Google Gains, Yahoo and Microsoft Slide

4 May 2006

Google continues to grow in world dominance at the expense of Yahoo and Microsoft. In New Zealand, Google's nearest competitors are now little more than niche players.

Microsoft MSN Search is a distant No. 3 in the U.S. behind dominant market leader Google and No. 2 Yahoo...

February Search Results - USA Source: Nielsen/NetRatings
Google	49%
Yahoo!	23%
Microsoft MSN	11%

But in New Zealand, Google has complete control. 75% of New Zealand internet users name Google as their main search engine. Google's nearest competitors are now little more than niche players.

Microsoft's XtraMSN Search now only accounts for 14%, down from nearly twice that in 2003. A large part of XtraMSN's share comes from the fact that it holds the default homepage slot when users subscribe to market leader Telecom for internet services.

But even that advantage has not held off the inexorable rise of Google. And last year, TradeMe overtook XtraMSN as New Zealand's most visited website, adding further insult to injury for Microsoft.

Yahoo has lost over half its market share since 2002. Only 11% of internet users now name Yahoo as their main search engine. And SearchNZ, always a niche player, accounts for only 4% preference.

Kiwi's Search Engine of Choice Source: Roy Morgan poll
Google	75%
XtraMSN	14%
Yahoo!	11%

In Australia, Yahoo lost the No. 1 slot after haemorrhaging share to Google, which is now almost as dominant in Australia as it is in New Zealand...

Aussie's Search Engine of Choice Source: Roy Morgan poll
Google	65%
Yahoo!	17%
nineMSN	15%
BigPond	8%
AltaVista	1%

If your website is not optimised for Google, you're dead in the water!

Blatant plug: If you need a new website or a revamp to an existing website and you want to make sure it's properly optimised for Google, please phone Evolve on 3600-120 or email brandon@evolve.co.nz
[No spam please]

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