Business Opportunities and What Happened to Yahoo?

Not long ago, actually a few years back, I used Yahoo on a daily bases. I preferred them to Google. It just felt all more 'friendly' to me - their home page, people, I watched on TV a story about them...
On my friend's advice I started to use Google here - there. I still preferred Yahoo, though. Especially the simple feature they provided - a single tick in a box to choose Australian sites only for search. It was convenient.
Once I started to get deeper into internet, building website, I immediately recognized the importance of Google.
But what had happened to Yahoo? I still prefer their home page - not sure for how much longer. They got the most annoying way of advertising. And I found it takes them a long time to 'listen'. This had been 'topped up' by the special way of using misleading headlines to grab our attention.
Imagine you click on an article. It is interesting and you have little time in between work. BANG! A side to side banner covers your page. And guess what? You are asked to give a feedback on that ad!
If I want to eat McDonald's I simply stop there when I'm hungry (if that would be my wish). Not to wipe it in front of my face - are they expecting me to get up and buy one? Not in their wildest dreams!
These ads are highly disturbing. We are advised in marketing not to do anything even close to it.
Who did come up with such an idea? They seem to have stopped this after two months or so just to restart it all again! (By the way, I have sent them feedbacks, of course...) Believe me it can really make people feel annoyed...It was very strange - I would not expect this from Yahoo. A puzzle.
But it didn't stop there... I respect and like Nicole Kidman. When I saw an article with a heading "Nicole goes post-op transsexual' - I automatically clicked on it. Did I read what it said? Possibly not.
Once opened the heading was suddenly different "Nicole PLAYS post-op transsexual'. To me there is a difference between to 'go' (to become) or 'to play'.
We all know the keywords and headlines should be relevant to the article. So we don't mislead our readers and search engines with it. Why would someone in a position of Yahoo need to crave for attention? Trying to make it look 'juicy'?
Talking about headlines, to be relevant to the subject, I had no idea how to connect this topic to be relevant for my use while not misleading you about the content. It would be funny to commit the same sin.
By the way I'm talking about Australian site. Was it happening worldwide? I have no idea. And guess what? I still have my Yahoo home page.
To the previous paragraph (I lost my plot...); there are ethical ways of marketing. No need to wipe a flashing banner under anyone's nose. You bet it will make me 'click'. Which direction? Yep. Off that site!
Business opportunities are endless. Trying to reach customers with screaming - yelling advertising does not go well with me. Having technology doesn't necessary mean we have to use it. We are lucky the armed forces are not that eager to show off their latest weapons in a similar manner.
Would you like to establish your own online business? To build successful web sites but you have no idea how? If yes, please, continue reading - it will tell you all you need to know in Business Opportunitie.
Copyright © 2008 Tibor Santa This article may be freely reproduced as long as URLs are active and there are no changes made to text.
Tibor Santa is a publisher living in Australia. His deep interests in Eastern medicine reflected in studies of Japanese Acupressure, practicing Martial Arts, Qi Gong, Yoga, Reiki, and other forms of healing.