Part 3: Search Engine History from 2003-2007 and Google's Dominance

The history of search engines is a rich and fascinating one, dating back to the early 1990s with the launch of Archie, the first search engine. However, the period between 2003 and 2007 was particularly noteworthy, as it saw the introduction of new algorithms, updates, and features that greatly improved the relevance and personalization of search results. Towards the end of 2007 Google was dominating the market with over 60% of searches being performed on their engine.

Google

In 2003, Google introduced several new features to improve the relevance and personalization of search results. One of the most significant changes was the introduction of the "Google Suggest" feature, which provided users with a list of suggested search queries as they typed in their search terms. This feature helped users to find the information they needed more quickly and easily, and it was later adopted by other search engines such as Yahoo and Microsoft.

In the same year, Google acquired Blogger.com and launched AdSense, which serves contextually targeted Google ads on publisher sites. This led to a surge in simple, monetized online publishing and a blogging revolution. However, it also gave rise to spammy tactics and made-for-AdSense sites filled with thin/poor/stolen content that existed solely to rank well, get clicks, and make money.

In 2004, Google introduced the "Google Personalized Search" feature, which provided users with a more personalized search experience based on their browsing and search history. This feature helped to improve the relevance of search results for users and was seen as a direct competitor to Yahoo's "MyWeb" feature, which was launched the same year.

In 2005, Google introduced the "Google Local" feature, which provided users with a map and business listings for a specific location. This feature helped users to find local businesses and services more easily and was later adopted by other search engines such as Yahoo and Microsoft.

Also in 2005, nofollow tags were created to combat spam. SEO professionals began using this tag as a way of PageRank sculpting. Google also unleashed a couple of noteworthy updates: Jagger, which helped to diminish the level of unsolicited link exchanges that were flying around, and Big Daddy (coined by Jeff Manson of RealGeeks), which improved the architecture of Google to allow for an improved understanding of the worth and relationship of links between sites.

In October 2006, Google acquired user-generated video sharing network YouTube for $1.65 billion, which ultimately became the second most used search property in the world. Today, YouTube has 2 billion users. Due to its soaring popularity, video SEO became crucial for brands, businesses, and individuals that wanted to be found. Google also launched two incredibly important tools in 2006: Google Analytics, a free, web-based tool that was so popular at launch that webmasters experienced downtime and maintenance warnings, and Google Webmaster Tools, now known as the Search Console, which let webmasters view crawling errors, see what searches your site showed up for, and request re-inclusion. ?

Also in 2006, XML sitemaps gained universal support from the search engines. XML sitemaps allow webmasters to display to the search engines every URL on their website that is available for crawling. An XML sitemap contains not only a list of URLs but a range of further information, which helped search engines to crawl more intelligently. In the same year, the Google Maps Plus Box launched and was a simpler version of the feature that we know today. It appeared on the right-hand side of a Google search results page when a user searched for a specific location or business. The Plus Box provided basic information about the location such as the address and phone number, as well as a map of the location. Users could also get directions to the location by clicking on the map. This feature was designed to make it easier for users to find the information they needed and decide about visiting the location or business. However, it lacked the additional features such as reviews, photos, and the option to save or share the location that were later added in later versions.

In 2007, Google introduced the "Google Universal search feature, which blended traditional search results with results from other Google properties such as images, videos, and news. This feature helped to improve the relevance of search results for users by providing a more comprehensive search experience. Additionally, in 2007, Google introduced the "Google Street View" feature, which allowed users to view street-level imagery of specific locations. This feature helped users to get a better sense of the location they were searching for and was later adopted by other search engines such as Bing and Yahoo. Overall, the period between 2003 and 2007 saw Google introduce several new features and make several acquisitions that helped to improve the relevance and personalization of search results for users, solidify its position as the dominant search engine, and pave the way for the development of new technologies and features in the future.

Yahoo

In 2003, Yahoo! Search was launched as an alternative to Google and other search engines of the time. It was based on the Inktomi engine and aimed to provide more relevant and personalized results to users based on their browsing and search history. This new search engine helped to increase competition in the market and improve the search experience for users.

In 2004, Yahoo! Search introduced a new feature called "MyWeb" which allowed users to save and share their search results and browsing history. This feature helped to make the search experience more personalized for users and was seen as a direct competitor to Google's "My Search History" feature, which was launched the same year.

In 2005, Yahoo! Search introduced a new feature called "Search Assist" which helped users to refine their search results and find what they were looking for more quickly. This feature was designed to help users who were not familiar with Boolean operators to refine their search results.

In 2006, Yahoo! Search introduced a new feature called "Search Pad" which allowed users to save and organize their search results. This feature was designed to help users keep track of their research and make it easier for them to find what they were looking for later on.

In 2007, Yahoo! Search introduced a new feature called "Yahoo! Answers" which allowed users to ask and answer questions on a wide range of topics. This feature helped to improve the search experience for users by providing them with a more interactive and community-driven way of finding information. Additionally, Yahoo! Search also introduced other features such as Yahoo! Search BOSS (Build your Own Search Service) which allowed developers and businesses to build their own search experiences using Yahoo's search technology. Furthermore, Yahoo! Search also introduced "Search Direct" which provided users with instant answers to their queries without them having to click through to a webpage. All these features were aimed to improve the user experience and enhance the search capabilities of Yahoo! Search.

Microsoft

In 2003, Microsoft launched MSN Search as an alternative to the established search engines, such as Google. The search engine was based on the Inktomi engine and provided users with a simple and easy-to-use interface. MSN Search also included a directory of websites and a searchable index of web pages, making it easier for users to find the information they needed.

In 2005, MSN Search introduced a new feature called "Search Builder" which allowed users to refine their search results by using Boolean operators, even if they were not familiar with them. This feature helped users to find what they were looking for more quickly and easily.

In 2006, MSN Search introduced a new feature called "Search History" which allowed users to save and view their recent search queries. This feature helped users to keep track of their research and make it easier for them to find what they were looking for later on.

In 2007, MSN Search introduced a new feature called "Search Suggestions" which provided users with a list of suggested search queries as they typed in their search terms. This feature helped users to find the information they needed more quickly and easily, by suggesting relevant search terms based on what they had already typed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the period between 2003 and 2007 saw significant developments in the search engine industry, with Google introducing several new features and making several acquisitions that helped to solidify its position as the dominant search engine. Google's introduction of features such as "Google Suggest", "Google Personalized Search", "Google Local" and "Google Universal Search" helped to improve the relevance and personalization of search results for users. Additionally, the acquisition of YouTube in 2006 and the launch of Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools further cemented Google's position in the market. On the other hand, Yahoo! Search also introduced new features such as "MyWeb", "Search Assist", and "Search Pad" to improve the relevance and personalization of search results for its users and increase competition in the market. Overall, this period marked a turning point in the history of search engines and set the stage for the continued development of new technologies and features in the future.