Why Default Search Engines Matter

If you have been following the search engine news for the last few months you probably have come across a slew of articles on which search engines are default for which programs. (ahem; Firefox, Apple, Internet Explorer)

Most businesses are probably sitting back and wondering, "Why does this even matter? Doesn't Google own like 70% percent of the search query volume out there?" Well, yes but it isn't always the case. There are cases where the primary search engine for a specific audience may skew more toward another competitor. There are demographics that rely on the the default search engine for the majority of their queries. This audience may also go seek out the "older" search engine that they know and know how to use.

When browsers make this change this dependence is especially evident. So as businesses take time to review our their sites perform on different search engines. Rather than just looking at ranking, businesses need to look at the quality and value of that traffic and see where their efforts need to be focused.

Will that focus most often be put toward Google? Probably, but not in every case. There is a lot of focus dedicated specifically toward Google so tackling how to crack Bing, Yahoo and others can be a challenge but one that could be fruitful for your business.

Microsoft's Search Talent Power Grab

According to this report Microsoft is continuing its search talent power grab with the focus on Yahoo! alumni. This is interesting for 2 reasons:
1) How is Yahoo! not able to retain these employees or is it that they don't want to?

2) Either the attention is so focused on the relationship between Microsoft and Yahoo! that we are not hearing about the Askers and Googlers defecting or is it Microsoft's strategy to acquire as much knowledge as possible about its possible future Yahoo! acquisition?

Either way Microsoft is acquiring the talent it thinks it needs to gain some ground in search or developing enough corporate espionage to make a valid buy attempt on Yahoo! I think the #2 option is the more likely scenario, but that is my opinion, what is yours.

My how time flies when you are busy as hell

Wow a lot has happened since my last post.
The most recent time consuming change I have been dealing with is Google and Yahoo!, no not merging like all my other posts have ranted about, no now they can view Flash text and links. This is a major deal for some of my company's clients. Some are built completely in Flash. So now as a person who knows a little about code I now need to try and figure out what exactly Google and Yahoo will see in that code and what will lead to better ranking. (I still find it interesting that MSN/Live is not in on the Flash party but that is going to be a different post.) So HiHoHiHo it's off to coding I go.

What will happen to the little local guy GooHoo?

So as I am managing my various local SEM campaigns I started to think. (I know heaven forbid I do that while working) What 3% of ads will Google be sharing with Yahoo!? I have budgets set on each separately for a reason. If Yahoo! serves local AdWords ads which account will they be credited to/against? Just thoughts from a local SEM guy.

The fall of two?

Does the abandonment of the Yahoo! merger by Microsoft mean a fall of two rather than just one. Let's be honest could Yahoo! really actually accept the merger deal? Wouldn't that mean it has accepted defeat, especially for Mr. Yang who has only recently come on board in the last year or so? Seems like the struggle of the power ego's may continue based on Yang's interest in continuing talks. But Ballmer has already called this off once. Is it Microsoft playing hard to get or is it Yahoo!? Who has the most to lose? I say both.