The Next Web

Google vs. Yahoo vs. Bing. Proof that results are almost identical. Does it matter?

Now, this is rather fascinating. Technophobe Louis Gray (clearly I’m being sarcastic) shared a link to a site called Blind Search that lets you search all three major search engines (Google, Yahoo and Bing) simultaneously, the twist is that it shows the results from all three without indicating which results are from which engine – you simply select which of the three is your preferred set of results.

I tested it with a number of various search terms and almost every time selected a different search engine to the last. I couldn’t help but laugh.

Google vs. Yahoo vs. Bing. Proof that results are almost identical. Does it matter?

Now, what this might prove is that in general, most people could cope just fine no matter what search engine they used. What’s even more conclusive however is that it’s not just about search any more, it’s about the family of services and products accompanying search, the ancillary products, and we all know who wins there.

Microsoft’s most successful ancillary product is likely either Hotmail, MSN Messenger or Live Maps. Yahoo; either Delicious, Finance or Flickr. Google; Gmail, Docs, News, Calendar, Gtalk, Reader Maps and not to forget Picasa, Earth, iGoogle and of course, Wave.

It’s almost laughable the array of quality products and services that accompany Google Search in comparison to their competitors. It’s why I know it will take something seriously special, revolutionary even, to tear my finger tips away from typing Google.com to find what I’m looking for. Whilst Yahoo and Microsoft battle away STILL trying to get search right and fight for their 17% search market share, Google were at this point years ago and have spent the last few years developing innovative, reliable and yes – revolutionary – products, the majority of which are free to use. Whilst Google continue to do this, they’ll have my business, and yours, for a long time to come.

Tags: , , ,  

  • How can you declare a winner in this little search contest when the judgment on the "good search results" Are depending on a subjective valuation? - As long as there is no objective measurement on what a good search results are - well it is really just a matter of taste.
  • Agreed, but frankly my point is i don't think it matters how good the search results are. Google still wins.
  • During the whole Dot Com run up, many start-ups business plans were based on the first mover advantage to enable them to get critical-mass and define the user marketplace. Clearly, Google has this (the lions share of the search market); consequently, I think it's not the related apps but just consumer inertia that will prevent users from switching from "Googling it" to MSN, errr Bing or Yahoo. People are used to Google, it gives good enough results so why switch? It will take something revolutionary to change it.

    On the content supply-side, most SEO-focused web businesses optimize for Google and ignore the other engines. This will continue for the foreseeable future.
  • BING is not really fascinating in my eyes. Google will stay No. 1 in the next 5-10 years.
  • JOHNNY POPP
    SEE COMMENT BELOW (I neglected to click "REPLY"...
  • JOHNNY POPP
    Wow "Cleanthinkig", (in Germany) I have to disagree...I think Yahoo is superior to Google. Yahoo is, in my opinion, the most popular of the two~I have been using Yahoo since the day I got my first computer, AND NEVER have I had a problem with it. I cannot say the same for Google.
    Google ired me to the point, one time, that I uninstalled the program ENTIRELY from my computer!
  • bob dangle
    wow... i know your comment is over four months old, but i'm still compelled to reply.

    first of all, yahoo is definitely not superior to google. if anything, their searches are pretty equally matched, but google has the upper hand with all the services that they offer. and saying yahoo is more popular just because you have never had problems with it? dumbest reasoning ever.
    second, how the hell can you have problems using google? have you ever seen it? it's the most simplified search engine out there! type in what you want to search and click enter. done.
    for the record, i'm amazed that you were able to "uninstall" google. i didn't even know it was possible to install it. you must have one hell of a hard drive.

    seriously, know what you're talking about before you comment.
  • In my opinion Google is the Best.
    People Love Google.


    Escribo en un blog de Latioameríca y considero que Google es el mejor.
  • Bing is just a re-branded version of Live. However, Microsoft did decided to narrow it's targeting from "all searchers" to "shoppers", namely, people looking to buy something. It may end up paying off for them in the long term if they carry on their mammoth marketing efforts.
  • Not only if the product of Google laughable.. but this article is. How can you put such a huge spin to Google? Mostly all products have been bought..

    So, no, Google is no innovative.
  • ca
    people go on yahoo then type in google and it will say you could go to google or you can find your answer here
  • wa
    Why do we need BING? We already had Google.
  • We like adcenter for the great conversion rates of Bing’s traffic.. With Yahoo though we are forced to buy clicks from junk partners that send nothing but fake clicks.. It’s a daily job to monitor all the new bad-domains to block.. And you have to PAY for all that.. :P

    With the current merge of Yahoo and Bing let’s hope the new “team” will do it RIGHT by giving the advertisers the choice to pay only for real yahoo/bing searches.. just like Adwords and adcenter allow (for now?).

    Just my 2 cents

    Cheers!
  • Even if Bing was a superior search engine, users are loyal to the Google brand. It will take a lot more than a nicer picture and a slightly re-vamped algorithm to get them to replace Google for Bing.
  • I just love google! But the way Microsoft branded Bing. It looks promising...

    I also wrote one article on this topic at


    http://programminglanguagefaqs.blogspot.com/200...
  • And new one on the market is http://zoosper.com Totally blind {no reference found in source code}.
  • Anonymous
    dffhgnbghgghnghdfsvfcbb dmmhmhnmhnmhbhvnnngvfdfh,mmbcngnvvbnm cbbbff
  • DENITA
    HOLA
blog comments powered by Disqus
 


TwitterCounter