In a fierce battle for internet domination, will Yahoo outplay Google, or is it the other way around? Find out why the “Search Engine Wars” is much more exciting than Star Wars or even World War Two itself.
We have all learned to love Google and Yahoo. They give us instant access to information, photos, videos, websites. Yes, these search engines even help us find answers to everyday life. With the rise and popularity of web spider technology, possibly one question comes to the minds of majority of internet users:
Which is the best search engine out there, and which will dominate the internet in the future years to come?
Listed below are five (5) distinct areas where Google meets face to face with Yahoo, in an attempt to win your affection, support, and of course, your elusive click. Let’s see who wins!
Google Search Results versus Yahoo Search Results
At first glance, there seems to be no difference. But look closely. While Yahoo gives you the most popular sites regarding the topic you’re searching for, Google gives you MORE and BETTER search results. Just try to type Barack Obama, and you’ll see that Google Search will show you an index of pages that are not present in Yahoo Search.
The result? Google wins by unanimous decision.
The Home Page: Who Gets The Vote?
The home page is very important because it gives readers an overview of what’s happening in the world on a specific day. Google is known for its simple, “uncomplicated” page (is there such a word as ‘uncomplicated?). All it has is a simple field where you can type your search keyword and some additional buttons.
Yahoo is different. The home page contains news, information, games, e-mail and many other features. You can even do your own online research survey by looking at the “Today’s Top 10 Searches” section (this feature is vital for bloggers who need to choose popular topics to write about). Yahoo News gives you fresh updates every half hour or so. Being on Yahoo gives you a feeling that you’re up to date with all the events of the world.
The outcome? Yahoo wins by KO.
Unique Search Engine Features
Both Yahoo and Google have unique search engine features that the other doesn’t have. For example, Yahoo Search gives you the capability to have a ‘video’ search and a ’shopping’ search. Google, meanwhile, offers you a chance to do a ‘blog’ search, where you can surf all kinds of blogs on a specific topic. Both of these unique features are highly useful, and I cannot live online without having one of them around!
Who wins? Well, it’s clearly a draw!
The Email Service Is Where The Rubber Meets The Road
This is where the going gets tough. Both of these search engine networks offer outstanding email services. So the question is this: Is Yahoo Mail better than Gmail? Well, I don’t know the stats and all those complicated stuff, but I agree that Yahoo is the “the best frequented web based email”, as stated on the Yahoo Mail home page. However, Gmail seems to be catching along pretty quick.
This is an unofficial verdict, but I think Yahoo wins by a narrow margin — a split decision.
Google Adwords/Adsense vs. Yahoo Search Advertising
The advertising and publishing service that Yahoo offers appeals to big website owners. When I say ‘big’, I meant websites that have huge amounts of commercial traffic, and this includes company home pages, professional business sites, and websites owned by companies which are popular in the world. However, Yahoo Search Advertising is a pay per click method that is yet to outperform the Google advertising system (am I biased? I don’t think so). Here’s why:
Google Adwords (advertising aspect), and Google Adsense (publishing aspect), appeals to the ‘little guy’ and individual blog/website owners. Virtually anyone who has a blog or website can advertise and publish with Google. And because Google owns Blogger.com (one of the largest free blog providers), anyone who has a Blogger account can register with Google Adsense, a pay per click publishing service that pays you for placing Google ads on your blog. This unique appeal to the masses places Google on top of all online advertising systems, and they might stay on top for a long time. So in terms of advertising, Google wins by KO!
But when it comes to indicating which is the best search engine on this planet, YOU will be the one to ultimately decide. So what’s your pick?
August 27th, 2008 at 8:54 am
technically informative, thanks for sharing…
August 27th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I favour Google as I need simple and uncomplicated LOL, I wish I understood more about AdSense for my blog, I read stuff but it goes over my head. This article is one to be stumbled, it is clear, fun and readable!
August 27th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Yahoo wins at email. Lol. POP & Imap support? Heck, google will even run on your own custom domain.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Yahoo wins on the homepage part?!?!
What about googles personalized homepage?! That you can actually CHOOSE what you want to see!? I went to yahoo.com after a while for that matter and i maybe i found one or too intresting things! USA has a pop of 300 million plus, what about the rest of the world??! The MAJORITY of internet users? ALL news by default are US news, i still have to click to see world news! Local news outside US? Are none. In google? by default you go to your country, if you want to see world news? One click away. Not to mention the innovative way google handles news. No frekin way yahoos homepage is better. Besides, when someone writes www.*anysearchengine*.com they want to search, if they want to be informed on news, they would go to a news site!
Unique Search Engine Features?!
Come on, just write video if its a video u’re looking for. Find ONE video yahoo will find and google won’t. Google owns youtube? remember? And defining words or converting, in google, you just type and search, no clicking involved, isnt that more innovative and practical? No draw there, google does everything yahoo does much faster.
and the best saved last:
FREAKIN EMAIL?!?!?!
I signed up to yahooo for this, chris its worse than you think, YOU HAVE TO PAY 20 BUCKS A YEAR TO GET POP & FORWARDING! AND THERE IS NO IMAP SUPPORT EITHER?! And no, you dont need to be a techie to use those services, maybe you want to read your email from your phone?
Yahoo is not even CLOSE to being as good as google
August 27th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Competence is wealthy,and so is not monopoly.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I like yahoo. Hate google.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Yahoo image search appears to be more accurate than Google
August 27th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Some nice analysis here.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Very interesting article, but for me it’s a little hard to pick.
August 27th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Another great article by Vernier Cutar!
August 27th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I am up in the air. I use both google and yahoo.Sometimes one works beter and sometimes the other.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Google man myself. Cheers Verniel.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
google
August 28th, 2008 at 3:39 am
yahoo forever.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Awesome article. Great comparisons. It’s google for me!
August 28th, 2008 at 7:56 am
I do prefer google’s simplicity, but then in email service yahoo wins the battle. Well in advertising, I again recommend Google adsense.
Great article. Very informative.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Excelent article, very informative, thank you for sharing it
August 28th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Great article very helpful.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:08 am
As a search engine Google is easier and faster to use, but Yahoo gives very different results. Good and useful article. Thanks.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:12 am
very informative
August 28th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
very informed and written good. Thanks for the comparison!
August 28th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Nice one!
August 29th, 2008 at 4:04 am
You wrote this very well. Brilliant idea to compare Google & Yahoo. I use both as search engine. Cannot say which I prefer to. I heard Google is bit unbalance as it shows many sites which pay Google for advertisements. But it is OK for me. As for email I also like both.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Very well written and enjoyable to read. Another well done article! I’m a google fan myself!