Jeff Molander_

Six Reasons Why Yahoo Should Buy Joost

Shyam:
While I agree with you strongly on #1 IMO your 4 contradicts 3 in that, indeed, Joost has nowhere near the user base. Youtube without the user base would never have even been considered by Google as I see it nor should YHOO consider Joost at this time -- even with the alliances and founders w/ track record. Just my two cents.

Your #5 is dead-on target and quite insightful!

Ice.com CEO Disses Google, Yahoo; Suggests Cut In Online Ad Spend

Mr. Gniwisch works in jewelry -- a highly "shopped" (by price) sector. What led him to believe that buying "traffic" from a search engine would net him anything else?

Answer: (?)
As Esther Dyson recently said, <strong>“There is way too much obsession with search, as if it were the end of the world. Google equals money equals search equals search advertising; it all gets combined as if this is the last great business model.” </strong>

Google's Threat to Ad and Affiliate Networks

Josh...
thanks for contributing your insights. I think I understand your point and it centers on, partially at least, the "branding and reach" campaigns versus the direct response campaigns. Specifically, each have different objectives and therefore cannot be compared. The numbers that David provides make perfect sense but when you mix in market realities regarding commonly defined objectives it gets hairy. I hope I'm understanding you correctly.

Google's Threat to Ad and Affiliate Networks

Also, David, your readers might enjoy this DMNews article and a related story here discussing Avon.

Google's Threat to Ad and Affiliate Networks

David...
Hitting nail squarely on head again. Excellent job in adding the needed perspective. Without this kind of perspective we're lost.

In my opinion, "in general, content sites earn more money on a CPC or CPM" translates to "publishers (read: not affiliates/nimble/sear... individuals who game search ranging from Marchex to people working in undies) who have valued, legitimate READERS (read: not TRAFFIC)."

"However, affiliates that made more on a CPA or a rev-share stuck around" translates more honestly to "CPA affiliates figured out how to use data feeds, leverage basic direct response tactics, employ adware/spyware (without being detected) and game search engines so as to 'shuttle traffic'; this was/is their primary MO versus having loyal readers." The affiliate networks? They facilitate it all. Take it from someone who created one.

Indeed, they are "nimble, quick and fill in the holes" (I might suggest the darker ones) but it's really all about the short term when you boil it down. Affiliate marketing is a short term play. Don't take it from me, though, talk to the advertisers!