Comments on: Ask.com Ads: Confirmed as Creepy

By: 2007 - A Long Year in Review » Search Engine Optimization Blog

2007 - A Long Year in Review » Search Engine Optimization Blog — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:10:20 +0000

[...] More issues with Ask.com series of TV ads which are confirmed creepy, weird, bizarre and entirely ineffective in US. (Marketing Pilgrim) [...]

By: Lunarsight

Lunarsight — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:07:58 +0000

It’s product exposure. They’re definitely taking the “Quiznos” approach to advertising. Some of the early advertisements Quiznos unleashed upon us were downright disturbing ['raised by wolves'], but they definitely got Quiznos name recognition, for better or worse.

By: Abstroose

Abstroose — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:21:10 +0000

Ask.com promote with offline ads? Why do I miss these things?

I feel so left out XD

By: Nic Darling

Nic Darling — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:08:59 +0000

Perhaps we only think they missed the target because we aren’t part of the growing “chicks with swords” fetishist demographic. Has anyone checked that keyword phrase for popularity?

Anyway, Andy makes a good point. Maybe they don’t want to compete directly. No one wants to challenge Goliath to a wrestling contest. Just pick up a few stones, maintain a safe distance and sling away. Or, better yet, run like hell and find a new place to stake your claim.

That said, I agree. Those ads are creepy.

By: Drew Stauffer

Drew Stauffer — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:27:35 +0000

We all know that “sex sells” but I think they missed the target with these ads.

By: Andy Beal

Andy Beal — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:56:33 +0000

@Bushido – Ask.com is owned by IAC.

Maybe they dont want to compete, maybe there’s money to be made in being the “freaky fetish-porn perv” search engine of choice.

By: Bushido

Bushido — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:05:58 +0000

“for a mainstream search engine that hopes to compete with Google”

I might be mistaken, but isn’t Ask.com already acquired by Google?

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 07:17:33 +0000

I still don’t understand why Ask doesn’t capitalize on its name more in its advertising. The word ask is so close to what we do when searching I would think they could easily brand themselves better by playing off the name more.

All you have to do is Ask
Just Ask
Ask the search engine

They write themselves.

By: Website Enhancement

Website Enhancement — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:02:09 +0000

I haven’t found Ask.com compelling in search and the ads aren’t going to pull in the audience they want.