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Essay on Search Engine Wars
You never know who will become the leader in search engines. It was only a few years ago that directories were the major force - until the upstart search engine Google came along. Google got its start about five years ago and hasn't looked back. As long as Google provides good results for its users, it is in a good position to stay on top. However, with MSN working on the creation of its own search engine and Yahoo’s acquisition of Overture, things could get interesting in 2004. Microsoft is always a force to be reckoned with, and Yahoo! certainly has the tools to become a major competitor to Google.
One of the keynote speeches and another session at the Search Engine Strategies conference was the future of search. Everybody agrees that the search engine technology and market place are dynamic. How this will work out for the main search engines is a topic with implications not only for analysts but for practicing search engine marketers.
The three main features that have lead to google’s success as the number one search engine are,
- Relevance and accuracy of search results.
- Search speed.
- Advanced search options and site design and layout.
Yahoo has been a portal for years now and its incorporation of proprietary search technology will only enhance the user experience and will boost the notion of personalized search. MSN is working on its own search technology and whenever it delivers it, will surely play a significant role in the search market place. Google has always resisted the urge to become a portal and has maintained the mantra of simplicity in search experience. Admittedly, this simplicity has won its many admirers. The future, though, might not be very bright for Google, even though the days of its IPO are approaching....
