Search Engine Optimization News Blog

Yahoo may be making a serious error in launching so many new projects so close to the much anticipated shareholders meeting - or is that part of the current board’s plan? Get the ball rolling in so many areas at once that a strategic change in the existing power structure will be looked on as foolhardy?

The newest grand plan to be rolled out is an addendum to Yahoo’s Open Strategy that might outstrip all expectations - emphasis on might. The capability is there, but it remains to be seen if the idea will take off as quickly as hoped.

The capability to invent your own search products has always been available, but this is the first time such a wide scale model has been introduced as a possibility for the average webmaster.

The self serve API is designed to allow unlimited queries, attribute free presentation, re-ranking ability with a wide flexibility allowing a better user interface in each search experience and vertical access for specific applications.

The usage restrictions have been scrapped, and this will allow developers with smaller investment resources to have a chance at creating their own vision.

Of course, Yahoo hopes to monetize BOSS with an influx of advertising, and several larger search engines are already set to go, including Me.dium, Hakia and Cluzz.

The social aspect of the whole project has been pushed hard - the hope is that this will be the new and improved blended search with the ability to overlay results from the major social networking sites, and suit the needs of the generation after X.

The idea behind multiple search engines is not new, but until now was out of reach due to the staggering investment involved. The technology, the infrastructure - with the big three already so well established, it was a losing game and the market seemed closed.

With the ability to piggyback on Yahoo’s search API, the run of the mill techno-nerd will be able to bring to life their own personal vision of what a search experience should be. The possibilities are endless, though it remains to be seen how many will actually take advantage of the opportunity.

Does Yahoo hope that the advent of hundreds of ‘mini-engines’ will chisel away at the mighty Google? And will this board even be around to see what happens?