Internet users have been won over by Google in a big way. The viral effect of Google’s clever Adsense service meant that they spread rapidly across the globe, and with integration in other popular search engine moulds, such as Firefox and their own Chrome, there’s no surprise that they’re the most successful search engine ever.
Microsoft are also a powerful company in the world of computing, and have previously been the leaders in various area of the internet, namely the early success of hotmail and msn messenger. But with the popularity of these services in decline, and Google so obviously dominating the search engine world, can Bing really take on the challenge and win over users?
Microsoft seems to think so. Bing is essentially a re-branding of MSN search, using MSNbot as its algorithm and appealing to hotmail users in the same way. However, it does offer new features too. They’re branding it as a ‘decision machine’ rather than search engine. This is based on it giving more options to the user at a faster rate than Google, so for example giving search options as you type, and giving a list of suggested searches for more search results.
So can these gimmicks tear people away from Google? Probably not. Bing is at a disadvantage, and without a major shift in the internet world they’re not set to make any ground. One option could be allowing Chinese simplified characters to be used on Bing, ending the blockade of China from the faster search engine world after their attack on Google, but this would be illogical – giving the appearance of condoning China’s attack, and also being downright un-American. Speaking of values, Bing have also found trouble with their thumbnails option, as it displays explicit material despite filters. In response they’re made an ‘explicit Bing’ option, which sounds about as sordid as it is.
Microsoft aren’t going anywhere, and neither is Bing, so there’s still plenty of chance for them to bridge the gap, but with Google so obviously out-front it’s probably not going to go Bing’s way anytime soon.
SEO London can improve rankings on both Bing and Google