Build your own Yahoo!-like search engine

It is often said that it is when the times are tough that you come up with the most ingenious ways of moving forward. If that’s the case then Yahoo! might have unlocked a real gem by announcing a web service called BOSS (Build Your Own Search Service) that allows third parties to build their own custom search engines on the shouldes of Yahoo!’s search infrastructure.

The service eliminates the need for start ups to invest heavily in infrastructure and instead focus on their own algorithm and tweaking that. The upside for Yahoo! Queries en masse (hopefully) and a way to distribute their search monetization engine. And this is where the real potential lies.

Different people are claiming that it’s a gutsy move, and that partners jumping on the wagon will have to be even gutsier to go into partnership with a company that is getting beating by both Google and Microsoft from different sides and for different reasons. I respectfully disagree.

I think this is an obvious move, one that you have to congratulate Yahoo! on. I don’t believe their search monetization engine is weaker than Google’s it ‘just’ needs the traction and tradition that Google’s has. BOSS might be a very clever way of achieving that by adding service after service after service and win in the aggregate.

Vad NU! is a consultancy company owned by Mads Kristensen and specialized in helping clients take advantage of the business opportunities created by new media. Click to learn how I can help you and your company.