December 4, 2006

Google has apparently admitted defeat in the Questions and Answers segment. It's main reason is that Google Answers was falling behind Yahoo Answers.

Overall, the Google PPA (pay-per-answer) formula didn't work well for Google.

The current staff at Yahoo is doing its best not to gloat, saying that “some great knowledge was created on that service by the Google Answers Researchers.”

However, the Yahoo Search Blog gets to the point, revealing the company’s true motives: it wants the Google researchers for themselves.

Here's what's on the Yahoo Blog:

“So, this is an open invitation for those researchers to join us. Please consider sharing your knowledge with millions of people on Yahoo Answers. Connect with users with shared interests, and get answers to all your questions. Help build the world’s most vibrant and trusted community.”

They have even set up a new Yahoo Tech Group for ex-Google researchers called exGAR. It has already some 50 members, as far as we can see.

Yahoo has reason to be proud. Google may be best at search, but Yahoo is obviously better at community building.

Source: Pandia