Google Sets New Query Record in September

Ah, September. When leaves begin to turn, school kids doff their backpacks, the economy tanks and Google (GOOG) sets a new record for search market share and hits the 2nd greatest month/month query volume growth in the past 13 months.

Interestingly, most of the other search engines also grew query volume, demonstrating the magnitude of students and concerned investors returning to their web browsers. MSN/Live was the only search engine that lost query volume in September, and with Club Live factored in, that loss actually became a dive.

Google continued to impress, hitting 40.3% year/year query growth, same as last month, while most competitors took big hits compared to last year. Yahoo! (YHOO) slipped 6.1% versus September, 2007. MSN/Live fell 12.8% or, if you count Club Live, only 5.8%. And AOL lost a whopping 18.2% of queries versus 13 months ago.

The only bright spot, other than the Google sun, was Ask, which inched 1.2% compared to September, 2007. Perhaps that “The Algorithm killed Jeeves.” advertising campaign actually did help retain Ask searchers.

The major takeaways for September, 2008 (excluding Club Live from the market)….

• Google sets new record of 70.4% share on 5.6% m-o-m query volume surge
• Yahoo! dips to 19.4% market share on essentially flat 0.2% m-o-m query volume change
• Windows Live Search falls to 6.0% market share (with Club Live, it lands at 8.8%, though m-o-m query volume still declines)
• Ask maintains 2.7% share on a slight increase of 2.2% m-o-m query volume
• AOL continues to hold on with 1.1% share and 3.3% m-o-m query growth
• Next up … the tricks and treats of Halloween and Election Season!

If you want to get your hands on the actual data in this post and a lot more don’t forget to check out Compete’s Data Hub.

*Search market share includes web search only for the Adult US Online Population and is calculated based on unique queries within each session during the given month.

Comments

[jack dee:]

Of course the disclaimer at the bottom points out what the rest of the story completely fails to state.

This data is from ADULTS only (ie over 18) and is for the USA only. (sorry Can you dont count)

And this data is provided by Who? Compete? who? what?



Thanks for being so clear

2008 Oct 21 02:07 PM

[jerry w.:]

Why would anyone question goog s to being the leader in all phases of inquiries. They are constantly improving thier position in there field. I have said repeadtly that there is no better investment on the entire market.I cant understand why others cannot see this.

2008 Oct 21 04:38 PM