Isp searches Vs Google

[GodLikeLotus]

Our site is of a very sensitive nature and our visitors generally on come to us once. What we seem to be seeing in our referal logs is that Google is miles in front of anything. Even though the likes of AOL, Freeserve and the BBC are using Googles results the number of referals is very low from these ISP's. MSN is are our second best referer but only accounts for around 10% of our hits even though we rate well in their results. I must state that we are a directory and most of our searches are for say "Widgets in Widgetville". Last month we received just over 5000 unique visits for such searches with Google delivering over 60% of these.

The point I am trying to make is that I think New Internet Users are using there ISP's homepage search when they first go on-line and then after learning about the likes of Google start to switch and then set the browser to go straight to Google. I sell advertising on our site to people in the Widget trade and speak to quite a few each week. What many are saying is that they are not happy with intrusive internet advertising especially from their ISP's and many have already switched to using Google for that very reason.

Could the reason maybe also be that the nature of site and the type of people searching for this type of of information could be a little older? Our profile will reveal more.

[mack]

I think most sites are pretty much the same. It just goes towards showing the sort of market share that Google has. The amazing thing is that Google became so popular through word of mouth. Just goes to show quality brings quantity.

[4eyes]

Its also worth mentioning that "ISP portal type" searchers are often newbies on the net, and less likely to do extensive price matching on products.

A few posters have commented on MSN and Portals giving lower traffic but a higher conversion rate.