Google is still king when it comes to search. This should not come as a surprise considering that the tech giant often dictates and influences SEO rules and strategies. The search giant penalizes websites that violate the rules they set, and they are responsible for developing algorithms that keep webmasters, website owners and SEO specialists on their toes. In the near future, though, Google may not retain such a stronghold on search.
This is because the number of people using alternative search engines are growing. To date, 33-percent of consumers are choosing Google alternatives. Given that a website owner’s target market may be be part of that 33-percent, they should consider thinking beyond the Googliness of Google.
Bing users continue to grow
Bing is now taking a respectable market share from Google at 20-percent. Microsoft’s alternative is banking on its visually rich design as opposed to Google’s simplistic layout. It has several features that give users a rich, visual experience. For instance, it has a “trending” bar that gives you access to updates and quick news. And when you type in a search query, it will automatically move from the bottom to the top of the rankings.
Apple presents itself as a new competition
The newly released search feature on iOS9 from Apple is giving Google and Bing something to think about. Although it is designed to search for apps rather than websites, it can still be considered a competitor, direct or otherwise. After all, users don’t really care how they retrieve information, as long as they get it quickly. So, in regard to information search, iOS 9’s search feature poses a threat.
Facebook presents itself as a future competition
Just when you think Facebook is satisfied with their status as the biggest and most popular social network, they also plan to get a slice of Google’s market share. The social media giant is reportedly developing a search engine that is accessible from the Facebook app. The user can search for an article on the Internet without leaving the Facebook app.
What’s an SEO to Do?
Google’s Matt Cutts and many others have been telling us for a few years now that “Content is King.” And while some regard this as a cliché it is becoming even more important when Google, Bing, Apple and Facebook all have different algorithms with different ranking factors and are vying for the same user base.
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