There is no doubt, Search Engine optimization (SEO) has been equivalent to optimizing website for Google search. But, we should not be ignorant about the 9% search engine market share (Data as per Wikipedia, of late 2010) by Bing, Yahoo! and all other search engines.
Google: 91.0%
Bing: 3.0%
Yahoo: 4.0%
Others: 2.0%
Can we really ignore this potential?
In our opinion, one should not underestimate this potential, even if Google is clearly has a dominant role in the search engine market.
The reason is quite obvious; every one knows Google, every browser (except Internet Explorer) has Google search field by default.
In July 2009, Yahoo! signed a deal with Microsoft, the result of which was that Yahoo! Search would be powered by Bing. This is now in effect.
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So, we can think Bing plus Yahoo nearly as one unit. Moreover, in Wikipedia Bing page, the market share is showing a higher data than the last year. Seasonal variation can happen, though nothing can be said conclusively, it might happen at the end of year, Google gets 85% market share, versus 91% at the end of 2011.
Why we will think of only a few percentage of visitors from these search engines?
- Internet Explorer (and thereby Bing) is most likely to be used by new computer and Internet users. Do not forget, a new Internet user has more probability of clicking the Advertisements than a ripe Googler.
- Free traffic; what ever is the source is always good!
- It is not good, if we search with our domain name without the extension and others’ website appears. Frankly, we are missing a potential visitor.
- 9% means around 6 million users.
So, think ahead, optimize your blog or website for these search engines too for better SEO.
