Ever wondered how important search-engine optimization really is? It’s been a hot topic in digital marketing in the last decade, but it’s easy to be skeptical when the underlying mechanics are hidden. However, the numbers don’t lie, and research shows that search engines remain extremely important in the process of users landing on a particular website. Ninety-three percent of all web traffic comes through search engines, so showing up in the top results pays off hugely.
Unsurprisingly, Google’s iron grip on the market shows no sign of loosening in 2023. Seventy percent of search engine traffic is on Google, with 92% of the market share. The next contenders are Microsoft’s Bing (2.86%), Yahoo (1.5%), and finally Baidu, the top search engine in China (1.37%). For marketers, this means Google’s algorithm is the one to learn. Since Google owns YouTube, YouTube content tends to be indexed highly as well, and YouTube itself is the second largest search engine by usage.
However, despite its lower share, Bing actually accounts for about 30% of desktop search engine usage in the United States. Few users go to Bing directly, but frequently use search functions powered by Bing. Most Bing users also use Google, and which one they choose largely depends on the device and browser.
Even if you’re a local business trying to drive traffic to a physical location, SEO may be more important than you think. Forty-six percent of Google searches relate to the user’s local area, whether they’re looking for food, a place to spend an afternoon, or a specific service. Brick-and-mortar stores and restaurants benefit greatly from making it easy to locate and learn about their services from a Google search. More than 80% of users who look up a business will make a purchase that day.
The conclusion of this study is that the majority of people use search engines to find information, and most people don’t scroll past page one. If you want your business or website to be found, then it’s important that you’re on the first page in a Google Search Engine Result Page (SERP).