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Google an Increasing Source of Traffic to tourism and key industries
Google accounted for almost two-thirds of all US searches in the four weeks ending 26 May, according to Hitwise.
Yahoo! Search, MSN Search and Ask.com each received 22, 8 and almost 4% respectively. The remaining 49 search engines in the Hitwise Search Engine Analysis Tool accounted for 1.66% of US searches.
Search engines continue to be the primary way Internet users navigate to key industry categories. Comparing May 2007 to May 2006, travel, news and media, entertainment, and business and finance categories received double digit increases in their share of traffic coming directly from search engines.
Hitwise provides its 1,200 clients around the world with daily insights on how their customers interact with a broad range of competitive web sites, and how their competitors use different tactics to attract online customers.
The survey results lend even more credence to recent rumors that Google is building its own travel brand. Who would it partner with?
Orbitz may be a likely candidate, says telecommunications and internet writer Russell Shaw.
They are owned by Cendant, itself owner of several hotel chains such as Wyndham, Ramada, Days Inn, Wingate Inn and Super 8. They also own car rental companies such as Avis and Budget.
“Perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, but Orbitz happens to be based in Chicago, as apparently Google Travel will be,” writes Mr Shaw who speculates that Google Talk’s role could be as a click-to-call feature for listed hotels, restaurants, and maybe even Orbitz customer service.
Report by David Wilkening
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