Google remains top search choice in US
31 March 2004
Search giant Google recorded an all-time high in US search referrals, according to data out today.
Figures produced by WebSideStory showed that Google continued to stay well ahead of search rivals Yahoo and MSN. On March 23rd, Google accounted for 41 per cent of all referrals in the US, up from 36 per cent for a similar day in March 2003.
Yahoo took second place at 27 per cent, down from 31 per cent a year earlier, while Microsoft's MSN placed third at just under 20 per cent, up slightly from 2003. However, the Yahoo figure does not include referrals from the Overture Services network, which the company now owns.
"The main thrust is that the gap is widening between Google and Yahoo," WebSideStory analyst Geoff Johnston commented. "Yahoo's given up market share, but Google isn't the only one stealing it. MSN is also making a move--they aren't shrinking."
Mr Johnston also pointed out that Google has a much larger market share in some countries in Europe and Asia.
Recent figures from Nielsen/NetRatings showed that in January, 39 per cent of active internet surfers (59.3 million users) used Google, while Yahoo and MSN attracted approximately 30 per cent each. Three years ago a similar survey showed that Yahoo had a 37 per cent US search referral rate with MSN at 15 per cent and Google at just 12 per cent.
Yahoo recently acquired French shopping search engine Kelkoo and has introduced its own search technology this year. Meanwhile, MSN plans to launch its own search technology this summer.
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