As of January 2025, online search engine Bing accounted for 12.23 percent of the global desktop search market, while market leader Google had a share of around 78.83 percent. Meanwhile, Yahoo's market share was 3.07 percent. Google in the global market Ever since the introduction of Google Search in 1997, the company has dominated the search engine market, while the shares of all other tools has been rather lopsided. The majority of Google revenues are generated through advertising. Its parent corporation, Alphabet, was one of the biggest internet companies worldwide as of 2023, with a market capitalization of 1,6 trillion U.S. dollars. The company has also expanded its services to mail, productivity tools, enterprise products, mobile devices, and other ventures. As a result, Google earned one of the highest tech company revenues in 2023 with roughly 305.6 billion U.S. dollars. Search engine usage in different countries Google is the most frequently used search engine worldwide. But in some countries, its’ alternatives are leading or competing with it to some extent. As of the last quarter of 2023, more than 63 percent of internet users in Russia used Yandex, whereas Google users were nearly 36 percent. Meanwhile, Baidu was the most used search engine in China, despite a strong percentage decrease of internet users in the country accessing it. In other countries, like Japan and Mexico, people tend to use Yahoo along with Google. In the first quarter of 2022 nearly 56 percent of the respondents in Japan said that they had used Yahoo in the past four weeks. In the same year, over 27 percent of users in Mexico said they used Yahoo. Another search engine, Bing, operated by Microsoft, was the second most popular search engine in the United Kingdom after Google.

We asked U.S. consumers about "Most used search engines by brand" and found that "Google" takes the top spot, while "Yandex" is at the other end of the ranking.These results are based on a representative online survey conducted in 2024 among 5,074 consumers in the United States.

Introduction

Search Engine Statistics: The gateway to the Internet is a search engine, without which no one can do anything on the “Internet of things†. For a decade, Google has been the leading search engine worldwide.

Apart from Google, Yandex, Bing, Yahoo!, Baidu, DuckDuckGo, etc are other leading platforms. From searching to obtaining information, comparing, advertising, going to websites, and discovering content, these platforms have become a part of our lives. These platforms are used in desktops, and every digital device is blessed with modern technology. By reading these Search Engine Statistics, we come to know that no one in the market will beat Google.

A comparison of the most popular search engines in Japan showed that Google held a market share of almost 78 percent, which made it the leading service. It was followed by Yahoo! and Bing. Together these three services accounted for a market share of more than 98 percent.

We asked French consumers about "Most used search engines by brand" and found that "Google" takes the top spot, while "WebCrawler" is at the other end of the ranking.These results are based on a representative online survey conducted in 2024 among 1,018 consumers in France.

In January 2025, Google remained by far the most popular search engine in the UK, holding a market share of 93.25 percent across all devices. That month, Bing had a market share of approximately 4.22 percent in second place, followed by Yahoo! with approximately 1.37 percent. The EU vs Google Despite Google’s dominance of the search engine market, maintaining its position at the top has not been a smooth ride. Google’s market share saw a decline in the summer of 2018, plummeting to an all-time-low in July. The search engine experienced a similar dip in June and July 2017. These two low points coincided with the European Commission’s antitrust charges against the company, both of which were unprecedented in the now decade-long duel between both parties. As skepticism towards search engine platforms grows in line with public concern regarding censorship and data privacy, alternative services like Duckduckgo offer users both information protection and unfiltered results. Despite this, it still held less than one percent of the industry’s market share as of June 2021. Perception of fake news in the UK According to a questionnaire conducted in the United Kingdom in 2018, 57.7 percent of respondents had come across inaccurate news on social media at least once before. Rising concerns over fake news, or information which has been manipulated to influence the public has been a hot topic in recent years. The younger generation however, remains skeptical with nearly half of Generation Z claiming to be either unconcerned about fake news, or believed that it did not exist altogether.  

We asked Mexican consumers about "Most used search engines by brand" and found that "Google" takes the top spot, while "WebCrawler" is at the other end of the ranking.These results are based on a representative online survey conducted in 2024 among 1,015 consumers in Mexico.

There's good reason to be visible on Google Search. The search engine is one of the most well-known and used search engines in the world, and in 2023 it had a market share of 93.81% for search engines in Denmark!

In January 2025, the online search engine Bing accounted for 4.04 percent of the global search market across all devices, while market leader Google held a search traffic share of around 89.62 percent. Meanwhile, Yandex's market share was 2.62 percent, while Yahoo! represented around 1.34 percent.

We asked German consumers about "Most used search engines by brand" and found that "Google" takes the top spot, while "Yandex" is at the other end of the ranking.These results are based on a representative online survey conducted in 2024 among 2,998 consumers in Germany.

We asked Chinese consumers about "Most used search engines by brand" and found that "Baidu" takes the top spot, while "AOL" is at the other end of the ranking.These results are based on a representative online survey conducted in 2024 among 1,982 consumers in China.

Google Search Statistics 2023

• Google is the most searched website in the World.
• Google receives more visitors than any other site. Google is accessed 89.3 trillion times per month.
• Google is used by billions of people every day to conduct their searches. Google is much more than a simple search engine.
• Google provides many other services. Google Shopping and Google News also feature. Google Mail, Google's popular email service, is included.
• Google organic search traffic is 16.3% of the total US searches.

In January 2025, Google accounted for 93.82 percent of the global mobile search engine market worldwide. Yandex had 2.5 percent of the global mobile search, while, competitors like Baidu and Yahoo! accounted for less than one percent each on a global scale.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global search engine optimization services market size was estimated at USD 45.2 billion in 2022 and will increase at a 17.90% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2023 to 2030. How is Market for Search Engine Optimisation Services Being Affected by the Major Trends?

Increasing Revenues of Digital Advertising to Provide Viable Market Output

It is anticipated that in the near future, digital advertising will surpass conventional means of advertising like print, television, radio, movies, and outdoors. Advertisers are resorting to digital advertising to reach the required demographic segments as consumer viewing shifts farther away from traditional networks towards digital alternatives, creating demand for SEO services to increase website exposure and draw in online traffic. Mobile internet advertising is another industry that is expanding thanks to the growing popularity of smartphones.

Internet advertising revenue climbed from 2021 to 2022 by 10.8% (YoY) to $209.7 billion, and overall revenue increased by $20.4 billion (YoY). Ad revenues for the first half of the year exceeded $100 billion for the first time, with Q1 seeing the largest gain, up 21.1% from Q2 and Q2. Revenues fell in Q3 (8.4%) and Q4 (4.4%).

(Source:www.iab.com/news/despite-headwinds-digital-advertising-delivered-double-digit-growth-in-2022-according-to-the-iab-internet-advertising-revenue-report/)

Advertisers increasingly value deep engagement, leading to a shift in advertising budgets from traditional to digital platforms, accelerating the demand for search engine optimization services throughout the forecast term.

Affordable internet in developing countries to propel market growth

The Factors Restraining Growth of the Search Engine Optimization Services Market

Rising In-house Team And Online SEO Tools to Hinder Market Growth

Many businesses are assembling their own in-house SEO teams to meet their specific needs. The business must establish an internal SEO team and streamline the procedure as the organization grows. The in-house SEO team guarantees cost savings and quick response times for campaigns and takes into account brand objectives, data security, and resource quality as well. Additionally, it enables control over output control. Additionally, online SEO tools can be used by anyone to improve their search, negating the need to speak with a third-party search engine optimization services supplier. The expansion of the search engine optimization services market is hampered by the rise of in-house teams and the accessibility of SEO online.

Impact of COVID–19 on the Search Engine Optimisation Services Market

Nearly every business on the planet has suffered setbacks due to the pandemic. This is because numerous preventative lockdowns and other worldwide limitations imposed by regulatory bodies have seriously hampered each company's manufacturing and supply chain operations. The market for search engine optimization services globally is not an exception. Additionally, because this epidemic has negatively influenced most people's finances, people are now more concerned with cutting back on their discretionary spending, which has decreased consumer demand. These variables will impact the global search engine optimization services market's revenue trajectory during the forecast period. However, the global search engine optimization services industry is projected to recover as regional regulatory authorities start to loosen these imposed limits. Introduction of Search Engine Optimization Services

The search engine optimization (SEO) services market comprises companies (organizations, sole proprietors, or partnerships) that sell SEO consultancy services to companies looking to optimize their websites. The industry is driven by the increased use of digital marketing strategies and the demand for more presence on key search engines. The search engine optimization services market grew throughout the historical period due to rising digital media consumption, increased smartphone and internet service penetration, older generations becoming more digitally empowered, and supportive government measures.

Between 2023 and 2028, an additional 910.3 million smartphone users will be worldwide (an increase of 17.33 percent). After five years of growth, the number of smartphone users is expected to reach 6.2 billion in 2028, reachi...

We asked UK consumers about "Most used search engines by brand" and found that "Google" takes the top spot, while "WebCrawler" is at the other end of the ranking.These results are based on a representative online survey conducted in 2024 among 2,015 consumers in the UK.

The global search engine market is projected to reach a value of 389010 million by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period (2023-2033). The market growth is primarily driven by the increasing adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices, the rising popularity of voice search, and the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in search engines. Additionally, the expansion of e-commerce and the increasing reliance on online information are contributing to the market's growth. In terms of market segments, crawler search engines hold a significant share due to their ability to crawl and index vast amounts of data from the web. Large enterprises are the primary users of search engines, as they require comprehensive and reliable search solutions for their business operations. The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate over the forecast period, owing to the increasing internet penetration and the growing number of mobile users in the region. Key players in the search engine market include Google, Baidu, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Yandex, and DuckDuckGo, among others. These companies are investing in research and development to enhance their search algorithms and provide users with more relevant and personalized search results.

We asked Spanish consumers about "Most used search engines by brand" and found that "Google" takes the top spot, while "WebCrawler" is at the other end of the ranking.These results are based on a representative online survey conducted in 2024 among 1,016 consumers in Spain.

Internet Advertising Market Outlook

In 2023, the global internet advertising market size was valued at approximately USD 500 billion and is expected to reach nearly USD 1.3 trillion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2%. One of the primary growth factors driving this remarkable expansion is the rapid digitalization across various sectors coupled with increased internet penetration worldwide.

The exponential rise in smartphone users has significantly contributed to the growth of the internet advertising market. With more than 4 billion people using the internet globally, businesses are increasingly leveraging online platforms to reach a broader audience. The growth of e-commerce and the shift in consumer behavior towards online shopping have further fueled the demand for digital advertising. Brands are investing heavily in online advertisements to capture the attention of potential customers, thereby driving market growth.

Another crucial factor propelling the market is the advancements in artificial intelligence and data analytics. These technologies enable advertisers to target specific demographics more efficiently, optimize ad spend, and measure the effectiveness of their campaigns in real-time. Personalized advertising and programmatic ad buying are becoming mainstream, making digital advertising more effective and efficient. These innovations are not only enhancing user experience but also providing a higher return on investment for advertisers.

The proliferation of social media platforms has also played a pivotal role in the expansion of the internet advertising market. Social media advertising allows brands to engage with their audience interactively and build a loyal customer base. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer sophisticated targeting options and analytics tools, making it easier for businesses to reach their ideal customers. Influencer marketing on social media has also gained traction, with brands collaborating with influencers to promote their products and services, thereby increasing their reach and credibility.

Regionally, North America dominates the internet advertising market due to the high internet penetration, advanced technological infrastructure, and the presence of major market players. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. The rapid economic development, increasing internet user base, and growing adoption of smartphones in countries like China and India are driving the market in this region. Furthermore, the rising popularity of social media platforms and the growing e-commerce sector in the Asia Pacific are expected to boost the demand for digital advertising.

Ad Format Analysis

Search engine advertising remains one of the most significant segments within the internet advertising market. This form of advertising, which includes pay-per-click (PPC) ads and search engine marketing (SEM), allows businesses to place advertisements on search engine results pages (SERPs). The growing reliance on search engines for information and product discovery has made search engine advertising a vital tool for businesses to drive traffic to their websites. Companies invest in this format to capitalize on the high intent of users actively searching for relevant products or services, thus achieving better conversion rates.

Display advertising, which includes banner ads, rich media, and interactive ads, continues to be a prominent segment due to its visually appealing nature. This format helps businesses create brand awareness and engage users through compelling visuals and messages. Innovations such as dynamic creative optimization (DCO) have enhanced the effectiveness of display ads by personalizing content based on user behavior and preferences. Moreover, programmatic advertising, which automates the buying and selling of ad space, has made display advertising more efficient and targeted.

Social media advertising has emerged as a dominant force in the internet advertising market. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter offer businesses sophisticated tools to target their desired audience based on demographics, interests, and online behavior. This segment's growth is fueled by the increasing time spent by users on social media and the platforms' ability to offer precise audience segmentation and detailed analytics. Additionally, influencer marketing, where brands collaborate with social media influencers to promote their products, has gained popularity, further driving

We asked South Korean consumers about "Most used search engines by brand" and found that "Naver" takes the top spot, while "Yandex" is at the other end of the ranking.These results are based on a representative online survey conducted in 2024 among 1,013 consumers in South Korea.

Background
An understanding of the resources which engineering students use to write their academic papers provides information about student behaviour as well as the effectiveness of information literacy programs designed for engineering students. One of the most informative sources of information which can be used to determine the nature of the material that students use is the bibliography at the end of the students’ papers. While reference list analysis has been utilised in other disciplines, few studies have focussed on engineering students or used the results to improve the effectiveness of information literacy programs. Gadd, Baldwin and Norris (2010) found that civil engineering students undertaking a finalyear research project cited journal articles more than other types of material, followed by books and reports, with web sites ranked fourth. Several studies, however, have shown that in their first year at least, most students prefer to use Internet search engines (Ellis & Salisbury, 2004; Wilkes & Gurney, 2009).

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to find out exactly what resources undergraduate students studying civil engineering at La Trobe University were using, and in particular, the extent to which students were utilising the scholarly resources paid for by the library. A secondary purpose of the research was to ascertain whether information literacy sessions delivered to those students had any influence on the resources used, and to investigate ways in which the information literacy component of the unit can be improved to encourage students to make better use of the resources purchased by the Library to support their research.

DESIGN/METHOD
The study examined student bibliographies for three civil engineering group projects at the Bendigo Campus of La Trobe University over a two-year period, including two first-year units (CIV1EP – Engineering Practice) and one-second year unit (CIV2GR – Engineering Group Research). All units included a mandatory library session at the start of the project where student groups were required to meet with the relevant faculty librarian for guidance. In each case, the Faculty Librarian highlighted specific resources relevant to the topic, including books, e-books, video recordings, websites and internet documents. The students were also shown tips for searching the Library catalogue, Google Scholar, LibSearch (the LTU Library’s research and discovery tool) and ProQuest Central. Subject-specific databases for civil engineering and science were also referred to. After the final reports for each project had been submitted and assessed, the Faculty Librarian contacted the lecturer responsible for the unit, requesting copies of the student bibliographies for each group. References for each bibliography were then entered into EndNote. The Faculty Librarian grouped them according to various facets, including the name of the unit and the group within the unit; the material type of the item being referenced; and whether the item required a Library subscription to access it. A total of 58 references were collated for the 2010 CIV1EP unit; 237 references for the 2010 CIV2GR unit; and 225 references for the 2011 CIV1EP unit.

INTERIM FINDINGS
The initial findings showed that student bibliographies for the three group projects were primarily made up of freely available internet resources which required no library subscription. For the 2010 CIV1EP unit, all 58 resources used were freely available on the Internet. For the 2011 CIV1EP unit, 28 of the 225 resources used (12.44%) required a Library subscription or purchase for access, while the second-year students (CIV2GR) used a greater variety of resources, with 71 of the 237 resources used (29.96%) requiring a Library subscription or purchase for access. The results suggest that the library sessions had little or no influence on the 2010 CIV1EP group, but the sessions may have assisted students in the 2011 CIV1EP and 2010 CIV2GR groups to find books, journal articles and conference papers, which were all represented in their bibliographies

FURTHER RESEARCH
The next step in the research is to investigate ways to increase the representation of scholarly references (found by resources other than Google) in student bibliographies. It is anticipated that such a change would lead to an overall improvement in the quality of the student papers. One way of achieving this would be to make it mandatory for students to include a specified number of journal articles, conference papers, or scholarly books in their bibliographies. It is also anticipated that embedding La Trobe University’s Inquiry/Research Quiz (IRQ) using a constructively aligned approach will further enhance the students’ research skills and increase their ability to find suitable scholarly material which relates to their topic. This has already been done successfully (Salisbury, Yager, & Kirkman, 2012)

CONCLUSIONS & CHALLENGES
The study shows that most students rely heavily on the free Internet for information. Students don’t naturally use Library databases or scholarly resources such as Google Scholar to find information, without encouragement from their teachers, tutors and/or librarians. It is acknowledged that the use of scholarly resources doesn’t automatically lead to a high quality paper. Resources must be used appropriately and students also need to have the skills to identify and synthesise key findings in the existing literature and relate these to their own paper. Ideally, students should be able to see the benefit of using scholarly resources in their papers, and continue to seek these out even when it’s not a specific assessment requirement, though it can’t be assumed that this will be the outcome.

REFERENCES

Ellis, J., & Salisbury, F. (2004). Information literacy milestones: building upon the prior knowledge of first-year students. Australian Library Journal, 53(4), 383-396.

Gadd, E., Baldwin, A., & Norris, M. (2010). The citation behaviour of civil engineering students. Journal of Information Literacy, 4(2), 37-49.

Salisbury, F., Yager, Z., & Kirkman, L. (2012). Embedding Inquiry/Research: Moving from a minimalist model to constructive alignment. Paper presented at the 15th International First Year in Higher Education Conference, Brisbane. Retrieved from http://www.fyhe.com.au/past_papers/papers12/Papers/11A.pdf

Wilkes, J., & Gurney, L. J. (2009). Perceptions and applications of information literacy by first year applied science students. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 40(3), 159-171.