AS those of you who know me (or have read our team bios) know, I have a near staggering dislike for Yahoo! from managing clients' Sponsored Search campaigns. The hoop jumping that is required to accomplish any of the standard, 'taken for granted' tasks on other platforms (and made insanely, straightforwardly easy by Google) has nearly driven me to tears. They are, however, still Yahoo! and to simply ignore the platform entirely would be irresponsible.
And so we waited, with bated, muttered-curse-word-laden breath for the promised 'miracle' of Panama. Oh, how I waited, prayed, hoped that this would be even half the joy promised in the almost daily 'Panama is coming! Panama is coming!' emails that cluttered up my inbox without actually saying anything at all.
Alas, my hopes have been dashed. Is Panama (or 'The New Sponsored Search') cooler? Better Looking? 'Flash'y? More robust with more options and tweaks? Yes, it is all of those things.
It is also not in the slightest bit logical. I spend my days (and most of my nights) online for work and for play (I know this doesn't paint a pretty picture here but I've accepted my true nerd spirit so you should too). I can find my way around sites that would drive most crazy and yet, I still spend a ridiculous amount of time staring at the Yahoo! interface thinking "Wait, HUH?!" or bitter as I repeat ten steps for a one-part change.
I am, in a word, disappointed.
That is until this afternoon when I received that token corporate salve of the 'customer feedback survey request'. Maybe Yahoo! does care! They want to listen! They think I matter!
They sent me a handy link that I merrily clicked and then...nothing. A parked error page saying the link was bad.
That's right, folks. Like getting caught with your zipper down, picking your nose in public or passing gas in a meeting - Yahoo is hiding its blush-flushed cheeks today in utter, mortifying embarrassment.
Note to Self, Yahoo - It might take longer to get it right the first time, but you'll lose a lot less customers (and save a lot more face).
Off to buy more Google stock...
- D (bathing in irony) @ BoostCentral
How paradoxical is it that people don't expect those mistakes from a global giant yet it isn't shocking when the mistake is from Yahoo? What does that say about the company? Perhaps they were too exhausted from their talks with MSN?
A wise t-shirt once proclaimed the truism: "Same s^%t, different day." Perhaps it's time for a new mantra for Yahoo...?
Posted by: Johnny Chan | May 11, 2007 at 05:09 PM