Click image above for a larger view. Comscore has released its May search market share numbers (prior data through April is here).
Key points: Google and Yahoo edged higher in search share to 61.8% and 20.4%, respectively. That’s the first up month for Yahoo this year.
Microsoft dropped from 9.1% to 8.5% for the month. It’s important to note that Microsoft’s new Cash Back search program didn’t go live until May 22, so it will be interesting to see how they do next month.
Search volume is increasing rapidly - about 18% per year. Notes from a report by J.P. Morgan’s Imran Khan:
- According to the data, total US core search volume increased 16% Y/Y in May vs. 18% Y/Y growth in April. Thus far in 2Q, comScore shows17% Y/Y growth in total US core searches vs. 18% Y/Y growth in 1Q.
- Google domestic core search market share increased to 61.8% in May from 61.6% in April. Thus far in 2Q, Google domestic core search volume was up 29% Y/Y vs. a 31% increase in 1Q.
- Yahoo domestic core search market share increased to 20.6% in May from 20.4% in April. Thus far in 2Q, Yahoo! domestic core search volume was down 2% Y/Y, consistent with 1Q performance.
- MSN domestic core search market share declined to 8.5% in May from 9.1% in April. Thus far in 2Q, MSN domestic core search volume was up 7% Y/Y, slightly below 1Q’s 9% Y/Y growth.
- AOL May domestic core search market share declined to 4.5% from 4.6% in April. Thus far in 2Q, AOL domestic core search volume was down 2% Y/Y vs. 1% growth in 1Q.
- Ask Network domestic core search market share increased slightly to 4.5% in May from 4.3% in April. Thus far in 2Q, Ask Network domestic core search volume was up 9% Y/Y vs. an 11% Y/Y increase in
1Q.
Microsoft is not into search so much now…. it’s passing that too google… that war ended and Ggoogle won… the Cash Back search program is just another Micro$oft trial and error… in my opinion… waste of time and money…
TYPO
Microsoft dropped from 8.1% to 8.5% for the month.
That should be:
Microsoft dropped from *9.1%* to 8.5% for the month.
Yeah, I agree with #1.
I have this strange feeling that since they lost out on Yahoo! and Yahoo! is turning to Google, Microsoft really isn’t paying that much attention to search anymore, and has all but conceded that they can’t beat Google in this round.
That’s not at all to say they’re going to do something similar with their ad networks; they’re still doing okay there, as far as they’re concerned.
The last few days have really ended the search engine market share war between Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft. Perhaps Microsoft will do itself a favor and make its desktop software offerings better now, instead of funneling cash into Live.
Good article. Please do not take it personally but there is a typo in the sentence “Microsoft dropped from 8.1% to 8.5% for the month.” if the graphic is accurate, the sentence should read “Microsoft dropped from 9.1% to 8.5% for the month.”
Once again, I would like to thank you for the good article and would want to request you not to take my comment as a personal criticism.
Thank you.
it’s Q1 not 1Q…uhh1
And TechCrunch is still 60% Female….how the market reacts on this shitty data is a crime.
Mark, it must be painful carrying the party (Michael’s) line that Cashback will result in any material gain. Outside of a few cheap Google ads and some display advertising on blog networks, no one knows what it is, and even if they did, it’s just another comparison shopper with no measurable benefit above and beyond a million other offerings.
These numbers need increased scrutiny. Just yesterday I found a regex bug in Compete’s url patterns and they’ve confirmed the bug today. They said they’ll recount and post an update.
..Is Comscore still credible given their misguided fear mongering over lower Google traffic prior their last earnings report?
Where is the negative article on Microsoft for losing ground to the Jerry Yang/Yahoo?
No real suprises there. Yahoo and Microsoft are decreasing over time and Google is getting strong. Google easily has the only real search tool at present, plus the brand is getting stronger and more well known by the day. This all will only change if a new player enters the market and actually does something google cant do and offer a really cool and interesting search engine.
@mikea: righton-
Let’s not forget that comscore numbers are easily gamed. It’s a ‘loose barometer’ at best.
@nemrut-
N/A: Comscore reports on the scraps of data available. The analysts who interpret that data should be the ones to lose credibility when they airball these kinds of predictions.
CG
what a funny headline …
it’s like, TC telling Comscore: Go ahead Comscore you may search data now ..
what a funny headline …
Is anyone surprised? There’s a reason Microsoft is so desperate to buy Yahoo! - they can’t build the business so they have to buy it.