ZINGU and Wisenut Korea and others...

local PPC grabbing small/mid sized affiliates...

[GrendelKhan TSU]

seems that the local upstart PPC Zingu.com is grabbing up small/mid size market while is off waving millions in front of the big ones. For example, apparently Zingu signed Wisenut Korea (who knew there WAS a wisenut korea! lol), and major media site SBS.com (one of the big three main broadcasting stations) and on the alexa top 50, and other smaller but significant small/mid-sized search and media sites like Korea Daily (kdaily.com). They also seemed to have cornered all the major web advertising firms.

If not now, is this trouble in the future for OV in Korea?

remember, korea is a very unique market.

Naver has apparently REJECTED a proposal from OV for sponsored listings (here comes that famous Korean nationalism)....will other major sites follow suit and go with local-grown idealogy? sure would be a kicker in the OV pants if they did. OV's current list of affiliates is nice, but doesn't seem good enough for the level of success they seem to enjoy in other markets.

picture: Zingu will grab that very respectable Findwhat (or espotting) sweet spot while OV bangs its head up again Naver's door....again, which is fine, but it kinda makes me wonder whether OV is going to have troubles in the future renewing those contracts....ESPECIALLY with imminent arrival of Google's model, Zingu's obvious future renewal bid with OV current partners and not to mention all the speculation that Yahoo is going to go at it alone eventually.

Notice too, Yahoo Korea is NOT a OV Korea partner...yet (?). And Google is currently Daum's search provider.

hmmm...

perhaps not very interesting on the grand scale of PPC, but fascinating for we local boys. ;)

[bill]

apparently Zingu signed Wisenut Korea (who knew there WAS a wisenut korea! lol)

Well WebmasterWorld knew ;)
WiseNut Japan used to be the main provider at Lycos Japan, but that relationship quietly ended in March sometime it seems. I don't know whether LookSmart Japan is using them for some sort of backfill or not...

Notice too, Yahoo Korea is NOT a OV Korea partner...yet (?)

Yahoo Japan took its time deciding about a PPC deal as well. They finally went with both Overture & Google AdWords. You might see a bizarre combination of PPC proivides at Yahoo Korea down the road. Do they have anyone yet?

[GrendelKhan TSU]

Do they have anyone yet?

nope. They are apparently sitting on competitive bids from OV KOR, Goog Kor and Zingu.com. bide their time....reap the benefits.

Yahoo Korea's search provider is local company Softwise, which Zingu.com has had deals with. Don't know if that will be a factor for going local with Zingu, esp. considering the OV and Goo like to just ante up millions in guarantees...again, local flaver vs. foreign clout. Who knows? We all watch and wait (well, out here at least, lol)

Interestingly, NHN just had a big news article (like yesterday) basically saying they reject the PPC model completely and will implement a CPM model...and that they will go to "war with OV." which is frankly silly considering it kinda an apples and oranges argument. But hey, its news. ;) Zingu had a release about it being the first PPC engine in Korea and of OV's imminent launch, but no word on Yahoo.

I'll keep ya'll posted of course...

I still have to get around to posting about the OV Korea launch seminar at the Ritz Carlton last week....:)

heehee...I love free stuff! (not as cool as a flashing pen, but hey.... lol)