According to Experian Hitwise data released today, searches on Bing increased 5 percent and search on Ask increased 4 percent in January 2010, while searches on Google decreased 1 percent and searches on Yahoo! decreased 2 percent.
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Ask.com U.S. President Doug Leeds answers our questions.
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Over at Ask.com today, there’s a “Question of the Day” box over the main search box. Apparently, today’s question is “How many women have received the Medal of Honor?” We haven’t seen this on Ask.com before, though we have seen hints of it with specific ad campaigns, such as the one for the Night at the Museum sequel last spring.
Click on the question and it takes you to a page, where the answer appears at the top and then organic results and other Ask features such as related searches appear as well:
My initial reaction:
Those are just my speculations. We’ll report more as details become available. In the meantime, what’s your reaction to the new Ask.com homepage? Leave a comment below to let us know.
Ask.com gets a lot of their search queries in the form of a question – more so than any other search engine. So, it makes sense that their end-of-the-year list features questions instead of keywords.
The questions are a refreshing departure from the usual fare seen on the end-of-year lists from other search engines. They’re also humorous, curious – and yes, existential.
Ask also broke down top questions by category. And, here they are:
Top Fitness Questions:
Top Personal Finance Questions:
Top Technology Questions:
Top Celebrity Rumors of 2009:
Um, some of you have too much time on your hands. BACK TO WORK!
When Internet users conduct searches at Ask.com, they pose their keywords as questions three times more than any other search engine. So, it makes sense that Ask.com is focused on improving the Q&A experience on their site and on the web.
Last summer, Ask launched a specific Q&A section with 300 million Q&A pairs in their database. They’ve recently reached the milestone of reaching 400 million Q&A pairs. Adding 100 million Q&A pairs in 5 months is impressive indeed.
But Ask’s focus on Q&A is not *just* about finding pairs and serving them up in search results. Ask.com has big plans for the Answers niche.
I spoke with Ask.com US President Doug Leeds yesterday and he identified the key areas of both search and the Answers niche that need solving – and how Ask.com is tackling them.
Specifically, when people want a question answered, they don’t care to sift through tons of sites to find the answer. They want to find the answer quickly and be on their way. They aren’t there to buy anything. This understanding is, yes, even good for search marketers, who don’t really want clicks when there’s zero intention to buy.
Sometimes, however, there aren’t Q&A pairs available for a given question. Think of current events, for example. There may not be a Q&A pair out yet for a breaking news event.
Ask.com seeks to solve this problem by identifying the right people to go to for Answers. So, theoretically, if you have a question about a newly identified hurricane, you could at least know a meteorologist to pose a question to, as opposed to reading up the raw reports at NOAA laden with science-y speak.
I asked Leeds how search marketers could take advantage of this focus on Q&A. He gave the admittedly common search engine answer: Create quality content.
But Ask.com’s focus on search is a great reminder to be active in the Q&A field. Sites dedicated solely to Q&A are on the rise – precisely because of their ability to precisely and quickly answer questions.
While focusing on Answers may not have some sort of tech-sexy appeal, it’s a smart move for the sixth largest network of sites. While Yahoo! and AOL are focusing on content portals and Bing is busy trying to take down Google, Ask is simply focused on improving the user experience. Hopefully, they’ll be able to gain some traction in search with this sharpened focus in an industry that desperately needs some solid innovation.
Under the lights tonight at Lowe’s Motor Speedway near Charlotte, North Carolina, the number 96 car will be racing for more than just for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points. With 13,000 names of people affected by breast cancer, Bobby Labonte will be driving the NASCAR Banking 500 to raise breast cancer awareness. The effort is in conjunction with sponsor Ask.com and their robust campaign this October, which is breast cancer awareness month.
Additionally, the car will be painted pink and sport the Susan G. Komen for the Cure logo, which is the partner in Ask.com’s campaign.
“It’s great that a company like Ask.com is using their program to get the word out about breast cancer,” said Labonte. “I’m happy to represent a company that aligns itself with worthy causes like Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Ask.com did a great job giving people a way to honor and remember loved ones affected by breast cancer.”
Normally, I’m an Earnhardt, Jr. fan, but with search, cancer awareness and my home state of North Carolina colliding for one night, I’m gonna have to pull for #96 this time ’round.
The recession has people using coupons more than ever. SEW readers know that because we cover data on increased coupon usage. Now, there’s another option for bargain-hunters.
Today, Ask.com launched a new feature for its web search called Ask Deals. It reduces the number of clicks that consumers typically employ to access online coupons and bargains. Ask uses 40 coupon feeds as well as indexing forums for breaking info on deals.
“In a tough economy and with the holidays approaching, Ask Deals arrives at just the right time for consumers as a one-stop shop for value. It’s the answer our users are looking for, too, since searches for coupons on Ask.com have shot up almost 50 percent in 2009,” said Scott Garell, President, Ask Networks.
Ask.com is incorporating their new Deals feature throughout their web search. If you type in a shopping search term, it will prompt you with search filters (see the right sidebar) that can help you find bargains.
If you type in a search term that contains a deal-finding word, you’ll notice deals at the top of the search results.
Additionally, the main Deals page is a dynamic, full-fledged coupon portal with new deals featured everyday.
What do you think of Ask Deals? Share your first impressions by leaving a comment below.
Ask.com is launching “Search for the Cure,” which involves a $1 million contribution to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The investment will occur over the next year, through December 2010.
The contribution begins with the Ask.com audience. In order to contribute, simply complete tasks such as adding the Komen theme to your Ask.com homepage and then answer breast cancer-related questions during the month of October. You can, of course, use Ask.com to search for the right answer. Ask.com will donate 50 cents for every person that adds the skin and answers the questions correctly.
If you’ve played games like Mafia Wars or Yoville on Facebook, then you get the idea. Complete tasks and earn rewards. Except breast cancer research is not a game. These tasks really make a difference.
“The Ask.com Search for the Cure program seeks to empower consumers in the fight against breast cancer through an interactive, educational experience that doesn’t cost them a dime or require much time – which we hope will encourage support of this important cause regardless of financial or schedule constraints,” said Scott Garell, president of Ask Networks.
I have to admit, as a cancer survivor (though not of breast cancer), sometimes it seems like so much money is raised through races and athletic events. There’s a sentiment among some cancer survivors to diversify fundraising for cancer research. Of course, Search for the Cure is right up my personal alley.
“One of our greatest opportunities in the fight to end breast cancer lies with the many people who tell us they want to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure but don’t have the time or money to contribute,” said Hala Moddelmog, chief executive officer of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “Ask.com has created an easy, engaging, and cost-free way for consumers to get involved and generate funding that is crucial to breast cancer research and education. We are thrilled that Ask.com has joined our cause with such an innovative program. We’re urging everyone to Search for the Cure by switching to Ask.com.”
After October, Ask.com will continue their investment in Susan G. Komen for the Cure. However, they’re not quite sure what that will look like yet. Right now, they’re primarily focused on the October activities, which, of course, coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness month.
This isn’t the first time Ask.com has paired up with a charity. Previously, Ask has teamed up with Autism Speaks for an autism advocacy effort as well.
What do you think of “Search for the Cure?” Leave us a comment and let us know.
