Ask Jeeves is Back in the UK

Ask's iconic butler makes a comeback

[Syzygy]

From the BBC [news.bbc.co.uk].

Search engine Ask is reverting to its original name, Ask Jeeves, as it reintroduces the iconic fictional butler into its corporate branding.

"Ask without Jeeves lacked character and while the actual product - searching the web - is very effective, in trying to be more like Google they shot themselves in the foot."

Syzygy

[edited by: Syzygy at 8:52 am (utc) on April 20, 2009]

[bill]

So the Butler is going to come back sporting crutches? ;)

It may be a bit too late in the game for this for Ask.

[weeks]

Er, maybe only in the United Kingdom?
Good luck to them, anyway. Marketing Ask.com would be a very, very interesting job to have. I don't think it's impossible.

[robzilla]

Marketing Ask.com would be a very, very interesting job to have. I don't think it's impossible.

Sounds more like a depressing job to me. It's impossible without a competitive search engine.

As for Jeeves, I don't think he adds much today. I was sorry to see him go, but the decision to bring him back (without his 2D charm) may actually be worse. What are they going to do next year, when they find out it hasn't helped them one bit? Send him off again? How confusing. I think Ask has potential, but the magic's in the algorithm, not in branding. There's no workaround, so, in that respect, I think they should try to be more like Google.

[Slinger]

I know everyone.

Why dont we all just...

...ask jeeves?

[edited by: Slinger at 10:17 pm (utc) on April 21, 2009]

[EliteWeb]

I'd like to know what market testing they did in the first place or if they just decided lets run with it. Found out traffic got killed then had a group meeting and said LETS BRING HIM BACK!

[Slinger]

Yeah, I hear Jeeves, Bob's Big Boy, Jack In The Box, The Cigarette Camel and the actor who plays "Leave it to Beaver" are all going to have a road show for career-revivalist.