Gabe Faraone

YouTube to Broadly Release Overlays, Allow Linking Out

Google has been running no related AdWord campaigns on top of YouTube videos for months and it's not a surprise that it's working. Overlaying a related advertisement on top of a video - especially when it's only one ad at time with no other competing results AND the ad consumes the ENTIRE footer area - it no surprise that Google is going to monetize this feature. Assuming that impressions are still at no cost, this should be a win-win for Google and its customers.

Google Takes Another Swipe at Microsoft's Enterprise

Google (GOOG) enterprise sync offering is a hybrid game changer. Mid-market companies that feel the legacy chains of outlook now have a clear, simple path to migrate to the cloud. One the surface, looks stronger than Microsoft's (MSFT) Live offering.

Google apps are maturing nicely and compare well with 70%+ of the Microsoft Office features. Google lives in the cloud - Microsoft is still trying to find the cloud.

Internet Advertising Invincible No Longer

Couldn't disagree more! Google (GOOG) understand the ad game better than anyone and are driving their user base towards more expensive, multi-word searches. Google Squared will launch later this year and the accompaning spike in AdWord revenues will be VERY meaningful.

Why Isn't Microsoft's Strategy Working Anymore?

RAY OZZIE - Microsoft's (MSFT) "Chief Mind in Charge" understands how to turn around this aircraft carrier and will do it over the next several years. Ray and company own a legacy base of Office users that are dying to move their content AND their corresponding enabling tools to the cloud. Ray's OS vision is starting to take shape and when finished I am confident that my terrabytes of Office-based content will be readily available any time, any place WITH all the enabling capabilites that I have on my own desktop.

Thanks Ray and team - see you in the cloud shortly!

Recession Hits Online Advertising: More Data

Companies that are investing in organic (natural) search optimization are better able to control their internet marketing budget WITHOUT extending their budgets. Google (Goog), Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo (YHOO) and other search engines promote their pay-per-click (PPC) offering. PPC might provide quick results; however, unless you pay EVERY day, you lead flow with stop immediately. Search engine optimization aimed at improving organic (natural) placement is the only way to optimize your company's internet visibility that's not directly linked to how much you spend every day.