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But startup acquisition news doesn't reach the vast, VAST majority of Yahoo's current, prospective, or desired users. Even pretending news like this reached a b

But startup acquisition news doesn't reach the vast, VAST majority of Yahoo's current, prospective, or desired users. Even pretending news like this reached a broad audience (while also pretending that audience doesn't have the same context you're attributing to HackerNews readers), acquisitions aren't just expensive - they're expensive with a significant risk of creating longterm internal pain of varying types and degrees for what, at best, could be a shortterm positive blip in general opinion. How does this perceived misuse of funds and focus impact Yahoo employees? Their moral, productivity, and general satisfaction/enthusiasm? Does it make it easier to attract great new hires who meet Mayer's hiring standards? (http://www.businessinsider.com/yahoo-employees-worry-that-marissa-mayers-hiring-standards-are-too-high-2013-3 http://www.businessinsider.com/yahoo-employees-worry-that-ma...) Brand marketing has real value, but this has got to be the least efficient way to do it.

JacobAldridge 14y ago
No disagreement from me there! I don't think this was a good way to spend $30M (assuming I know the details behind it, which we all probably don't). But in response to PR qua PR, I think there were benefits. Possibly because the local media here found an Australian angle, this was above the fold news (today's version of front page!) across a number of mainstream news networks where I am. So it reached a lot of the desired users. Again - I don't think this was a good way to do it, of course!
cookiecaper 14y ago
I don't know, who are Yahoo's prospective customers? Search advertisers, right? They need goodwill with small business owners, whether those businesspersons are technically inclined or not. I'm sure they reached many of that type with this announcement. What niche do you think Yahoo needs for a customer base but has totally failed to contact?

JacobAldridge 14y ago

No disagreement from me there! I don't think this was a good way to spend $30M (assuming I know the details behind it, which we all probably don't). But in response to PR qua PR, I think there were benefits. Possibly because the local media here found an Australian angle, this was above the fold news (today's version of front page!) across a number of mainstream news networks where I am. So it reached a lot of the desired users. Again - I don't think this was a good way to do it, of course!

cookiecaper 14y ago

I don't know, who are Yahoo's prospective customers? Search advertisers, right? They need goodwill with small business owners, whether those businesspersons are technically inclined or not. I'm sure they reached many of that type with this announcement. What niche do you think Yahoo needs for a customer base but has totally failed to contact?