Selling Performics Search Marketing

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/...marketing.html

Selling Performics Search Marketing

4/02/2008 02:08:00 PM
Posted by Tom Phillips, Director, DoubleClick Integration

Since we closed the acquisition of DoubleClick on March 11, we've been
immersed in integration planning for each of our products and business
units. Recently we completed this process for the DoubleClick
Performics businesses, and have decided to split them into two
separately-run business units: Affiliate Marketing and Search
Marketing.

It's clear to us that we do not want to be in the search engine
marketing business. Maintaining objectivity in both search and
advertising is paramount to Google's mission and core to the trust we
ask from our users. For this reason, we plan to sell the Performics
search marketing business to a third party. We believe this will allow
us to maintain objectivity and the search marketing business to
continue to grow and innovate and serve its customers. While we have
not yet identified a buyer, we've received preliminary interest from a
number of our current partners. Search Marketing will continue to run
as a separate entity until the division is sold.

We plan to integrate the affiliate marketing business into existing
Google operations, providing enhanced value and reach for our
affiliate advertisers, and additional tools and monetization
opportunities for our publishers. Together, we believe that we can
continue to grow this business and deliver on the high expectations
from partners.

Where it's applicable in Europe, these plans and their implications
for employees are subject to consultation with staff and employee
representatives. During this transition, we will ensure that all
affiliate and search marketing customers receive the same high level
of service they have always experienced.