When searching @Yahoo, the search box is always half-empty.
When I search, I expect immediate, accurate results. The search engine’s algorithm is so finely tuned that it almost knows me better than I do.
While in the midst of last month’s World Cup euphoria, I tested the simple query of:
“What time does the US Soccer game start?”
I knew the contest wouldn’t be fair, as Google’s leapfrogged (maybe even steamrolled) Yahoo in relevance, reach, popularity, and accuracy years ago, but I wanted to see how wide the gap had become.
Game. Set. Match.
Yahoo’s results set included US Soccer’s television schedule from the 2010 World Cup. Hmm…Yahoo’s woeful position is on full display here.
The reasons are many for Google’s near-monopoly status: a brilliant ad model, Android OS, Gmail, Google Images, and more. But this simple search test further clarified in my mind that I should steer clear of Yahoo when searching the Web. Google’s always got the better answer.
Until next time.
Dan Naden
