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The European internet scene is changing fast. We try to name some of the most prominent tendencies, bringing together some recent discussions.
Internet usage in Europe is growing generally rapidly. This goes for the total number of users as well as for the number of PCs, handys, PDAs with internet access.
Latest figures from Nielsen/Netratings [webmasterworld.com] show an online population (Home Access) of nearly 70 mio counting only Germany, UK and Italy. These and numbers from JupiterMMXI [webmasterworld.com] show a clear trend towards home usage as opposed to internet access on the job. This all goes for a tendency to catching up on the US in terms of time spent online, evolving online shopping habits and general integration of the internet to everyday life.
Movement is also to be seen on the European Search Engine scene:
Infoseek will get shut down [webmasterworld.com].
The race for filling in on what is probably the most attractive internet spot in Europe, T-onlineīs homepage, is open. (Or is it?). Most bets are on Google with Fast as a close 2nd candidate. The big question is this: Will paid results be involved? Altavista does it, Lycos too..
Euroseek is closing down.
While this didnīt come as a surprise it leaves us wondering: Is the idea of a Pan-European Search Engine still feasible, as discussed here [webmasterworld.com]? Or could the demise of Euroseek be another sign of European Internet integrating with the US/UK internet? The need for language specific search certainly will not disappear. Europeans use their mother tongue to conduct their initial searches, only then they search in english. The need for finding content in your own area and language will increase tremendously along side the explosive growth of European Internet.
So truly European players are Google and Fast right now with their ability to cater to languages worldwide.
The rise of Google throughout Europe is tremendous, and works as before in the US by word of mouth, including of course some very loud mouths.
Fast is taking another route: By selling their huge and well kept db to smaller and bigger portals alike they managed to become a major force in Western Europe. Their inclination with the Lycos Network exposed them in a big way, somewhat similar to Googleīs deal with Yahoo and one should expect Fast to become even stronger in the future. So far we have 41 recorded partners [webmasterworld.com] around the World using Fast database.
Perhaps good old Altavista can come back also. Some 5 months of delaying all submissions to regional dbs have harmed them severely. Now the paid inclusion finally seems to work for European regional searches also. This move to pulling from worldwide database at the local sites along with the new improved algo could well put them back on the list. Future findings [webmasterworld.com] will show.
The rise of the big P in Continental Europe.
There are several attempts, from smaller SEs to the big players, at making site owners pay for inclusion, review, placement etc.
Most prominent example perhaps is Lycos with their Espotting deal, already in effect in the UK. Fastīs PartnerSite programme affects Europe via the Lycos Network and it will be very fascinating to follow not only the inclusion terms but also the implementation around the Lycos' sites around the World. Will it pay for Fast? Will they have to add some extra value to sell it to site owners?
Euro directories getting a taste for the dough?
Developments in the US directory scene kind of tells us that this is the route for keeping a business afloat in these times. The first moves are already seen in Denmark with Jubii asking for inclusion fee's, in Germany with Fireballīs catalogue ..and of course with Looksmart charging $199 for review of a local site. Next obvious candidates could be regional Yahoo's.
PPC engines are already around, without much success so far, no strong partners have yet picked up any noticable PPC results. The primary reason being the little volume of searches performed. This might however only be a matter of time. But then, who needs small local PPC engines when the original enters the market? Bets are open when and where Goto will arrive on the continent and what the pricing would be for clicks.
The European market is open for business and we can't wait to outgrow the Americans on number of performed searches.
But then we are just too talkative: If you want to enter the European market, read Renckes awesome European SEO strategy primer [webmasterworld.com].
Should any question be left: hey, we are here to help you!
Your moderators team Rencke, Rumbas & heini
