Archive for the ‘Website Traffic Reporting’ Category
Bing Redefines Search to Gain on Google
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
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.
Mozilla Firefox in the Midst of Search Engine War
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
Companies, whether they make their online strategy themselves or use an internet marketing agency, base their spending on search engine marketing by following the market shares of leading search engines such as Bing and Google, investing more in market leaders. From month to month these figures typically rise or fall by percentage fractions.
However, Bing’s tie-up with Yahoo! allowed the former to raise its market share, though this was at Yahoo’s expense. More changes in market share are in the offing. An agreement between Google and Mozilla that made the former the default search engine for the browser is due to end in November 2011.
As the Firefox browser’s default search engine, Google gains – a report a year ago estimates that almost 10% of all Google searches are generated through Firefox which owns just over a fifth of the market share among browser users –a whopping 450 million.
In this scenario, if Bing can replace Google as Firefox’s default search engine, Bing could well wind up holding a search market share of around 40 percent.
If Bing becomes Firefox’s default search engine, Bing would increase its market share by 9 percent, increasing its total share to 23 percent. Add Yahoo’s market share of 16 percent and Bing could hold a 40 percent stake in the search market. These are projected numbers, but significant to justify Internet users and marketers giving Bing more attention.
Will Google renew its agreement with Firefox? While it cannot gift away almost 10 percent of its search pie, remaining with Firefox – which is its own browser Chrome’s biggest rival – must be an unattractive proposition.
Firefox stands to profit in the event of a bidding war arising in November. It is a big chance for Microsoft, which has lots of cash to spare, to grab a sizeable slice of market share from Google.