Most of us think of Google as the superpower of the internet world. And
that's not a mere generalization. Out of every 10 people, 7 use Google search. And Google's network of integrated tools make
it an amazing package for its users. But as with anything, Google isn't
perfection. If Bing has retained some of its market share, and if Yahoo
has managed to survive for so long, it's because they offer some
features that Google doesn't. Let's take a look at why 3 out of 10
people skip Google and go for the more discrete options.
Why people still use Bing?
OK let's get something straight right from the start. Bing, in its
current state, can, in no way, compete with Google on a search result
basis. The data Google has collected over the years is simply immense.
So the two can't compete head-to-head. But Bing does have something
which makes me think about it sometimes.
First up; Aesthetics. Bing has a more user-friendly user interface than
Google, and that alone prompts me sometimes to keep using Bing if it
accidentally launches up in Internet Explorer or on a Windows Phone
device. And I can't say I've regretted it. Bing will show you some
options at the bottom, and even a slider (for images, videos etc) at the
bottom to show you what's trending.
Bing even conveniently shows my search history, which can help easily access recent pages I've visited.
The best thing about Bing is perhaps its Image and Video Search. I
discovered these features once when Google's homepage wasn't resolving
on my side due to some DNS issues. And I was pretty amazed with the
Image search. Bing can interpret whether you're looking for a person,
place or thing (entity understanding). You can then use these options
for efficient image searches. Same goes for videos, and you can search
for videos by using the search engine itself, unlike Google, where you
have to go to YouTube instead.
These features make Bing not that bad a deal. But as we discussed,
Google has the sheer amount of data and experience that Bing doesn't.
And that explains why the one has the edge over the other in the market.
Features of Yahoo that Google doesn't have
Yahoo has been heading into collision courses with Google for a long
time, and now seems to have developed a knack for it. It also tries to
provide a 'complete package' to its users. If you head over to Yahoo's
homepage, you will see a collection of tools you can use. Now I'm more
of a minimalistic kind of person, so I naturally don't prefer all this
clutter. But I also like having functionality on my fingertips, and so,
Yahoo offers a complete all-round package. And since iGoogle is
retiring, Yahoo's homepage will have the ground for itself.
Speaking of sparring-grounds, Yahoo now is trying to go more horizontal,
because it can't compete with Google Search vertically. The Yahoo Local
feature helps users find local businesses and places near their
location. Then there's Yahoo Answers, the world's largest Q&A
database. And don't forget Flickr, with which Google's Picassa can't
compete yet.
All-in-all, the Yahoo resistance sure has kept it going for the years,
and given time, the tables might as well turn. That is not to say that
Google will be looking up at Bing and Yahoo, not anytime soon at least.
But it's a bleak possibility. For now though, Google owns the market,
and Bing/Yahoo can't really compete with Google, not at least in Search.
So while these features might not be enough to pry Googlers away from
Google, they sure can come in real handy, something you should
definitely give a shot before passing judgement. Cheers :)
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