Is Bing (Microsoft's Decision Engine) the next Yoogle! (Yahoo! meets Google)?

Well,...only time will tell what Bing will become. But, what we do know is that Bing is growing faster than ever, and they keep gaining market share. Take a look at these numbers as they show the year-over-year query growth rates for bing in the past several months:

December, 2009: 49.4%, November, 2009: 46.0%, October, 2009: 30.8%, September, 2009: 30.7%, August, 2009: 31.8%, July, 2009: 15.6%

What we love so much about it is that they're radically different than other search sites. As a "decision engine", Bing presents charismatic photography when you first land on the site (this changes daily) and you're able to go through compelling images (i.e., breathtaking shots) of different places, countries, animals, or even events. As we speak, they're showcasing images relevant to the 2010 Olympics, set in Vancouver.

There's a reason for their growth, aside from the fact that they're spending countless dollars on advertising/PR initiatives. It's that they're not trying to be different, they truly are different. Hence, they're able to connect with those they'd hope to connect with on a weekly, daily, and even hourly basis. 

Bing has won our hearts and we believe will continue to push along, ultimately taking the lead in the search, or rather, "decision" space. Why would you want to search (generically) when you can make "decisions"? What Bing has built/is building will fundamentally change the game. But, it doesn't have to stop there. This shift can be applied to any business/company that sees value in doing something different. In being able to connect the right way.

If you're truly ready to make the shift, then now's the time. Otherwise, "bing and decide" ;).

Ahhh yes,...the Internet.  What a great place to call home for many companies, regardless of industry. It helps us attract, inform, persuade and engage our current and potential customers.  But, is it enough to have an informative, persuasive and engaging site now adays?  The answer: probably not.  It appears eBay has really figured out one of the ingredients in the "secret sauce" of social media.  According to eBay CEO John Donahoe, shoppers have already spent around $400 million on the popular site using the company’s free, yet, valuable iPhone application.  That's right...an iPhone application has brought in roughly $400 million worth of revenue for eBay, this year alone.  The word "wow" might be an understatement.

It's great to lead by example.  This is the perfect scenario.  Creating an iPhone app opens up a new and improved channel to inform, persuade and engage customers beyond what we're used to.  It also opens many doors to create ease and delight, moving beyond the basic functionality of the net.  Branching out into new channels like social media, will give anyone the opportunity to become the next eBay.  After all, it's all about you owning your brand and moving forward into new channels and directions as they evolve.  In doing so, you too can begin to live the brand ™.