CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg has made it clear that Facebook has every intention of giving Google a run for its money by marrying social networking with one of the most valuable areas of the technology industry: Search. Industry experts say Facebook could capture 50%!
CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg has made it clear that Facebook has every intention of giving Google a run for its money by marrying social networking with one of the most valuable areas of the technology industry: Search. The Search market represents a “big opportunity” that Facebook is uniquely positioned to address, said Zuckerberg at a tech industry conference in San Francisco recently.
A global survey “Search & Social Survey (2011-2012)”, undertaken earlier in the year by leading independent digital marketing agency Greenlight, concluded Facebook could potentially capture close to a quarter of the Search market were it to launch its own search engine tomorrow, making it the second most utilised search engine in every major market except for China, Japan, and Russia, where it would occupy an uncontested third place.
What’s more, the results from Greenlight’s survey also showed Facebook could increase its share to 50 per cent within just a few years. However, the survey also indicated Google+ has been more successful than most may have initially speculated and as such, the agency concludes Google and Facebook will both be front and centre in ‘Social Search’.
The survey also asked respondents if they clicked on advertisements or sponsored listings in Facebook. The alarming response was that 44 per cent answered ‘never’.
Facebook could capture close to 50 per cent of the global Search market
Greenlight surveyed 500 people – students, law enforcement professionals, medical staff, accountants, lawyers, the unemployed, and everyone in between, to ascertain how they engage with online advertising, search engines, and social networks, in order to glean insight into how consumers engage with marketers today, and formulate views on what the future might hold.
The survey revealed 5 per cent would ‘definitely’ use a future Facebook search engine if the firm were to launch one to rival Google’s. The other extreme, those categorically saying they simply would not use a future Facebook search engine, totalled 26 per cent of all respondents. Those responding in the ‘Definitely’ and ‘Probably’ camps totalled 17 per cent. Those responding ‘No’ and ‘Probably not’, totalled 48 per cent.
If Facebook incorporated its own search engine, would you use it over your preferred search engine?
Andreas Pouros, chief operating officer at Greenlight says
These stats therefore suggest Facebook could capture around 22 per cent of the global Search market by simply launching its own search engine tomorrow morning (the ‘Definitely’, ‘Probably’, and half of the ‘Don’t know’ respondents combined) … It wouldn’t need to be a spectacular engine either, just well integrated into the Facebook experience and generally competent.
What’s more, Greenlight’s results also suggest Facebook could increase that projected market share to a maximum of 50 per cent within a few years by converting the least overtly loyal Google users over to them. However, that increase would need to come from the 27 per cent of respondents who replied ‘Maybe, but only if it was better than Google and Bing’
These stats therefore suggest Facebook could capture around 22 per cent of the global Search market by simply launching its own search engine tomorrow morning (the ‘Definitely’, ‘Probably’, and half of the ‘Don’t know’ respondents combined) … It wouldn’t need to be a spectacular engine either, just well integrated into the Facebook experience and generally competent.
(Facebook already integrates Bing into its Search function, but it is a buried option in the navigational side-bar post query, so this really does not constitute its own search engine by any real definition).
Google and Facebook will both be front and centre in ‘Social Search’
On the flip side, Greenlight found that Google’s own social endeavours with Google+ might be more successful than most think. For instance, 23 per cent of Google users have been +1’ing listings in Google’s search results, giving Google lots of data about what people like.
How regularly do you’+1′ something in Google’s search results
Pouros says
Search and Social Media Survey 2011/2012
Andreas Pouros is Chief Operating Officer at Greenlight. He has been involved in search marketing for over twelve years, working for some of the biggest and most prestigious global blue chip companies. Andreas is responsible for an international team of Search consultants, developers, programmers, and copywriters. In his role, he provides guidance to well-known brands, including Santander, New Look, Sky as well as a number of government bodies.
Greenlight is an award winning search marketing specialist and technology firm, the largest of its kind in Europe and the fastest growing. With over 100 blue-chip clients including Santander, Vodafone UK, New Look, Interflora, Co-operative Financial Services, Nespresso and ghd, Greenlight is a leader in the search marketing space, and is recognized worldwide for its commitment to delivering record ROI for its clients and investing in the future of search.
Greenlight is considered the premier thought leader in the sector, publishing widely read industry reports, original research, speaking at trade events, and delivering a highly respected search training programme in conjunction with the IDM. Founded in 2001, Greenlight is headquartered in London, with offices in New York. www.greenlightsearch.com
Don’t forget … we encourage you to share your discoveries with other readers. Just send and email, contribute your own article, join the Design Cafe forums, or follow DTG on Facebook!