AJ Kohn

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The Most Important Search Statistic That's Not Being Reported

More than 17 billion explicit core searches were conducted in August, with Google Sites ranking first with 11.3 billion. Microsoft Sites ranked second with 2.7 billion searches, followed by Yahoo! Sites with 2.2 billion, Ask Network with 550 million and AOL, Inc. with 292 million.

This is data from the latest comScore release (http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2012/9/comScore_Releases_August_2012_U.S._Search_Engine_Rankings). While I know many are focused on the share of market each engine commands I'm far more interested in the clear plateau of desktop search volume in the US.

In fact, for the first time, YoY US desktop search volume declined (August 2012 vs August 2011).

This is the macro-trend we should be watching, of search maturity and the migration of search to mobile platforms.

#search   #trends  
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15 comments
AJ Kohn
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I don't know, maybe I need to write a blog post about this because this is huge. In over 7 years of data there has never been a negative YoY month. The tipping point is upon us and I don't think most of us realize how quickly it's all going to change (me included).
Max Minzer
 
Totally write a post, AJ.
Frank Zimper
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Do you also have that statistic for mobile searches?
AJ Kohn
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No +Frank Zimper. I wish I had a credible source for mobile searches, but there are many datapoints which make it clear that mobile search is growing fast - and from my point of view - is canibalizing desktop search to a certain extent.
Eider Vasconcelos
 
This is good data. Awesome find and yes, a post would be good. If you find other data that relates to this, let us all know. I will be looking for more on this. 
AJ Kohn
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Okay, off to dash off a quick post which is not natural for me but ... I'll give it a go.
CJ Dulberger
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The real story here is, with mobile devices becoming more mainstream (see the Rising Billion), significantly more people are using search/Google and are doing so more frequently throughout their day.
Fast Turtle
 
Interesting Stat on Searches
Wasn't aware that Mobile is taking off that much
Pontus Hammarbäck
 
It doesn't mean that we are no longer searching, I'm sure that mobile searches are taking a big gulp of the "recession". It would also be interesting to see figures for the world, not only US.
AJ Kohn
 
Yes, I think overall search volume is still growing solidly but we just don't have visibility into just how much +Pontus Hammarbäck. 
Paul Gailey Alburquerque
 
you could enquire with @mobiledataassoc which is active (unlike their blog alas). Check your clients GA mobile access and witness the last 14 months of mobile rises.
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