Google Selling SEM Portion of DoubleClick

A little surprised to see this one, but I was glad to see that it happened, and think it is definitely the right choice. Google has decided to sell the search engine marketing business they acquired with the purchase of DoubleClick: Performics Search Marketing.

From the Official Google Blog:

...we plan to sell the Performics search marketing business to a third party. We believe this will allow us to maintain objectivity and the search marketing business to continue to grow and innovate and serve its customers.

From Matt Cutts' post:

People hold Google to a unbelievably high standard, and I think it’s important that we try very hard to avoid any conflict of interest — or even the appearance of conflict of interest — in our business.

Well said.