I visited Yahoo’s home page today for the first time in years. Why? Because it’s the next big thing. Don’t believe me? Check out all the recent headlines around: banning Telecommuting, promises to encrypt email, poaching NY Times writer David Pogue, purchasing Tumbler and snatching Katie Couric from ABC. Mayer, the new CEO is definitely making waves and if you’re like me, your ears are starting to perk up.
Let’s be frank: the feud between Apple & Google, Google and Microsoft, Microsoft and Twitter, Twitter and Facebook is cute. But isn’t it starting to get old? I mean, who is REALLY innovating these days and capturing the hearts, minds and souls of the new young, tech-savvy generation? You know… like the iPod did years ago? That’s what makes the Yahoo news so exciting. It’s a company that’s been around for a while that is trying to make a splash in an already-vibrant market. And everyone loves a good comeback story. (Apple, anyone?) One thing is for sure: they’ve got our attention and their audience is not your average mom and pop. It’s Generation X and beyond, which means they get to build their new brand fresh and from scratch, while focusing on being: visual, mobile-friendly and of course, cool. Let’s talk about what Yahoo is doing as it pertains to this group:
News: What are their options? Certainly they are not reading the NY Times or WSJ. So (assuming) one day they will care, where and how will they get their news? CNN, MSNBC, Fox News: be worried. Tech & Digital: They care about shiny new iPhones, Android and gaming devices; but, they’re not going to read long reviews or wait for the punch line at the end of the article. No, they want visual, they want to see and experience the news. Mashable, TechCrunch, CNET: be worried. Content: We’re talking about the American Idol generation here and Ryan Seacrest is their hero. Think live shows, voting, new Netflix series and more! Everything on demand, maybe even TV? Ryan embodies fun, while Couric provides the more serious tone that can be beneficial for convincing businesses to lock in on advertising. ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS: be worried. Politics. One word here: Twitter. Imagine a partnership with the DNC or RNC for live-election day coverage. No more newsroom-style reporting – they can go right to the source. Live feeds with real people (not reporters) on the ground, telling the story. Wolf Blitzer: Be worried (ok, this one is lame but I couldn’t think of anyone else). Human Resources. Yahoo reports that it is now receiving 17,000 resumes a week. Why? It’s the next cool thing. Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft: be worried. What will they do to keep their talent and promote innovation?
Maybe you aren’t excited, but the possibilities are endless! Oh, and what else do they have at their disposal? Just a few small things like: Tumblr, The Huffington Post, Adap.tv and Alibaba. Not to mention the fact that Mayer just got another $1B to play with.
But what could be next for Yahoo? With the focus on entertainment: imagine a deal with the NFL or the NBA? Lady Gaga or Rihanna – plays right to their target audience, right?! If Yahoo manages to ink a few high-profile deals in Sports and Music, they will definitely be ready for Prime Time!! Whatever pieces are missing from their puzzle, you can be sure that after we put them together and the picture becomes clearer, it wont look like anything we’ve seen before. Get your stock now. Or explore Yahoo’s re-vamped mobile apps on iOS or Android.
Bri Alys, LLC 