When America first launched the ‘just add water’ instant cake mixture, it bombed. Subsequent research found that American housewives liked to feel they were doing something towards the end result. The answer? ‘Just add water…and an egg’ cake mixture. That sold like proverbial hot cakes.
The same can be said about Microsoft’s new search engine, Bing. If the name wasn’t encouraging enough, the preview video on the website demonstrates exactly the same situation instant cake mixture found itself in. Videos released on YouTube since then confirm as such.
Bing’s repertoire of functions is certainly impressive. It boasts the ability to search for a camera and, instead of just getting a list of websites containing related meta-tags, it will compare prices from across the internet. Looking for a hotel? A similar thing happens.
The problem is, like with instant cake, people like the feeling of achievement when they have found something. Google makes searching stupidly simple but we still have to put in a little work to find exactly what we want; have all the new features promised by Bing made searching patronisingly simple?
Now that the engine has launched, however, Bing looks little more than a Google with pretty pictures. You can search the web, the UK, images, shopping, videos and more. But so can Google. Bing’s video told us of the fantastic related searches it will suggest to users. Google does that too.
For a search engine to break Google’s reign of supremacy, it needs to offer something completely different. Humans are creatures of routine and convenience- in the face of change, more often than not, we’ll go back to what we know.
And not just search functionality, Google has its fingers in many more pies. For web-masters there are trend search services, for germophobes they have a flu mapping engine.
The argument is not whether Microsoft will topple Google- they are much older and already massively successful- but entering a ‘market’ that seemingly already has all searching bases covered is not wise.
Ask.com has relaunched at least twice since its opening, Lycos has faded to a distance memory, Bing just doesn’t have the popculture ring to it that our favourite primary-coloured, simple-yet-hugely-effective web search giant.
4 thoughts on “Why Bing will never topple Google”
Fantastic post, and really interesting read. I’m not sure about the instant cake, personally I do want a search engine that gives me exactly what I want and quickly.
I however do agree with many of your other challenges Bing will face. Lets be honest people know and trust google.
I was reading this earlier, which give five reason why Bing will succeed http://www.cio.com/article/print/494015
None of the reasons listed above really would make me want to use it. If the result for my quesry is listed on the first page of google then I’m happy.
I will have to switch my search engine to really see if I would switch to it.
People these days want everything done for them, wh else did man invent the electric toothbrush?
I honestly don’t know why people are even considering Bing as a viable alternative to Google. It’s too, too late – Microsoft are now basically in the position that IBM were in in the early 90s – and trying to go toe-to-toe with Google is ridiculous. It’s SO laughable that I just don’t think it’s worth giving them any credence at all – Bing is a total waste of money for them and will help to dilute their ailing brand. Plus, it looks HORRIBLE. Plus – I used Google to find it, for heaven’s sake – and went right back to Google to find articles about it. Google has LITERALLY become an extension of the human being. Microsoft are dead in the water and I don’t see any reason to pander to them over this new ‘search engine’.