Volume of Search Queries Jumps 15 Percent in Past Five Months, Driven by the 'Big Three' Search Engines, According to Nielsen//NetRatings
Image Search Requests Skyrockets 37 Percent, Followed by Double-Digit Growth
of Local, General Web and News Search Queries
NEW YORK, Dec. 13 -- Nielsen//NetRatings, a global
leader in Internet media and market research, reported today that the volume
of Internet search queries grew to more than 5.1 billion in October 2005, up
15 percent from five months ago (see Table 1). Ask Jeeves led as the fastest
growing search player out of the top five search engines, skyrocketing 77
percent in search volume, while Google maintained its leader position with the
largest market share of nearly half of all searches, or 48 percent, by
generating 2.4 billion requests.
The top four search players, Google, Yahoo!, MSN and AOL have maintained
the same rankings in the past five months with little to no change in market
share. Ask Jeeves leapt into the top five spot, garnering a 2.1 percent market
share in August, edging out My Way Search, and has maintained its top five
position in subsequent months. In October, Ask Jeeves held a search market
share of 2.6 percent.
"Search volume continues to increase and is generated consistently among
the 'Big Three', growing their collective market share," said Ken Cassar,
director of strategic analysis, Nielsen//NetRatings. "Google, in particular,
continues to find itself in an enviable position, enjoying dominant market
share and very strong growth."
Table 1. Top 5 Search Engines and Latest Share of Searches, June & October
2005
______________________________________________Provider Jun-05 Oct-05 June to Oct. Oct-05 Share
Searches Searches Growth of Searches
(000) (000)
______________________________________________ Total 4,447,406 5,134,713 15% --
______________________________________________ Google 2,032,222 2,449,396 21% 47.7%
______________________________________________ Yahoo! 965,642 1,118,429 16% 21.8%
______________________________________________ MSN 540,686 582,702 8% 11.3%
______________________________________________ AOL 358,667 368,130 3% 7.2%
______________________________________________ Ask Jeeves 75,808 133,932 77% 2.6%
______________________________________________
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings MegaView Search, December 2005
Picture It -- Image Queries Take the Lead in Growing Up
Image is the fastest growing vertical among the search requests across all
search engines. While general Web searching continues to capture the largest
search activity, requests for images shot up to 328 million queries in
October, up 36.6 percent from five months prior (see Table 2). Local, Web and
News searches strong growth as well, garnering increases of 19.2 percent,
14.2 percent and 12.7 percent, respectively.
Cassar continued, "As the search market continues to mature, consumers'
relationships with the major search engines have only grown deeper. Natural
selection is alive and well on the Internet."
Table 2. Breakdown of Search by Vertical, June & October 2005
______________________________________________ Search Jun-05 Oct-05 June to
Verticals Searches Searches Oct. Growth
(000) (000)
______________
combining these survey results with the actual surfing habits of the
respondents, search providers and Internet publishers are able to better
understand how consumers are searching online. MegaView Search was the second
product introduced from MegaPanel, an online syndicated suite of services that
provides comprehensive Internet market research for key vertical industries
including financial services, search, online retail, travel and local markets.
About Nielsen//NetRatings
NetRatings, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTRT) delivers leading Internet media and market
research solutions, marketed globally under the Nielsen//NetRatings brand.
With high quality, technology-driven products and services,
Nielsen//NetRatings is the global standard for Internet audience measurement
and premier source for online advertising intelligence, enabling clients to
make informed business decisions regarding their Internet and digital
strategies. The Nielsen//NetRatings portfolio includes panel-based and
site-centric Internet audience measurement services, online advertising
intelligence, user lifestyle and demographic data, e-commerce and transaction
metrics, and custom data, research and analysis. For more information, please
visit http://www.nielsen-netratings.com.
SOURCE Nielsen//NetRatings
Web Site: http://www.nielsen-netratings.com
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