As a website focused on building your SEO, it is important to have an understanding of the different types of search engines that you might appear on. People are constantly searching for terms on search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, and more. Google and Bing in particular have frequent usage and can be a helpful tool in building your website’s SEO. So, which search engine will be better for your website?
This article will discuss the differences and similarities between Google and Bing’s search engines, and how they can each help you with your SEO strategy. We will discuss search engine privacy, algorithms, advertising, and more, all to try and determine which search engine is best.
Why Does it Matter?
This debate between Google vs Bing might strike you as a surprising one at first glance. It is widely understood that Google is the search engine used by roughly 90% of the world’s population. Considering those numbers, it would seem that Bing doesn’t really matter to your SEO work at all, with less than 10% of the population even using that system. However, 10% of the population is still hundreds of millions of people. Plus, Bing offers a lot of benefits and tools that you might not be able to find on Google.
Both search engines are equipped with different tools and features that can help your SEO. When people type a relevant keyword into either search engine, your SEO is essential to getting you to the top of the Search Engine Results Page (SERP). Google updates change the game in a different way than Bing’s do. With different budgets and SEO features on Bing and Google, it absolutely matters which search engine you focus on.
Search Engine Privacy
In the debate between Google vs Bing, the privacy you receive from your search engine might play a large role. Privacy protection is a serious concern, especially in a digital age where theft and fraud are rampant. So, which search engine offers better privacy protection?
Even though Google is the most popular search engine in the world, Bing actually has much greater privacy protection than its competitor. Google is constantly collecting, storing, and sharing personal information. The search engine keeps track of everything you search, as well as personal data like your credit cards, documents, and more. They also use cookies to obtain information through third-party sites. Google has been on a mission to improve its privacy, but it is still a work in progress.
Bing’s search engine still takes note of some of your information, so it is by no means perfect or completely secure. However, their policy clearly states that they store search terms separately from private information, meaning that your personal identity is not connected to anything you search. They also allow you the option to fully disable cookies. When it comes to the best search engine for privacy, Bing takes the cake.
Google Updates and Algorithms
When it comes to Google searches, one important element to consider is the frequency of updates and changes to the algorithm. In its earliest years, Google did not make a lot of updates to its search engine system. However, now they make thousands of small changes every year. All of these updates to the search engine have an effect on the algorithm, which can affect SEO and how your company appears on SERPs. It is a constantly changing game, which is why it is so important to have a reliable SEO company on your side to help you navigate the shifts.
To the question of Google vs Bing, Bing also has frequent updates to their algorithm. They are admittedly less frequent than Google’s constant shifts, but it is still something to keep in mind when you are working with different search engines.
Updates and changes to the algorithm are not necessarily bad things. One of Google’s most recent updates was built to help combat spam sites. But, with each update, there is still a new learning curve to navigate. Even the smallest change to your SEO can make a difference, so knowing how to build your website back up is essential.
Advertising on Bing and Google
When it comes to business advertising, you might already be familiar with Google Business ads and marketing. Bing is no stranger to digital advertising either, though, and could actually be a better investment for your company.
Bing’s pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is 40% cheaper than Google’s, making it a much better option for companies with lower budgets. Google spends its clients’ money very quickly, which makes their overall pricing for ads and sponsorships very expensive.
Additionally, Bing’s user base is generally people aged 40 and older. Depending on your business, this could be a very good thing. If you are trying to reach a specific demographic, Google is good when you are skewing younger and Bing is a great choice to target people from a slightly older age group.
Depending on what kinds of tools you are looking for, one strike against Bing’s PPC advertising system is that there is not a lot of variety offered to you. Especially when you are trying to engage with younger audiences, Google offers a lot more variety and tools for you to create the ideal advertising. Overall, both services offer excellent advertising options with a lot of reach.
Additional Factors
In order to determine the best search engine in the debate between Google vs Bing, we have to look at additional factors that play to the strengths of both search engines. Here are a couple of features that make each search engine stand above the other:
Bing’s AI Tools
In terms of capability and new technology, Bing has recently surpassed its biggest competitor. Bing introduced an innovative new AI search system called Bing Chat, which helps you refine your searches without having to type them out. It is also the best among AI services when it comes to providing links to sources. Google only has a beta version of an AI service that could be similar, and the company overall seems to still be “experimenting” with AI search features.
Google Search Console
On the other hand, while Google does not have a lot of AI features, the company does offer a free tool that can be a major asset to any websites looking to boost their SEO. The Google Search Console can help you track your sales, search results, and traffic. It can even offer you performance reports in order to help you continue adjusting and evolving your SEO.
Which is the Best Search Engine?
So, is there a way to settle the debate of Google vs. Bing?
When it comes to an overall score, it is difficult to call either search engine a “winner” out of the two of them. Both search engines have a lot of excellent features, and there are certainly winners in different categories.
Bing has a significantly better handle on AI tools and implementation. It also offers significantly cheaper PPC advertisements than Google does, and its search engine privacy is also better.
Google has a global reach that is miles beyond any other search engine. Not only do significantly more people use the search engine, but it is also better for targeting wide demographics of people, specifically people under the age of 40.
At the end of the day, both search engines are important to building your SEO. If you are working with a smaller budget, it might be in your best interest to at least start by focusing your efforts on Bing searches. If you have the money to spend and the strategies ready, Google is a great option.
Other Search Engines
In addition to Bing and Google, there are plenty of other search engines that you might consider looking at in order to build your SEO. While none of them are likely to have the same amount of algorithm changes as Google updates, these search engines can still impact your SEO, each with their own positive elements:
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is a relatively new search engine, that only got its start in 2008. This search engine is focused on privacy protection, a feature that both Bing and Google could stand to improve. Each user on this platform is completely anonymous. This means you will not see targeted ads, nor will any of your information be saved.
Yahoo
Yahoo is a fairly well-known search engine, rivaling Bing. It rivals Bing and Google in its layout and features. It serves as almost a one-to-one comparison if you are just looking for a change in search engine, and is also a frequently used system.
Optimizing for Every Search Engine
No matter which search engine you choose to work with, whether you have chosen a victor between Google vs Bing or are operating on an entirely different system, it is important to have the right team on your side to help you grow your SEO.
At SEO Design Chicago, we are dedicated to helping you grow your online business presence through SEO optimization, content writing, analytics, and more. Our team of experts has experience with a variety of different search engines and tools, and we can help you get to the front page of the SERPs in no time.
Contact Us today!