Google Keeps the Focus on Search Results

 

5. Market share counts for something

Although the debate over features can go on for hours, it's hard to bet against market share. The vast majority of Web users are still using Google to find their desired search results. And until more folks start seeing value in Bing, it's hard to say why Microsoft's search engine should be considered the better of the two. Yes, Bing might have some added extras that some folks like, but until the world starts moving over, Google can still wear the crown of the top search engine.

6. Google has been at it for longer-and it shows

Experience plays a significant role in Google's and Microsoft's ability to compete in the search space. Google has spent more than a decade tweaking its search to ensure that it adequately appeals to user desire. Microsoft, on the other hand, has only really been competing earnestly in the search space for a couple years. It was only a few years ago when Microsoft finally woke up and realized that if it doesn't improve its standing in the search market, it could lose its profitability and be kept out of the Web. That lack of experience is showing with Bing. Although the search engine has come a long way in the last year that it has been available, Google, the veteran, is still far ahead.

7. It's Caffeinated

Google announced recently that it has moved to a new indexing service, called Caffeine. According to the company, Caffeine offers "50 percent fresher results for Web searches" than its last index. That's extremely important. Rather than waiting days, weeks and sometimes months for content to get added to Google's index, it could now take minutes or hours. Not only will that help content providers, it will also improve the experience of searchers who want to find information on some of the news they heard about that day. Bing is still far behind when it comes to indexing speeds.

8. The focus is all wrong

The focus of Google and Bing couldn't be any different. Google attempts to find the best solutions to improve its search for users. It realizes that if users are happy, its profits will soar. And its recent financial statements have reflected that success. Microsoft's Bing search engine is much different. For one, Microsoft is focusing too much of its time and energy on what Google is doing. It also believes that the more content available in search results, the more people will like it. Microsoft must eventually realize that search is about users first and foremost if it wants to compete in that market.

9. Mobile integration

Google's willingness to bring search to several mobile devices has significantly helped the company stay atop the search market. Google Search is the default service on the company's mobile operating system, Android OS. Even better, it's also the default search engine on the iPhone. In fact, only recently did Apple announce that Bing would also be offered as an option in the company's mobile operating system. Google's mobile integration has been extremely important to the company. Not only does it potentially expose more users to its service, it also keeps current users from trying out Bing. Until Microsoft makes a significant play for search in the mobile market, it will be hard-pressed to catch up to Google.

10. Information takes center stage

As mentioned, Bing spends too much time with extras. But Google Search is different. Google's search page reveals everything users need to know about the company's strategy: Simplicity and information must trump all. It works. Although Google is starting to add more features to its search, it's still much simpler than any other service on the Web. Information matters most to Google, and its results-page design reflects that. Google is simply better at search than Bing right now. That doesn't mean Bing isn't worth trying out, but it does mean that from an experience perspective, it has a long way to go to match Google.