It seems only fair that we have proper grammar now.

I will Bing it later, but this morning I Bang a couple of queries and last night I had Bung it a few times as well. :)

If anyone from Bing is reading this thread: I'd really love to embed a Bing map on a few client websites, but can't.

Besides, I'm sick to death of seeing Wikipedia and other lame default results dominate the answers every time I search.

I actually only use Google when searching FOR wikipedia results, as you can bet that they will be ranking at the top and wiki's own search facility is quite bad.

I'm all in for a Bing month ... although it's by default as Google.co.uk is showing all .au.com and .co.nz again which means it's unusable even in "UK only pages" mode (happens a few times each year when a Google engineer is put in charge who knows nothing about geography).

Already had enough of Bing. Don`t like the layout, search isn`t as good. Image search very clunky.

dc

I am in. Bing is now set as default. First thing I noticed is when I typed in an IP address to check it actually gave me a valid whois result on the first SERP whereas google gave me someones log file.

If you are doing well in Google serps and/or benefiting from Adsense, why would you support MS? The search results don't seem be better either. It doesn't make any sense especially if you're a publisher.

I like Bing's "bird's-eye view" aerial map photos, but other than that, I don't see any reason to switch from a search engine that has treated me well as a searcher and as a Web publisher. If Bing wants to succeed against Google, it needs to leapfrog Google, not play catch-up.

Been doing it for awhile... one more month is okay by me, easily. I even put Glims on my MacOSX box so's I could use Bing on Safari.

(Never put all yer searches in one egg-basket, but Bing is my current search-of-habit.)

As for maps, Bing is the only one that has a map of my neighborhood that's more recent than 5 years ago, so take that, GOOG. Really!

If you are doing well in Google serps and/or benefiting from Adsense, why would you support MS? The search results don't seem be better either. It doesn't make any sense especially if you're a publisher.

I generate close to 100% of my business from Google. And I still like this idea.

But, this isn't about 'supporting' MS. My goodness, I'm a linux advocate. It's about breaking a stranglehold. Nobody wants MS over Google. What we want is 33% yahoo, 33% google, 33% MSN. Not 100% Google. Because one day they come for us.

What we want is 33% yahoo, 33% google, 33% MSN. Not 100% Google. Because one day they come for us.

Actually I'd like 33% bing ,33% goog and 33% something that doesnt have it's head office in the USA ..but that is so unlikely to happen from Europe at least because national linguistic differences and "nombrilism"( I'm looking very close to home when I say that ) will never let such an animal come to be.

Of course it makes sense if you are publisher ..if there was only Goog then one day they can just decide to stop giving us adsense and organics and take our content anyway rebranding it as theirs ..anyone who thinks they wouldn't do such a thing hasn't been paying attention ..especially of late ..

search engines need to be divided in order to stop them ruling us ..and everyone else via personalised information vertically integrated into everything ..particularly Googs data base

Ok, I setup Bing in the FF search engines list and moved it to the top of the list, but this is not a solution -- just a way to punish Google for perceived wrongs.

But I don't think "the answer" is 33% each for Y, G and M...

I've been sitting on this idea for some time, but it's really to big for me -- so I'm gonna just put it out here:

The only long term solution to any one company monopolizing search is a "Distributed Search Engine".

My idea is similar to DMOZ -- except the database is decentralized.

In my Distributed Search Engine, (hereinafter "DSE"), is that individuals will (manually) review and approve new sites, and set some type of ranking.

Nightly, bots will scrape and clone data and store it on DSE root and zone servers, (much like DNS info).

In this way, someone who has a passion / interest in say "automotive", "medical", "Cincinati", "extra terestials", "things made of cardboard" or any other niche will act as the MOD for that niche, and no Google, Bing, Yahoo or other SE will be permitted to carry the DSE data, (through robots.txt and clear policy statements prohibiting SE's from republishing or any other type of unauthorized duplication or use).

Categories for "local search" should be covered first, (e.g.- city/town, state, region, country). Then the categorical MODs could use @REGION type tagging to pull specific listings from regions in cats.

Of course everything will be free until the databases have enough URLs, descriptions and are categorized -- then the DSE could charge for submission, ads, etc.. just like "you know who" has done.

That's as far as I got -- like I said, it's too big of an idea for any one person or entity to develop OR control which makes it just the thing to beat the massive multi-national corporate SE's at their own game.

other than that, I don't see any reason to switch from a search engine that has treated me well

I bet they are treating YOU well. Very well.

treated me well

I believe that people saying "go for Bing" in this thread are for a change, and trying to be proactive - to stop something that has become too "everyday".
Now, many will say that proactive was 4-5 years ago, but since we have no time machine... we do what we can... with what has been offered to us... not much unfortunately.

Anyway, all but soul...

am in too,
tho' originally had Bing as default on IE and G on FF,

last night had to go to G - was searching for a phone by make/model no. and Bing didn't get it (except sponsored results) just gave me russian (spam?) sites :(

do like the pictures too, but imagine the novelty would wear off, is there a way to switch them off?

I don't see any reason to switch from a search engine that has treated me well as a searcher and as a Web publisher.

I generate close to 100% of my business from Google.

Who doesn't!?!? That's the whole point of this experiment isn't it? The only reason we're not making a nice 50%/50% split (which would be far safer) from the 2 search engines is because people are unwilling to change their search habits.

[edited by: phranque at 1:14 pm (utc) on Dec. 6, 2009]
[edit reason] TOS [webmasterworld.com] [/edit]

I don't see any reason to switch from a search engine that has treated me well as a searcher and as a Web publisher.

As IH noted. Google's really done me no evil. I've got no problems with their search results. They send the traffic to the site that pays my income.

Individually, most people will be fine. It's when there are huge swaths of people that are getting their business houses burned down, like all the affiliates right now. It's clear to me that if I ever end up in their crosshairs they will provide no negotiation, compromise, or warning. Just boom, one day you're done.

Two things we can and should do. the first is future protect your business so you're either not so dependent on them, or have contingency plans.

The second is to reduce google's dominance in the industry. Doing so produces a much healthier marketplace. We're not as likely to get screwed, Google then has some limits on it's authority, and they're much less likely to abuse their power.

If the market share was 1/3 1/3 1/3 and Google just did what they just did to affiliates a month before christmas, you know what would happen? Bing and Yahoo income and shares would be up, and Google shares would be down. Which means Google would be much less likely to make such a move. They can't be doing crap like that when they have competition.Competition is good for us, good for the consumer and good for a healthy marketplace. The current situation is too close to a military dictatorship for my liking.

I believe the SE market needs more diversity. It's not in anyone's best interest to have one SE with such a huge majority. Competition keeps things in check, and when you have one SE with an overwhelming majority, there are no checks and balances.

But, the first time there's a meeting at Google, and it starts out with: "I've got bad news. We lost 10% of the market last month, and it looks like we'll lose another 5% this month. Searches are down, unique visitors are down, revenue is down. What changes have we made that might have caused this?"

And there you go.

I am going to switch to Cuill. I hear that is the best., just kidding,.

Individually, most people will be fine. It's when there are huge swaths of people that are getting their business houses burned down, like all the affiliates right now.

Ah. Now we're getting down to brass tacks. :-) Entrepreneurs build businesses around the concept of manipulating search results, and when that no longer works as effectively as it once did, it's the search engines' fault that their businesses are in jeopardy?

As for switching to Bing, is that really a long-term solution to the problem of not having the kind of content that search engines want to index and serve up in SERPs?

Side note: I don't "love Google." I'm simply a realist. Google is the best search engine at the moment, it has a commanding market share, and boycotts of Google by people who aren't happy with their own rankings won't change how most people search.

I don't "love Google." I'm simply a realist. Google is the best search engine at the moment, it has a commanding market share, and boycotts of Google by people who aren't happy with their own rankings won't change how most people search.

You play down the power that webmasters and the press (still) have. If only enough webmasters, and the media, will bring this up in a meaningful manner, then things can and will change. Quickly. Remember, bing.com is only a click away. I think Google knows that as well; that's why they are sending out their PR troops to "fix this".

[edited by: phranque at 1:13 pm (utc) on Dec. 6, 2009]
[edit reason] TOS [webmasterworld.com] [/edit]

You play down the power that webmasters and the press (still) have.

I think you're underestimating the power that Web users have. Or maybe you just don't think they're important?

[edited by: phranque at 1:15 pm (utc) on Dec. 6, 2009]

So how many here have added a BING search box to their site(s)/pages?

I would find it very objectional to promote anything linked in anyway with what I consider the evil itself in IT: MSFT.

I find it bad enough that I have to have 3 virtual machines running windows to get their 3 in use and quite buggy browsers.
I find it bad enough their office documents are a requirement every so often.

But that really is as far as I go.

I only deal with MSFT in as far as I absolutely have to in order to gain something better for myself or others, never going to be anything voluntary and certainly not something that *WILL* lead to MSFT building yet another monopoly where they have none.

I'll fight as long as I can against MSFT, any enemy of theirs is a friend of mine.

Yes this is personal: that's how they play it as well, so they get it back the same way.

ken_b, I checked out the Bing search box. I don't see any way to get a cut of the ad revenue from the ad box, so until that happens I'll stick with G's search box on my site.

I propose in January we have a Cuilathon.

It'll be stillborn..

ABG

"Anything But Google"

Google is the best search engine at the moment, it has a commanding market share, and boycotts of Google by people who aren't happy with their own rankings won't change how most people search.

Hmmm... In fact, I am very happy with my own rankings and even my Adwords account hasn't been shut (yet). What I am extremely unhappy with is that now every single local search I make, brings me a full screen of ads on my 12'' laptop display, and nearly every products search brings me almost a full screen of ads, including these crappy image ads top and right that I can not stand.

It is a user experience that sucks now ...

So far Bing looks okay ... Not very good just ok. Still a lot of spam for long tail searches and in my opinion - too aggressive geo-targetting. I frequently search from non-US IPs (English queries) and see a lot of local crap instead of reputable US-based authority sites.

Entrepreneurs build businesses around the concept of manipulating search results, and when that no longer works as effectively as it once did, it's the search engines' fault that their businesses are in jeopardy?

I don't believe you understood any of what I said, or why I said it. You're making it sound like I'm doing something stupid blackhat and I got burned. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If you want to buy a clue, go read the adwords threads of all the businesses who's advertising dollars are being rejected without explanation or feedback. Then imagine it's your business they just did that too. Then go delete your words about 'manipulating search engines'.

That kind of behaviour is only possible in a monopoly. In a healthy competitive environment companies cannot cancel their clients unilaterally without notice, explanation, or even seeming reason. Nothing to do with search engine manipulation.

Well I've switched my browser's default to Bing. I also had Google Reader as my home page, it's now set to Bing. And I switched my iPhone search from Google to Yahoo (Bing is not an option there #*$!?)

Let's see if I notice much difference of anything... a little less Google might help me "open my eyes" to what else is out there.... ;-) I must admit I've been a big G supporter using pretty much everything they put out without regard for the competition. At some point I figure they will get too big for their own good mind you...