Search Trends - Search Engine Marketing

I think it can be easy for those of us who are immersed in this search engine biz to expect everyone else to understand where search engine results come from. I think the majority of Internet users are still very naive about where the search results come from. In fact, I think they are quite ignorant about many facets of the online world. I think most people just know how to find what they need and they understand the tools just enough to get whatever it is they're looking for. A recent survey by the folks at Pew Internet & American Life takes a look at typical searchers habits and understanding of the search results. I think it could be a real eye opener for many in the search industry, although it simply confirms what many of us already knew.

"A new nationwide survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that internet users are extremely positive about search engines and the experiences they have when searching the internet. But these same satisfied internet users are generally unsophisticated about why and how they use search engines. They are also strikingly unaware of how search engines operate and how they present their results."

Read the Press Release from Pew Internet & American Life Project