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Updates: The
Major Search Engines
Which search engine has the
biggest share of monthly searches? Panelists
from web measurement agencies attempted to shed light on this at the Search
Landscape Panel at Search Engine Strategies New York.
New information on the
effectiveness of search engines was recently released including market
share and referral rates to various businesses. Google dominates the market
holding nearly 50% of the total share.
The numbers are a bit unusually presented. Global stats are included but
are a small percentage of the total, so for example "Google UK"
doesn't make the top six just because they don't have a huge
global customer base, and those customers are generating relatively little
traffic. In addition, the stats don't distinguish between paid and unpaid
referrals. But "content targeting" referrals are not included.
All that being said, this set of
numbers confirms the "Google Domination Factor":
Google 44.5%
Yahoo 17.0%
MSN 10.9%
AOL 3.2%
Dogpile 0.8%
Ask Jeeves 0.9%
There
were few changes in the Hitslink data from February to March, but Google
did gain a bit of ground at MSN's expense, which runs counter to some of
the panel-based behavioral studies which have suggested MSN Search growing
a bit lately at AOL's expense. Maybe so, if you watch a panel go about its
daily business, but not so if you look at traffic that's actually clicking
through to client sites in any tangible way.
The breakdown of Hitslink clients is as follows:
Commerce sites: 43%
Corporate sites: 18%
Content sites: 10%
Other (gov, org, SEM companies, and more): 29%
Operating System Market Share
Operating system usage on end-user computers in March 2006
shows Microsoft Windows XP staying above 80% market share after first
achieving that level in February. But, the hot issue worth watching is how
Apple's strategy of allowing Mac users to run Windows will affect these
percentages going forward.
Online
Web News
The Internet's First Amendment
Telecoms, such as AT&T and Verizon, want to create a two-tiered
Internet. Customers and content providers can be charged for premium
content delivery at higher speeds and quality than other content. The
critics believe that will give ISPs the ability to block, slow, or
degrade content unfavorable to them, including access to websites and
email.
The Markey Amendment, proposed for addition to the Communications
Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act (COPE), which was created
to protect what proponents call "Network Neutrality." Their
philosophy is that the Internet should remain free and open to
encourage innovation, startup business, and free speech. It's been
called the "Internet's First Amendment," and it 's supported
by Internet and technology giants like Google and Microsoft.
The amendment expressly warned the telecom industry " not to
block, impair, degrade, discriminate against, or interfere with the
ability of any person to use a broadband connection to access, use,
send, receive, or offer lawful content, applications, or services over
the Internet." It was voted down by a vote of 34-22 in the House
Energy and Commerce Committee.
The House vote today ignores a groundswell of popular support for
Internet freedom,” said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press.
“We hope that the full House will resist the big telecom companies
and reject the bill. But we look to the Senate to restore meaningful
protections for net neutrality and ensure that the Internet remains
open to unlimited economic innovation, civic involvement and free
speech.”
73 percent of adults use the Internet
Mary Madden, a research specialist with The Pew Internet &
American Life Project recently released a report on Internet usage by
adults in the United States. Unfortunately named "Internet
Penetration and Impact," it does point out how the Internet
continues to draw more people to use it, and that the users seem to be
better for it.
Those users have increasingly moved to broadband access, which in
some markets competes with dialup access on price. 42 percent of
Americans, about 84 million, have broadband at home, up from 29
percent in January 2005.
In the session on local search at WebmasterWorld's PubCon Boston,
Justin Sanger, president and founder of Local Launch,
noted the shift from the directory model to the search model online,
when it comes to finding local businesses.
Google
Local offers business owners the ability to create and
display listings for free, and update it whenever they wish.
Yahoo Local
also offers free business listings that can be edited and updated as
neccessary.
Famous
Quotes
"Nothing in
the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is
more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not;
unrewarding genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is
full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are
omnipotent." -Calvin
Coolidge
"When
hunting for stronger sales, it is wise to go where the game is. When the
game gets very much smarter, wise hunters learn to adapt." - This
quote was found inscribed in an obscure cave formation near Fernwood, BC.
Online
Web News Resources
Top
Web Site Design Tips:
- See:
Top
Ten Web Design Mistakes
Search
Engine Submissions
One of the most
prevalent cons on the Web today is that submitting your site to 1000's of
search engines will open a floodgate of new traffic to your Web site.
Unfortunately, this is a myth that has been perpetuated by companies
selling bulk submission services. What they don’t tell you is that most
of the so-called "search engines" they submit you to exist for
only one reason: To collect your e-mail address so they can send you spam
mail. If you have the misfortune of using your real e-mail address when
you submit, expect to receive over 400 pieces of junk mail within 24
hours!
The other thing that
bulk submission companies don’t tell you is that about 95% of the search
engine traffic comes from the top 20 engines. In addition, you can submit
all day long, but if you don’t appear near the top of the search results
for keywords that apply to your business, you will never be found.
Submitting alone is not enough.
In order to gain
visibility on the search engines, you must know how to position your site
at or near the top. With today’s search engines, this requires more than
simply adding a Meta tag to your Web page. However, if you know the
industry secrets to gaining top rankings, then you can still bring in that
promised floodgate of free, highly targeted traffic to your Web site.
Search engine marketing is like any other aspect of marketing your
business. Education is the key to gaining a competitive advantage.
Therefore, read the MarketPosition
newsletter and discover the most cost-effective way to advertise your
Web site: search engine positioning. Discover the best tools for promoting
your site in our resource center, including WebPosition
Gold, the most
recommended tool for improving rankings.
Optimal
Web Site Design
Optimal
Web Site Design The Entire Web
The idea of good website design
is to offer your viewer a logical
flow while making it interesting and easy to understand. Lead your
viewers to the starting point and then direct them through your site
without confusing them.
- Here are some excellent tips
that can help you develop a user
friendly site and please your visitors senses.
- Give yourself a chance before
they get away.
- 1. Use lots of white
space
- 2. Don't use animation
and flashing objects
- 3. Every page of your
site should contain a 'contact' link
- 4. Include a 'Privacy'
Link
- 5. Always keep your
links in blue
- 6. Keep navigation
consistent
- 7. Understandable
buttons and links
- 8. Focus on the 'YOU',
not the 'ME'
- 10. Use a site map
- About the Author:
Elizabeth McGee has spent 20 years in the service and support
industry.
She has moved her expertise to the world wide web helping businesses
find trusted tools, enhance customer service, build confidence and
increase sales. You can contact Elizabeth at: mail@pro-marketing-online.com
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