“Latest search figure shows further decline for Redmond.”
Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. both gained the edge on Microsoft in the battle moderately expanded their share of the U.S. online search market in May, spelling more bad news for Microsoft after the Yahoo deal breakdown: according to forecasts released by ComScore Inc. Thursday.
Web analytics company comScore, Inc.; a leader in measuring the digital world Thursday released its analysis of the top fifty US Web properties list for May 2008 based upon its Media Metrix service, and Google’s leading the pack by a nose.
May 2008 U.S. Core Search Rankings:
In May 2008, Americans conducted 10.8 billion core searches, with Google Sites increasing its market share of core searches reached 61.8 percent, up from 61.6 percent the previous month.
The struggling Yahoo ranked second with 20.6 percent, (an improvement of 0.2 point over April’s 20.4 percent), followed by Microsoft Sites captured 8.5 percent of U.S. searches, or 920 million, in May, compared with 9.1 percent, or 961 million, in April.
Searches through Time Warner Inc.’s AOL LLC declined slightly to 4.5 percent of searches, or 486 million, from 4.6 percent, or 491 million, in April.
Searches through IAC/InterActiveCorp.’s Ask.com network rose a bit, as the network captured 4.5 percent of searches, or 486 million, compared with 4.3 percent, or 458 million, in April.
|
comScore Core Search Report* |
|||
|
Core Search Entity |
Share of Searches (%) |
||
|
Apr-08 |
May-08 |
Point Change |
|
|
Total Core Search |
100.0% |
100.0% |
N/A |
|
Google Sites |
61.6% |
61.8% |
0.2 |
|
Yahoo! Sites |
20.4% |
20.6% |
0.2 |
|
Microsoft Sites |
9.1% |
8.5% |
-0.6 |
|
AOL LLC |
4.6% |
4.5% |
-0.1 |
|
Ask Network |
4.3% |
4.5% |
0.2 |
* The search report is based on the five major search engines, taking into account partner searches and cross-channel searches. Searches for mapping, local directory, and user-generated video sites that are not on the core domain of the five search engines are excluded from the core search figures.
Also in the month of May, Google properties expanded with the public release of Google Sites, the beta launch of Google Health, and an update to Google Docs.
Besides the Web at large, comScore refers to the Mother’s Day holiday as a major driver of traffic. Proflowers.com demonstrated a 319% month-over-month explosion, and the whole category of Flowers, Gifts and Greetings appreciated a 15% spike in unique visits.
Memorial Day, the company states, teamed with domestic economic conditions, made coupon and travel sites surge 11% and 9%, respectively, as well.
While these measures are good as a gauge, they do rely heavily on online recruitment techniques disregarded by other more traditional pollsters.