Comments on: Is Yahoo! Hoping for a Peruvian-style Miracle with Its October “Wear Purple” Media Blitz?

By: Barb

Barb — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:49:18 +0000

Peruanista — you could probably score a free pair of purple Yahoo kicks by emailing Yahoo’s publicity/media department and asking for a review pair (in your size, of course).

Don’t laugh. Yahoo really wants the exposure, and your blog ranks high stats-wise among US Latino blogs. Tell them that Peruvians wear purple and that you reach this audience. They’ll probably go for it.

I’ve been comped many different review items during my 17 years as an editor and writer. It often wasn’t stuff I wanted (boring CDs or invitations for free trips to god-awful travel destinations). But a few times I was able to score a free item that I really wanted to experience and see up close. In my story, I’d always state that I’d been given a free copy, to be upfront with readers.

By: Barb

Barb — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:40:06 +0000

Ward, it doesn’t seem like Yahoo! knows what direction to take anymore. Your ideas make more sense than trying to revive the company by telling consumers to wear purple. You should consider posting your suggestions on some of the sites that are dissecting Yahoo’s business plans right now. They’ll probably meet a good/lively reception.

And maybe Yahoo’s CEO will read them….

By: Peruanista

Peruanista — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:22:38 +0000

Too bad I didn’t notice it. I would have ordered mines for tomorrow’s Procession in Washington, DC. Well, maybe next year!

By: Ward Welvaert

Ward Welvaert — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:06:36 +0000

Great observation how you connected Yahoo!’s campaign with the “purple month” down here in Peru.

I’ve used Yahoo! for many years for web development and basically stuck with them out of habit, but I must say they’re really not my first choice in terms of technology any more.

Since Yahoo! decided to become a big media company some years back they seem to have lost their way as a technology company. My best advice to them would be to split the media and technology parts, maybe merge the media part with someone like aol or News Corp, and sell the technology parts (search, web hosting, etc) to someone like Microsoft or HP.

Love how you made this purple association though, and great pictures as well!