Yes, the cracks are starting to appear in the "downramping" of...

Yes, the cracks are starting to appear in the "downramping" of Looksmart, by prominent online media search authorities, it seems?

With the announcement of MSN being appointed as search engine for facebook.com the media made a big fuss of it. In fact, it was reported on no less than 36 different publisher sites ..... A big 'deal' for MSN ...?

http://www.topix.net/business/search-engines?full=eb55072831

Yet, when Looksmart's CEO Dave Hills (in the CC following Q2) announced that Looksmart had (in july) signed the same facebook.com to an AdCenter "deal", there was hardly a ripple, let alone any 'noise' to be heard...........But with MSN's announcement, even "search guru" John Battelle joined in today, with:

"Andy Beal posted earlier this morning that LookSmart 'looked' like they had this one in the bag."

http://battellemedia.com/archives/002829.php#comments

Andy Beal took it a step further when he reported:

"So where does this leave LookSmart? Jilted at the altar? They recently announced the same type of deal with Facebook and I met with CEO Dave Hills recently and he seemed very excited to have Facebook as an ad-partner."

http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2006/08/does-microsoft-facebook-pact-leave.html.

So Andy Beal, (who had met with Dave Hills & presumably discussed the facebook deal) says Looksmart had, the same type of deal as MSN has now secured!

The Looksmart "bashing" continues on it's merry way, I must say ....

The "ALARM BELLS" start to "ring" when stories start to fall apart. Well, at least they do with me. A very prominent member of a private Google Group (on Looksmart), asks ....... "If Hills meant Furl instead of the AdCenter then he was gaming us and his reputation will take an unwanted hit"? - (gaming? Pulling our leg!)

From within question time at the recent conference (question time - RBC Capital markets) Dave Hills clearly said in a reply to a question as to whether facebook.com have taken Furl on board, too .......... "we have signed facebook" ......"To an AdCenter deal". Not Furl, he added, "they want to go their own way in terms of advertising", or, words to that effect, were added by Dave Hills.

http://www.shareholder.com/looksmart/medialist.cfm

So, how in the hell did Andy Beal get it so wrong? He had a meeting with Dave Hills, only a few days ago! And yet, THEN reports that Looksmart have lost a 'deal' similar to that, which MSN have just signed!!

("the same type of deal", ARE HIS VERY WORDS) - HOLD THE PHONE!!!!!

But, DYOR and check it out yourself, if need be .... smuggler, I know you read my posts, you wouldn't know how to DYOR ...I've told you many times before ......you haven't a "clue" ....

Incidentally, MSN have certainly confused the "issue" even further by naming their adCenter the same as Looksmart's AdCenter. Just used a small "a" to assist their "rip-off" .....

The continued "ducks and drakes"? .......Oh, I love it!!

:)
LC