Yahoo! Offers Wordpress Plugin
Yahoo! Search has introduced a plugin for Wordpress users that gives blog authors the ability to allow Yahoo to link certain keywords or phrases to Yahoo content without the author having to input any link code. Yahoo Shortcuts is much like the Adaptive Blue blog plugin that also utilizes some Yahoo tools.
Yahoo Maps, Yahoo Finance, Flickr, and other services are part of the plugin. If you type in Dallas, Texas, the plugin will give you the opportunity to link that phrase to a Yahoo map. If you mention Intel, the plugin will ask if you wish to link with its stock ticker info. The service also will appraise the theme of your post and suggest a series of Flickr images that the author would be able to use.
Since Yahoo will also link in product purchasing information with certain items you list, it’s a way for Yahoo to advertise free of charge. If the author mentions a Sony camcorder, Yahoo may suggest a link to location where you can buy that camcorder, but will not offer the blogger any payment for what is basically a free ad vehicle.
A potential downside to the service is that it can make your posts look rather awkward. I’ve noticed that hover-link heavy Adaptive Blue blog posts are not especially pleasing to read as it tends to distract from the content of the blog itself.
However, the service can be rather useful and does represent another way in for those interested in social media marketing to get their content out there. Details of Yahoo’s arrangement with sponsors are not apparent yet, but any ad vehicle that puts ads on social media sites without any reimbursement to the blogger is certainly good for advertisers.
Technorati Tags: yahoo, yahoo shortcuts, social media marketing, wordpress, blog advertising
