Ask.com's Anti Google Ad Campaign Backfires

Ask.com remains fairly understated in the whole campaign with no branding on the billboards and only minor logo placement on the website. While the campaign might have been considered quite innovative, it appears the underhanded tactics have caused quite a backlash online.

The straw that broke the campaigns back was the fact that Ask.com used its search results to push the campaign. When a searcher entered "Google" in the Ask.com search box, the following ad was displayed:

Searchers are always weary when a search engine uses the Holy Grail (organic search results area) to self promote. Just ask Google who used its "Onebox" area a few months ago to promote its own services. After users cried foul, Google was quick to remove the self promotion.

While the online buzz about the campaign has been nothing but scathing, it could be a case of any publicity is good publicity. And based on the execution of the campaign, it looks like Ask.com was definitely targeting a younger market, which might actually buy into this faux "Movement" tact.