Yahoo Answers : Ask Yahoo, Get Answers
Yahoo Answers was launched about 30 hours ago and has already been hailed as a Web 2.0, beneficial and fun addition to the Yahoo Social Community. The Yahoo Answers service ties in a little bit of Google Answers, Yahoo Users, User Reviews, and Yahoo Local (up and coming) into one complete group informational source, with a little bit of social networking and blog feed ingredients thrown in.
Yahoo Answers is a Yahoo user community where one can ask questions and have them answered by other Yahoo members. Using Yahoo Answers, users can ask a question on any topic and real people will post an answer to that question. The service is a good fit for Yahoo, which prides itself on its registered member base and user generated content (like Yahoo User Reviews).
Yahoo Answers also has all of the buzzes and whistles of a Yahoo Social Media product, with add to My Yahoo buttons, RSS, Yahoo Member Photos and Avatars, and Q&A categories. The end result is a working example of Yahoo’s embracement of the community driven social web and Yahoo’s Social Media direction. Jeremy Zawodny, Yahoo’s Search, Blog, and FUSE guru kicked off the Yahoo Answers launch with an has announcement on the YSearchBlog.
I’ve heard more than a few people struggling to answer a question who turn to their keyboard and proclaim, “I’ll just ask the Internet…” while typing something into a search box…But there are many times that keywords just don’t cut it—times when you need to ask a question to a group of humans. You know, real people..
That’s what Yahoo! Answers was designed for. We want to give anyone a place to tap the collective wisdom of the Internet for advice, recommendations, theories, jokes, … whatever. Anyone can answer. It’s free. And once your question is answered, you get to pick the best answer and the whole thread is archived and searchable. So in addition to getting answers, you’re helping to add to the “the Internet’s” collective knowledge.
Of course, it has categories for the questions, per category RSS feeds, notifications, and other goodies too…
In addition to its Q&A web community, Yahoo Answers is also working on integration into the Local Search scene. Imagine the ability to ping locals in Baltimore for a good bar to hit after the Orioles game - when a normal search may serve you bland results like ESPN Zone or Pickles, some Baltimore locals can fill you in on out of the way gems, like Archibalds 2, Racer’s, The Yaught Club, or Fletchers.
While performing a Yahoo Local search in a major metro area, (San Francisco CA for example) Yahoo Answers are integrated down near the bottom of the page:
Given the example’s selection, this is an excellent lead in to the implications of Yahoo Local Answers and advertising potential. Sure, we’re dependent on local Yahoo users to give quality responses to questions, but the answers area for the question “Can you recommend a good dentist in San Francisco?” is obvious territory for a Yahoo Search Marketing Local Match contextual ad and I’m sure local dentists would jump at the opportunity.
Yahoo users should also expect to see local businesses getting involved in the answers, and perhaps watch out for spammers (there is a Report Abuse link under user profiles). Interestingly enough, the Yahoo Answers also allow for user comments to the answers and user ratings.
Media Buyer Planner quotes the Kelsey Group’s Greg Sterling : The more immediate opportunity, however, would come when people ask others for reviews as they make purchasing decisions. “Wouldn’t an advertiser love to get access to people as they’re making that decision?” Sterling is quoted as saying. “‘What’s the best laptop under $1,000?’ Boom. There’s a targeting opportunity.”
Appears that Yahoo has a definite success in Yahoo Answers, and do expect further integration into Yahoo Search, Shopping and other channels as this Yahoo Community and its priceless user contribution continues to grow.
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Comments
29 responses so far ↓
Derek A. Talkington on Dec 13, 2005 at 9:21 pm
I was replying to an e-mail and got this “test” that asked to identify the alphabet string as a test to see if I was a spammer. I entered the letter string and it then told me that I was no longer able to send e-mails, and it seems to have worked. can someone tell me what’s going on and how to get back the ability to send e-mails?
Thanks.
patricio ramirez on Dec 15, 2005 at 8:53 am
why are genotype for bloodtype represented like they are?
jada on Dec 16, 2005 at 12:06 am
is pconpoint software safe for my computer
John H. McCurdy on Dec 18, 2005 at 6:48 am
Why am I not getting yahoo fill in on my toolbar~?
mohib kool boi on Jan 17, 2006 at 3:01 pm
hey yo Chuck yeager how did u make your plane????
John on Mar 19, 2006 at 6:10 pm
what will be before the website like yahoo.com when I sign in?
Search Engine Journal » Yahoo Answers Gets a Search Result Makeover on Sep 1, 2006 at 5:51 pm
[…] Yahoo’s Social Media flagship, Yahoo Answers, is now being served to Yahoo Search users in the Yahoo search results via a new, spruced up vertical result box which breathes more life and definition into the product, just as Windows Live QnA goes live over at Microsoft. […]
Chris on Nov 22, 2006 at 10:44 pm
Yahoo Answers is cool :)
vinay on Dec 27, 2007 at 1:38 am
when will lita return to wwe
vinay on Dec 27, 2007 at 1:39 am
will lita return to wwe
Patricia Herring on Mar 21, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I am looking for two friends 1 is Tracy Santana in Fayetteville N.C. the other is Roseanne Abbott in Woodbury N.J. can any one help please. Search is getting exzausted!!!!!!!!!
Christi on Apr 21, 2008 at 5:02 pm
please tell me if I can get a printout of the recent password changes on my yahoo email account in the past 2 days. i believe my sister has retrieved personal emails because she knew my security questions. please expedite this answer
lulu on Apr 23, 2008 at 7:44 pm
who determines an event’s ” newsworthiness” of european union?
india on May 2, 2008 at 1:46 pm
i need answers about stray kittens i rescused
curious on May 8, 2008 at 8:21 am
why is there not just one gas
Don woodworthd on May 17, 2008 at 7:24 am
Mahal Kita, what dos this mean
China and burma are facing the wrath of god on May 31, 2008 at 12:26 am
Until the authorities come to terms with freedom they will continue to face Gods wrath!
Kay on Jun 6, 2008 at 8:19 am
What was the average cost of gas in 2000?
Chet Comins on Jun 7, 2008 at 8:23 am
unable to open attachments
Vonnie on Jun 8, 2008 at 4:39 pm
how can I clean up an old chain link gate?
Suzana jacob on Jun 10, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Which all colleges in India offer admission to B arch based on national aptitude test in architecture?
rose on Jun 14, 2008 at 1:54 pm
i want decent tamil known friends
Morgan on Jun 26, 2008 at 6:43 am
I have a Dell Inspiration 600 m. Computer works fine but Mozilla Firefox hasn’t been working. When I click the icon for Mozilla it doesn’t come up. Somtimes it does but as of late it hasn’t and I’ve had to use explorer (which I don’t like) insted.
Thnks!
theresa on Jul 3, 2008 at 11:10 pm
will me and vencent stay together?
Ahmed on Jul 4, 2008 at 3:49 pm
by mistake my friend deleted all mails in my in box ! how can i get it back?
Lee on Jul 5, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I have an Acer computer that freezes when we try to get online unless our security is turned off. My husband and I dont know alot about computers so we are lost. What can we do to stay online and have on security? Our computer is only 6 months old and we dont want it ruined. Can anyone help?
chevinda on Jul 25, 2008 at 1:30 pm
this is so cool. keep going
gracee on Aug 3, 2008 at 1:08 am
I wonder if someone who lives in Houston could tell me if the following is a valid address.
7322 Southwest Freeway 580, Houston TX77074.
I was curious how an address could have 2 numbers on either side? I want to know if the address is real.
Hope to hear,
Gracee
gracee on Aug 3, 2008 at 1:10 am
I used to be able to open a folder file when I go into my document but I could no longer do that but have to send a particular folder to desktop before opening the folder. Do I need a computer expert to look and fix my computer?
Hope to hear.
Gracee
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