Sam announced in a public forum for the first time that I’ve seen search as a leading economic indicator. I have long dreamed of this prospect from the moment I first saw Google and combined it with my previous background in instituational financial services. I’m excited about this development and would like to openly ask Google when the content that Sam shared this morning will be available publicly for use on Google Trends?
Highlights:
Google’s data can now predict home sales and home sales numbers with search numbers.
The data can be correlated with stock prices at this time.
B2B search terms are growing. Conversions are bouncing back in Q2 2009!
Research, online and offline, big company c-suite, SMB and government sectors.
Commentary: First a note about the c-suite portion of the survey, I have concerns about an offline study asking senior executives about actions used for decisions being accurate. Or worse assuming the numbers were generated from search itself when it wasn’t. Executives might answer what they think is the best practice, even if they don’t do it to appear competent. I know of Fortune 500 CEO’s who still have their emails printed, so I have doubts about the number actually being this high. I’d love for this data to be 100% correct more than anyone, I really would, but I have concerns.
First findings form the C-Suite:
– 73% of the C-suite is using the Internet for information verification and vendor selection.
– 92% Internet exceeding, 87% at-work contacts for referrals.
– 64% of C-level executives conduct 6 or more searches per day to locate business information.
Video and podcast content usage is growing in importance.
Small and medium size businesses:
77% of business owners use search to find suppliers.
Half are using blogs and social media sites in some form in their business.
Government:
Searches are way up on stimulus, energy, health care and related issues.
Huge impact of search results, with just an Adwords ad:
28% Brand Association
36% Message Recall
Commentary: I’d live to see an example with a smaller, lesser known B2B example.
With both a top organic and Adwords listing, incremental increases are significant
53% Engagement
43% Message Recall
63% Brand Association
Commentary: Sam Did not provide data on organic listings alone. I’d love to see if this was higher of lower than the Adwords ad alone.
“Mobile Search Growing Rapidly” Start testing…(audience did not react much)