Nielsen/NetRatings Internet Search Results for November

By Jon C. Ogg
December 19, 2006

There are some key Internet Search numbers out from Nielsen/NetRatings for November 2006, and we compared them to October for relevence (numbers rounded):

NOVEMBER 2006
Google 3.097 Billion searches, 31% YOY growth, 49.5% Share of Searches;
Yahoo! 1.518 Billion searches, 27% YOY growth, 24.3% Shares of Searches;
MSN/Live  515 million searches, -12% YOY growth, 8.2% Share of Searches;
AOL    389 million searches, 11% YOY growth, 6.2% Share of Searches;
Ask.com    159.6 million searches, 33% YOY growth, 2.6% Share of Searches

OCTOBER 2006
Google 3.022 Billion searches, 23% YOY growth, 49.6% Share of Searches;
Yahoo! 1.456 Billion searches, 30% YOY growth, 23.9% Shares of Searches;
MSN/Live  538.5 million searches, -8% YOY growth, 8.8% Share of Searches;
AOL     375 million searches, 1.9% YOY growth, 6.2% Share of Searches;
Ask.com    168 million searches, 25% YOY growth, 2.8% Share of Searches

So, if you wanted to try some generalities you would derive the following: 

Google search market share percentages leveled off to a tiny 0.1% decline, but their searches are still growing and their dominance is set.  Yahoo! grew search market share and grew searches.  MSN is the one faltering here.  AOL search is growing and based on the fact that the split AOL PAY versus FREE is farther behind us the strategy looks to be living up to expectations and market share is static.  Ask.com is still alive but numbers are leaning in the wrong direction.

It is not reality nore entirely realistic to use a single month-over-month of comparative data, particularly as all these search engines are making their merger changes and as search habits change toward the end of each year.  This is what will be in tomorrow’s Internet research reports though, so there is at least a heads up for you.

Jon C. Ogg
December 19, 2006