LookingConfident's  Instablog

In relation to my earlier instablog today .....

Delivered over 2.2M paid clicks per day - Looksmart's Global Marketplace

< ......We have a long history of scalability and performance innovation on our AdCenter platform. During the second quarter, the [AdCenter] platform processed well over 1 billion search queries and delivered over 2.2 million paid clicks per day. .......... The AdCenter platform is build to scale, and importantly to operate and deliver paid click transactions both quickly and reliably at that scale.>

The potential of increasing this outstanding figure was only announced yesterday, by an established AdCenter partner's acquisition of "Max", over here in OZ....

Here's the story from India's SARIMUL ISLAM CHOUDHURY ....

Ybrant Digital Acquires Australia's Max Interactive

http://www.vccircle.com/500/news/ybrant-digital-acquires-australias-max-interactive

The acquisition marks the entry of the Hyderabad based digital marketing solutions company into the Asia-Pacific market.

Continuing its inorganic expansion,Ybrant Digital has acquired Australian firm Max Interactive for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition marks the entry of the Hyderabad based digital marketing solutions company into the Asia-Pacific market.

Post this acquisition, Max Interactive will continue under the same name and become part of the Ybrant Digital Network. Dominic Elfer, Founder and and Director of Max Interactive, will take charge as Managing Director, Australia of the Ybrant Networks Division. Ybrant Digital clients include brands such as Cisco, Dell, Porsche, Renault, Ford, Sony, Nokia, British Airways, Air France, HSBC, Adidas, Pepsi, among others.

Ybrant Digital offers digital marketing solutions to businesses, agencies and online publishers while the newly acquired company Max Interactive offers banner-based web advertising, mobile and e-mail marketing.

[Click on "Clients" here - http://www.maxinteractive.com.au/ ]

Two years ago Max Interactive were reported to be experiencing some very nice growth.

http://www.bandt.com.au/articles/F1/0C03FAF1.asp

Ybrand Digital are partners with Looksmart through it's MediosOne Global business. - "MediosOne and AD2 Networks join the LookSmart AdCenter Marketplace as Premier Partners"

http://investor.shareholder.com/looksmart/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=292216

I've now changed my 'short term rating' (sentiment) of Looksmart,  back to a BUY incidentally.

LOOK: At 3:57PM ET: $1.34   0.1133 (+9.21%) 

LC
 

Yes, you read correct, well, as far as I am seeing it all....And that's regarding my stated Looksmart AdCenter Global (RTB - 'real time bidding') auction based advertiser - publisher Global Marketplace, folks!

From within yesterday's CC (following the Q2 report from Looksmart) CEO Ted West advises, that:

< ......We have a long history of scalability and performance innovation on our AdCenter platform. During the second quarter, the [AdCenter] platform processed well over 1 billion search queries and delivered over 2.2 million paid clicks per day.

The AdCenter platform is build to scale, and importantly to operate and deliver paid click transactions both quickly and reliably at that scale.>

And that, I am proclaiming it as an intrical (or, integral) part of a massive (Global) marketplace taking shape. This can be easily supported by the many (previous) Looksmart statements that have been made, and there are examples that do hilight the "international" aspect from the Co's (it's) own view-point, as follows::

< ...During the second quarter, LookSmart offered its customers the ability to reach Internet users in Canada, Australia/New Zealand and the United Kingdom through enhanced geo-targeting features built into its AdCenter technology platform. LookSmart also recently began testing in Germany to explore further growth of its Advertising Network.

And it's claim to being an INDEPENDENT operator (the ONLY one perhaps?) of scale in a Global marketplace, has vanished from it's PR announcements. (The few bullish announcements, that it ever makes, that is)     

On the morning of it's Q2 results, the Co had proudly advised all .... 

PS; ......It is my opinion (also) that the over-night "course of sales" (as per the Nasdaq site) tells me that accumulation continues on with Market Makers doing their (old) "short and cover" tricks. With that priviledged "fractional" (cross-trade-like) transaction they make, to mostly try and generate sales at the price or, balance-up on their previous sale price volume of shares, they may have 'short' sold. Volume was low @ 24,436 with an av. daily volume now @ 30,000....

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/nlstrades.aspx?symbol=LOOK&selected=LOOK

Looksmart are proud to have announced today that  -LookSmart AdCenter Named "Best Search Engine Ad Platform" Finalist by Search Engine Watch for Two Consecutive Years Business Wire (Mon 8:00am)

 BUT it surprises me greatly that Looksmart (who were once so proud to have been an "independent" inter-connector of AdNetworks and publishers, Globally) haven't used the very word INDEPENDENT in any of their announcements made since being awarded the winner of last years inaugural Search Engine Strategies' (SES) .. "Best Search Engine Ad Platform". 

<............. "This award belongs to our talented employees who have built a proven search advertising platform that advertisers trust to extend their PPC campaigns beyond major search engines," said Ted West, chief executive officer and president of LookSmart .....  "We are honored that Search Engine Strategies has validated our company's strategy as we continue to emerge as a leading independent Search Advertising Network.">

And whilst the share-price has lingered down as low as it is (got down to as low as $0.82cps in recent times) the Co has then been able to issue employment based options, with "strike rates" as low as $1.02cps .....

HMmm?

Looksmart (that has a little less that $30M in cash) has a market cap of just $23M on it's share-price close (today) of $1.34 .......The Co had also stated yesterday, that on a per share basis, the Company’s cash and investment balance was $1.74 as of June 30, 2009.

LookSmart Reports Second Quarter 2009 Results

LC