Google AdWords
It’s another good-news/bad-news Monday for online marketing:
The good news is that Microsoft have ended their adCenter Analytics beta.
The bad news is that there will be no more adCenter Analytics – beta or otherwise.
Yes, you did read that correctly. Current users will be able to continue using the failed service until the end of the year, after which time the service and all historical data will be gone.
From Microsoft’s blog:
“Our team would like to sincerely thank you for your participation and your invaluable contributions to the program. Our objectives at the outset were to serve the needs of small and midsize self-service customers, as well as evolve the Microsoft strategy to address the Web analytics space.”
I’m all for spin but this is incredible. The strategy seems to have evolved in much the same way that roadkill evolves after their final meeting with products of the car industry.
However there is more good news:
“We hope you’ll continue to read posts on the adCenter Analytics Blog which will be renamed “Insights & Analysis” in the coming weeks. The blog will remain focused on research and best practice, helping online marketers navigate to better ROI and more efficient marketing optimization.”
Using what? Google Analytics?
True to their word, however, there is a posting today entitled “Web Analytics and Monetization: Prioritizing Change”. The irony kills me.
Google 1 – Microsoft 0.
All the while MS are making good money selling Windows and Office they won’t be hungry enough to succeed elsewhere.