A study by Nielson/NetRatings has revealed that web users prefer to navigate websites using search engines rather than typing the website’s URL directly. Web users’ top search terms under in this category were eBay, Google and Yahoo, for the month of November 2005.


A study by Nielson/NetRatings has revealed that web users prefer to navigate websites using search engines rather than typing the website’s URL directly.

Web users’ top search term under this category was eBay with 13.9 million requests, followed by Google and Yahoo with 13.3 million and 8 million requests, respectively.

Other popular search terms for retail auction sites like eBay and Wal-Mart and sites that offer services, like Mapquest and pogo.com.

Ken Cassar, chief analyst at Nielson/NetRatings, said: “There are two types of online searches that type a Website’s URL into a search engine rather than into the browser’s address bar: Those inexperienced enough not to appreciate the difference between the two, and those that are so experienced they have become habituated to using the search engine as their portal on the Internet.” [Source]

Cassar also said: “The search engine is the focal point of the online experience for Internet users across the spectrum.” [Source]

Nielson/NetRatings also released a list of top 10 search engines for November 2005.

Google Search was on top of the list with 46.3% of all searches. It was followed by Yahoo! Search with 23.4% and MSN Search with 11.4%.