Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft Battle It Out for More than Search Online

Author: Ned May, Vice President & Lead Analyst

This report makes a case for why content publishers need to carefully track Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft (GYM). It updates our report, “Bulking Up At the GYM: How Publishers and Information Providers Can Work with Google, Yahoo!, and MSN” (February 2, 2006). At that time, Google was breaking away from the pack, driven entirely by its success with search. As the run on web search continues to slow, we make a case that the next battleground will be in display advertising. This report examines all three players again to determine who is best positioned for this area of growth so that content providers know what to expect and how to partner with each company as the next opportunity unfolds. This report:
- Examines the GYM companies’ online businesses in detail, and looks at ways publishers can work with them;
- Proposes steps publishers can take to minimize the GYM companies’ impact on their own core businesses;
- Examines the competitive landscape and looks in-depth at each company “by the numbers”;
- Analyzes what’s in store for the GYM companies in 2009 and beyond;
- Lists essential actions for publishers in their interactions with GYM.