Microsoft search engine Bing’s market share recently crossed 14 percent and seems to be gradually increasing, which could have a big impact on your online strategy, as any internet marketing agency will tell you. Here is a review of factors that have contributed to these shifts, advances and trends in search market shares. While Google is, beyond doubt, the leader, holding over 65 percent of the search engine market, its share has stayed flat or decreased marginally in the past few quarters. Though Bing is nowhere near passing Google, the continuing rise in its market share cannot be ignored. However part of this increase is at the expense of Yahoo as a result of Bing’s alliance with it.  Microsoft’s total market share in search is now 30 percent, which is still less than half of Google’s. If this trend continues with Google losing and Bing gaining at the same rate, then the latter could be a very strong competitor in less than one year. However, the probability of this happening is remote considering market volatility and other factors, but fascinating to consider nevertheless. Driving Bing’s growth trend is its new approach to search. The initial one touted by Google stressed ‘relevancy’ of sites. Bing has changed the model to one of ‘productivity’ – a tool that helps users not only seek information but also get things done. Bing has made search results seem increasingly like apps and less like a bunch of links with even the capacity to stream games, movies and music right on the search results page. Google is also moving in the same direction, but Bing has been more extensive and comprehensive in its approach.

Tags: Bing, Google, market share, search, search engine, search model, streaming, Yahoo

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 at 4:42 am and is filed under Website Traffic Reporting.