Now that Christmas is out of the way, I may be able to spend more time doing some SEO. (E-commerce sites take up to much time.)
For what it is worth JoeAnt will make it big in the UK in 2004. It is already out stripping AV, Lycos, BBCi and Tiscali on the sites I look after. This will be the next DMOZ.
Affiliates will replace reciprocal links. The more dedicated the better. Already seeing great results. Okay they are not free but the return is far greater.
MSN will create it’s own database, but will be fighting it out with the renewed Yahoo for Number 2 spot. Google will still lead the field at the end of 2004. Not much change there.
And a sad farewell to Looksmart UK. I always liked it, even remember the day it started. About the only good internet thing to come out of OZ (other than Wicked Weasel of course). And the staff were always helpful. MSN will not be the same again, trying to work out which Looksmart database was being used!
What are everyone else’s predictions for 2004?
Who will be the next movers and shakers to effect the UK search market.
The market is ripe at this moment in time for this to happen
ncw164x
I would also be surprised at JoeAnt really making it big, though some progress from them wouldn't be surprising.
I do see Google holding No.1 position for the year with MSN/Yahoo being 2 and 3.
I foresee some progress for Ask Jeeves at the expense of MSN and Yahoo in the UK only searches.
I can also see Mirago being bought for the technology they have. They are ahead of the game in regional search and have interesting options on their PPC. Alternatively we may see steadily improving visitor levels from Mirago.
I predict a bad year for ESpotting, with significant reductions in traffic from the affiliate sites. Although a context based ads system could be released, which might turn the year around for them.
I also see more US players moving into the UK market and some acquisitions being completed / and new deals being done.
I don't see Joe Ant doing much and I suspect the Directory space will be dominated by the likes of Reed and other UK business information providers such as Yell.
I see a contextual search product launched by Overture which will take searches away from Google and Espotting. I think Espotting will become cheaper and the volume of people using it increase due to a large web marketing campaign by FW. In terms of launching new opportunities, I think they will be pre occupied with the merger, not too much I hope to update their Ad Centre!
I also see Mirago growing and Web Finder doing more distribution deals and their traffic remaining relatively cheap due to them selling using the traditional methods that they are accustomed.
I predict an overall increase in the CPC of Adwords as us Europeans become accustomed to / master the art of PPC.
Sadly I cannot see a Microsoft search engine this coming year, though it would be nice and healthy.
An exciting year to look forward to. My biggest wish is that Mirago remains innovative and independent.
Happy New Year everyone!
Ian - sorry if this looks like I was copying you, only we share some of the same thoughts - honest ;-)
I also think that Google will start to remove competing affiliate sites belonging to Overture and Espotting from the Google listings.
We should also see more amalgamation of the yellow pages style directories with the general search engines, in an attempt to make search more regionalised.
