one. I can't speak Argentinian, yet I'd swear on the Bible that's what I heard him say. His 'gift' to the advertisers (both big & small), of the world.

It's highly likely too - to see all intent based advertisers ride into Rome on a/that ONE VIA APPIA (or, interconnecting) cobblestone path-way. All equipped with that 'one-fits-all' (and simple for SMBs) Self-Serve Ad server. (Yes. Everyone should have one!)

Search Engine Traffic % It's down. Yet, can be (is), expected.

Now note the rise in "reach" (up from a recent plateu of ~ 0.0046) to above the 0.0062 mark. With a new 'set' of publishers. (Note among many, the addition of Facebook and Bing sitting with them.)

Looksmart's global intent based marketplace has suddenly got that much broader in it's reach capabilities.

Intent based? seekingalpha.com/user/36191/instablog/se...%20marketplace

Reach

Note

*********

Upstream Sites

Which sites did users visit immediately preceding looksmart.com?

% of Unique Visits Upstream Site
10.90% google.com
4.15% yahoo.com
1.86% 7search.com
1.67% local.com
1.24% facebook.com
1.18% findbest-games.net
1.11% ihavenet.com
0.81% statmyweb.com
0.68% bing.com
0.68% miva.com

Downstream Sites

Where do visitors go after leaving looksmart.com?

% of Unique Visits Downstream Site
12.77% google.com
3.50% yahoo.com
1.88% facebook.com
1.69% 7search.com
1.69% monstermarketplace.com
1.44% nixxie.com
1.25% siteadvisor.com
1.19% infolinks.com
1.00% bing.com
1.00% feedsmixer.org

www.alexa.com/siteinfo/looksmart.com#

*********

Always, only an opinion.

LOOK: $0.85 Mar 14, 3:58PM EDT

LC

Disclosure: Long LOOK
.

]]> Fri, 15 Mar 2013 06:07:00 -0400 Today's Comic (as Linked) from AdExchanger is really so brilliant and conjures up all kinds of nice 'thought'. With only me (see me-among the huge crowd in Saint Peter's Basilica Square), pretending to understand the new Pope's message.

[It's all about] When Search finally meets Display.

seekingalpha.com/user/36191/instablog/se...%20display

In a quick check of Traffic @ Alexa.com, it was a shock to see advertiser traffic %'s arriving into Looksmart's exclusive Marketplace (as is driven by Search Engines), get to drop so low. (See, below.)

Since 'disguising' an announcement on dropping off of the Company's intermediary business (within the most down-beat report-of many over the past 6 or, more years), revenues are now fully derived (I feel), from that 'exclusive' RT real time (and extensive) first party (Search Query) Data - that will ultimately get to provide advertisers with such a broad range of 3rd party audience segments.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Forum

My emphasis on first party (search query) Data (as above) cannot be stressed much louder and 'news' of Mozilla's move to stop third-party cookie tracking in the latest version of its Firefox browser, even makes it all, so much better. AdExchanger covers this extensively.

On this move (by Mozilla) Aaron Bell (CEO of AdRoll) says:

"The Internet is great because it allows ideas and content to flow freely. You can hop from your custom radio station, to your bottomless Gmail account, to a friend's Twitter feed, to a foreign newspaper, to a game of Scrabble with your mom. [and within a ONE publisher marketplace that's global in reach, advertisers can get to follow-with use of 1st party data, only] We've come to rely on these services and expect to access them for free, without paywalls or contracts.

Display ads make this possible. They are the lifeblood of the Internet. The only form of display with a reliable return on investment for advertisers is audience-based targeting."

Microsoft's Bing, too! (In spite of initial reactions to it's DNT Policy.)

"A Do Not Track approach that automatically "opts out" consumers would harm virtually everyone who uses or earns a living from the Internet. [Slowing down my computer speed to zero?]

If advertisers and publishers can no longer utilize targeted advertising, it's hard to see a scenario - that doesn't result in a pay-for-content model."

http://tcrn.ch/NtZYML (Don't miss my "Top Commenter" award.) :)

The (new) Pope Francis Message?

He's talking about DSP's.That every (advertiser) should have one. I can't speak Argentinian, yet I'd swear on the Bible that's what I heard him say. His 'gift' to the advertisers (both big & small), of the world.

It's highly likely too - to see all intent based advertisers ride into Rome on a/that ONE VIA APPIA (or, interconnecting) cobblestone path-way. All equipped with that 'one-fits-all' (and simple for SMBs) Self-Serve Ad server. (Yes. Everyone should have one!)

Search Engine Traffic % It's down. Yet, can be (is), expected.

Now note the rise in "reach" (up from a recent plateu of ~ 0.0046) to above the 0.0062 mark. With a new 'set' of publishers. (Note among many, the addition of Facebook and Bing sitting with them.)

Looksmart's global intent based marketplace has suddenly got that much broader in it's reach capabilities.

Intent based? seekingalpha.com/user/36191/instablog/se...%20marketplace

Reach

Note

*********

Upstream Sites

Which sites did users visit immediately preceding looksmart.com?

% of Unique Visits Upstream Site
10.90% google.com
4.15% yahoo.com
1.86% 7search.com
1.67% local.com
1.24% facebook.com
1.18% findbest-games.net
1.11% ihavenet.com
0.81% statmyweb.com
0.68% bing.com
0.68% miva.com

Downstream Sites

Where do visitors go after leaving looksmart.com?

% of Unique Visits Downstream Site
12.77% google.com
3.50% yahoo.com
1.88% facebook.com
1.69% 7search.com
1.69% monstermarketplace.com
1.44% nixxie.com
1.25% siteadvisor.com
1.19% infolinks.com
1.00% bing.com
1.00% feedsmixer.org

www.alexa.com/siteinfo/looksmart.com#

*********

Always, only an opinion.

LOOK: $0.85 Mar 14, 3:58PM EDT

LC

Disclosure: Long LOOK
.

]]> ��"We Will Be Forced To Sacrifice Democracy By Laws Protecting Us From Further Pollution." http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/36191-lookingconfident/1609011-x01-x01-we-will-be-forced-to-sacrifice-democracy-by-laws-protecting-us-from-further-pollution?source=feed 1609011 Was the Global Occupy 'push' simply a GREEN/Communist movement said to be part sponsored by George Soros (being a current influential member of the The CoR) and designed simply to 'recruit' unsuspecting like-minded people? To further 'indoctrinate' them?

As strange a 'bed-fellow' as Soros may seem .... I'm not so sure that it wasn't the plan from the out-set?

www.google.com.au/search?q=The+Green+Age...-KmQWVpIGwDg

In fact, I did spend a reasonable amount (or, quite enough) time (on the ground/in camp) with my 'Local' Occupy Brisbane group here in Australia, and had 'observed' enough-plus been across much of the 'conversation' (then and) since, to have arrived at my conclusion.

Agenda21 and with.....

The promise of a 'new' SUSTAINABLE world ahead (be it based on Global cooling- from back in the 1970′s) or the now chosen Global warming LIE - there is one constant that people can be assured of in this "let us do it right, for you" well planned, road to global slavery. That being:

"We will be forced to sacrifice democracy by the laws that will protect us from further pollution."

[Where] Mainstream Media has become the means of 'selling the Lie' leading up to the introduction and enforcement of the United Nation's ONE world Government.

Meaning that the people of the world are being so easily lulled into this New World Order of pure communism, as a result of this. Very few questions are being asked.

That's (loss of self determination/sovereignty) a fair-enough trade-off or, is it?

For a new United Nation's 'driven' ONE World Government that's to be enacted and 'policed' down at a 'Local Council' level- that claims to be preserving the environment for future generations? ..Yet (the truth is), they won't be free to use it!

Work-shop: [PDF] Attachment 1 - Productivity Commission

The Truth? There should never be any doubt.

This over-night Facebook post with a tag-line designed to 'reaffirm' true believers- has in fact helped to re-confirm my own 'dim view' suspicions.

*****************************************

Occupy Sydney shared Occupy Australia's photo.

Who owns Australia's economy, and the debt, who are Australians creditors to?

China and the Banks, thanks to the Reserve Bank of Australia, debt of 1's and 0's, that control things and people, now that's power of symbols that imprison us.

....*another world is possible - WE KNOW THIS IS TRUE*
******************************************

Always, only an opinion.

LC

ps; Ring your Local Council (here in Australia) and ask about, you know what... :)

www.facebook.com/ross.bradley.18/posts/1...;notif_t=like

.

]]> Sun, 03 Mar 2013 19:23:52 -0500 Was the Global Occupy 'push' simply a GREEN/Communist movement said to be part sponsored by George Soros (being a current influential member of the The CoR) and designed simply to 'recruit' unsuspecting like-minded people? To further 'indoctrinate' them?

As strange a 'bed-fellow' as Soros may seem .... I'm not so sure that it wasn't the plan from the out-set?

www.google.com.au/search?q=The+Green+Age...-KmQWVpIGwDg

In fact, I did spend a reasonable amount (or, quite enough) time (on the ground/in camp) with my 'Local' Occupy Brisbane group here in Australia, and had 'observed' enough-plus been across much of the 'conversation' (then and) since, to have arrived at my conclusion.

Agenda21 and with.....

The promise of a 'new' SUSTAINABLE world ahead (be it based on Global cooling- from back in the 1970′s) or the now chosen Global warming LIE - there is one constant that people can be assured of in this "let us do it right, for you" well planned, road to global slavery. That being:

"We will be forced to sacrifice democracy by the laws that will protect us from further pollution."

[Where] Mainstream Media has become the means of 'selling the Lie' leading up to the introduction and enforcement of the United Nation's ONE world Government.

Meaning that the people of the world are being so easily lulled into this New World Order of pure communism, as a result of this. Very few questions are being asked.

That's (loss of self determination/sovereignty) a fair-enough trade-off or, is it?

For a new United Nation's 'driven' ONE World Government that's to be enacted and 'policed' down at a 'Local Council' level- that claims to be preserving the environment for future generations? ..Yet (the truth is), they won't be free to use it!

Work-shop: [PDF] Attachment 1 - Productivity Commission

The Truth? There should never be any doubt.

This over-night Facebook post with a tag-line designed to 'reaffirm' true believers- has in fact helped to re-confirm my own 'dim view' suspicions.

*****************************************

Occupy Sydney shared Occupy Australia's photo.

Who owns Australia's economy, and the debt, who are Australians creditors to?

China and the Banks, thanks to the Reserve Bank of Australia, debt of 1's and 0's, that control things and people, now that's power of symbols that imprison us.

....*another world is possible - WE KNOW THIS IS TRUE*
******************************************

Always, only an opinion.

LC

ps; Ring your Local Council (here in Australia) and ask about, you know what... :)

www.facebook.com/ross.bradley.18/posts/1...;notif_t=like

.

]]>