A world without Google - what kind of a place would it be?

by Darren McLaughlin

And I don’t mean a world where Google ceased to exist. But what about a world where Google ceased being the dominant force they are in the search engine arena? This might really make things change, and possibly even improve the internet. Since the way of Google has spread, some might argue that the quality of content on the internet has gone downhill. More and more “Made for Adsense” have been unleashed in the last few years and most of them possess little value.

So maybe Google doesn’t really know best, and maybe the consumers are starting to get the picture. They lost 1% of the market share in July. Now this isn’t a HUGE number, but it would be quick if it continues to happen for months. In one year, a 12% switch in market share could equal billions chopped off of Google’s market cap. So right now would appear to be dicey times for Team Google.

What is Google doing to win the hearts and minds of most webmasters? Not too much, frankly. They seem content with their position of market leadership and don’t appear willing to push themselves very hard. With the numbers changing, you might begin to see a shift in their attitude. If the trend continues into August, someone at Google may even panic.

Could it be that people are noticing lower search quality at Google and switching? Do you think Google’s search is good?