Aug
03
2007
03
2007
Wikia – Jimbo takes on Google
This week’s TIME column is up. I addressed Jimmy Wales recent comments about taking on the search industry. One of the most striking research points during my prep for the article was how dependent Wikipedia (a separate entity from Wikia) is on Google traffic for its growth. Check out this chart:
Given the number of Wikipedia entries in Google results, i wonder just how dependent Google is on Wikipedia for content… the clickstream chart below for the week ending 7/29 shows the top sites visited after Google.
Google and Wikipedia are very much in a strong mutual relationship.
Google’s goal of presenting searchers with relevant and complete solutions is matched by Wikipedia’s growing and comprehensive resource library.
Bill, as you have clearly pointed out Wikipedia is definitely riding Google’s results page support, do you have available data on the traffic before Google began ‘supporting’ Wikipedia for preferred placement of various industry organic key terms?
Fascinating – but at the same time it makes perfect sense. One can’t help but notice Wikipedia at the top of virtually every search. Downstream traffic is the logical upshot.
My guess is that the pendulum will swing away from Wikipedia in the near term. While Wikipedia deserves to be there for the middle school kid doing research, for most of what I do, it’s not the “best” site. I use the Internet to get things done. I want to find someone to buy from or someone to provide a solution. When I am in that search mode Wikipedia usually gets in the way.