Search Engines – Bing vs. Yahoo vs. Google
Search Engines, Still fighting, or is there a clear winner? Bing vs. Yahoo vs. Google, which search engine should you be using?
As a small business, which search engines should your SEO consultant be targetting? Of course, Google would be the ideal answer, which is undoubtedly the case. But digital marketing should also focus on other search engines like Bing and Yahoo.
What is a Search Engine?
Before we start to understand the pros and cons of each search engine, we need to know what a search engine is first; a search engine is a feature that lets users find information. Content is found and searched through word or keyword queries. Generally, search engines have an algorithm that enables them to index content and make it available. For example, AI algorithms search the title, contents, paragraphs, and more. Not only that, but the algorithm also has another feature that records data on the number of people who visit the web pages and the time they are on it (known as the bounce rate). This data then helps rank the website.
Of course, any SEO expert or digital marketing agency would tell you that many other factors determine how websites sites are ranked. Also, it is clear that SEO history has shown that the process of indexing, ranking, and delivering content on the web has been a Google trend. For example, nowadays, the push is towards more AI and indexing sites where spammy content and black hat techniques are becoming a thing of the past.
Global Search Engine Market Share (2020)
%
%
Bing
%
Yahoo
Google Search Engine
What is Google? Two students first established Google at Standford University named, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. They first called “BackRub.” Still, they then decided to do a name change and call it Google; in 1996, they focused on fully developing Google as a search engine and then on till this day. It grew to become the world’s leading search engine. The term “Googling” has only been possible due to its vital purpose of locating content. Why Google? People tend to use Google more than other search engines due to the simplicity and accuracy of churning out the right results. The Google ranking algorithm has only got better and more intelligent. In addition, one reason why most digital marketing agencies focus on optimizing websites or Google.
Bing Search Engine
What is Bing? Bing was first established by Microsoft and launched back in 2009. Microsoft already knew that Google dominated the search engine market, so they developed Bing to compete with this giant by having a different search engine. The result over the years has shown little demand for Bing.
Bing is commonly known for its more attractive user interface, while it’s not as quick nor better than Google. A few groups choose Bings because of its overall look, which is more pleasing than Google and Yahoo’s very light backgrounds. Another thing that Bing is known for is its search results. Bing tends to show a more spotlight on smaller businesses. Lastly, Bing is well known for its terrific pictures, as you can crop and resize the image of your search. This is very nifty as it can help web developers find photos easily without a hassle. One disadvantage of using Bing is its small market share.
Yahoo Search Engine
What is Yahoo? Yahoo was first founded in 1994 and established by Standford graduates named Jerry Yang and David Filo. Yahoo is made up of a website to provide users with plenty of information, tools, and access to other websites. It also contained an email service, a directory of other websites, and a new branch. Yahoo was once a search engine giant during the late ’90s and early ’00s. However, other search engines such as Google, MSN, and AOL started coming into the search engine competition. Yahoo’s popularity began to come down, making it hard for them to regain their spot, but they’re still a well-known search engine for many users.
Why Yahoo? Yahoo is known to be under Bing’s search engine to expect the same search results and algorithms from Bing. But what differentiates Yahoo from Google or Bing? It is yahoo’s product and services. Yahoo has plenty of directories to choose from if you want something specific without typing it in the search bar. Yahoo has a site for entertainment, shopping, Tech, and Homework answers. Another nifty thing that yahoo has is an email service and plenty of tools embedded into their website.
Does Bing & Yahoo Still Stand A Chance…
Bing and Yahoo are currently in a rough position when competing for the top position. Being dominated by Google, there is not much they can do to come back. It should not be ignored when ranking websites on Bing or Yahoo. These two search engines have been around for some time. But they are still around for whatever reason and probably not going anywhere anytime soon. Disregarding the age of these engines, they are still quite popular for their reasons.
Why are Bing and Yahoo still important?
There will always be competition among search engines. But, that does not make one search engine better than the other because they are all unique in their ways, whether it is more detailed, easier on the eyes, or more focused on one service rather than a multitude of them. Features that these engines provide have changed or “evolved over the years.
Yahoo
Yahoo is still one of the places where Americans get their news information. Amidst this growing number of people who get their news via devices, Yahoo has proven to be the most popular news site. It tops Huffington Post, CNN, and, yes, Google News. A thing to note is that Yahoo is not a search engine as it uses Bing for searching content on the web.
Bing
The next big contender is Bing. Bing has not been around as long as Yahoo, but it is still leading alongside Bing provides many services such as Finance, Health, and News. Some of these might not be as diverse as Yahoo’s, but there is still some content that many users find helpful.
While Apple uses Google as the default search engine, Apple also uses Bing in various places. For example, searching on Siri is done via Bing.
“Google it” has become a familiar term used by many and is one reason why Google Search Engine is a clear leader. When it comes to familiarity, Google shares the same familiarity as Bing. However, there are differences.
Takeaway
It doesn’t matter which Search engine you use. It is more of a preference. But Google is crowned as the best when finding content. Though Google generates more revenue via Google Ads, it’s still clear that it dominates in multiple categories. Whether your business steers towards a PPC campaign or SEO, you should target all search engines. But, the stronger focus should be on the market leader. In addition, Google is investing heavily in technologies like AI and voice. For example, Google Duplex, where automated intelligence would take care of a phone call!
Yahoo & Bing are still relevant to people depending on their choice. Some people might like to go onto Yahoo simply because their email system is easier to use than other providers. Or, maybe, they want to enjoy an excellent video about the cat that goes around on a tricycle while wearing a cool hat. In comparison, other people might go onto Bing to find infinite pictures to decide what they want for their desktop background.
No matter the reason for using search engines, people will still use them as a source of information.
Note: As a web design and online marketing agency for small businesses, our search engine optimization services focus on all search engine marketing strategies. Whether your business is based in Seattle, Kent, Redmond, or New York, we can help it rank higher and drive traffic through corrective SEO help! Also, our Seattle website SEO services for small businesses ensure that websites rank high locally and nationally on Google!