Interesting Data

I’ve been reviewing a lot of data lately for a chapter in the book I’m calling “Who What Where Why When, How, and How Much.” (OK, it’s a working title.) And the folks at Majestic Research, who do investment-related analysis of the internet space based on data from Comscore and many other sources, have been particularly helpful. They’ve agreed to let me lay some of it on you, which is quite kind. Here’s some of their findings in the search space – it’s pretty interesting. The data is based on Comscore’s tracking methodology.

* More than 80 percent of all searches on the internet are based on 4 or less search terms. The average search term is three words.
* Total number of paid search clicks trended flat to marginally up in Q2.
* Average Price Per Click on Google and Yahoo has trended slightly down over the past two quarters.
* Across the Google Network in Q1 of this year, approximately 50% of results included a sponsored ad, and 53% of all searches resulted in a click of some kind. Of those, 13% were a sponsored click. For Overture, the numbers were 36%, 66%, and 14%. Net net, Overture had more sponsored clicks (about 160mm) compared to Google’s roughly 135mm.
* MSN was one of Overture’s highest performing network partners in Q1. One wonders how MSN’s recent moves to clean up its act will change this.
* For Q2, about 73% of bids on Overture were for less than 20 cents. Ag. PPC however is hovering at 41 cents.
*Worldwide, Google received 28 searches per searcher while Yahoo received 18.5 searches per searcher in June. Within the US, Google received 23.5 searches per searcher while Yahoo received 19.5.

Thanks, Seth and Gian…..