Posted by: Janessa Seewald, Account Manager
Ever since search engines have become such a commonly utilized gateway to the Web, new engines have continually emerged in an attempt to steal searches and market share from bigger companies like Google and Yahoo!; however, besides a small threat made by Ask, no other engine has been able to break through. Cuil, a search engine developed by some former top Google engineers, did pose some threat with its launch in July 2008. It was touted in the blogosphere as a potential “Google Killer,” but according to Search Engine Watch, it had a disappointing start, and traffic numbers are dismal.
So, what will it take for a new search engine to emerge onto the scene and show staying power? My prediction is that it will be next to impossible for a new engine to rival Google in 2009, but for those that want a fighting chance, focus should not be on new tools, usability or technology. The big engines are always making gains on these fronts. Rather, the focus will have to be on how an engine might appeal to people in a struggling economy.
Everyone is looking for incentives, deals and specials right now, so why not offer them with search? There are engines that donate to non-profits when a search is conducted, and Microsoft offers cash back for searches on products, but none has generated the kind of buzz to attract a big following yet.
The next engine that decides to take on the challenge will have to offer the relevant results offered by the big engines but will also have to convince users that searching makes a personal impact.
