This is not a surprise (Google told us this would happen in April). Google could not really own a SEO/SEM biz.
Publicis Groupe (EURONEXT Paris: FR0000130577) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) announced today that Publicis Groupe has agreed to acquire the Performics search marketing business (Performics) from Google. Chicago-based Performics, one of the leading search marketing services providers, helps to improve the performance of advertisers’ investments and maximize client campaign effectiveness. Its profit-driving suite of marketing solutions includes Performics’ reporting platform, local platform, advanced market expertise and active account management.
Wonder what happens with the anemic affiliate network they “launched” in June?
“Google could not really own a SEO/SEM biz.”
On the other hand, Microsoft still owns an SEO business. And Yahoo still runs pay-for-inclusion. I wouldn’t have expected those. 🙂
If Google went ahead with that, many of us would have been doomed. I definitely gave a sigh of relief when I heard they were selling…
These are the two companies that have become partners in order to exchange “talent”, right?
(see e.g. http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jan2008/gb20080122_982643.htm )
Will be interesting to see if they practice “safe sales”…
;D nmw
Hold on a sec am I missing something here? Wasn’t performics double-clicks affiliate network that Google re-branded to google affiliate? Surely that was the really valuable bit. Of course Google wouldn’t run their own search marketing business they did however recently ask what is a good SEO:
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2008/06/what-are-your-seo-recommendations.html
in other words please give us visibility on any new techniques you are using for SEO
@matt – You are right, and therein lies one of the many differences between Google and Yahoo, and Google and Microsoft!
SEO is getting 2.Old!!
😀 nmw