[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTbAvVYk9d0]
That’s the question Todd Bishop (accompanied by John Cook) asked people on the streets of Seattle about six months ago. No one seemed to know what was Microsoft’s search engine (At that time is was Windows Live). But the two TechFlash reporters asked again yesterday afternoon in front of Seattle Public Library. The results were surprisingly different.
Most everyone could name Bing as Microsoft’s search engine. The difference is marketing—and plenty of it. Advertising works, and Microsoft should keep it up and continue to improve Bing along the way. Since Microsoft’s Online Services Businesses is losing gobs of money, anyway, the company should put those losses to good use by keeping the advertising alive and vital.