Search engine use continues to grow

The popularity of the top five search engines continues to grow, according to new figures.

Nielsen//NetRatings, the market research company, reported that use of AOL and Ask Jeeves rose 15 and 16 per cent respectively, while Google and Yahoo! maintained single digit growth (six and nine per cent).

Overall, search as a category saw a five percent increase in the number of searches conducted from Q1 to Q2 during 2005.

“While growth in searches was modest among the ‘Big Three’ search engines, the fourth and fifth biggest search engines, AOL and Ask Jeeves, grew three times as fast,” said Ken Cassar, director of strategic analysis, Nielsen//NetRatings.

“While it’s far too early to say that Google needs to watch its back, a resurgent AOL makes the game a lot more interesting.”