Strike A Balance!

In the rush to modify websites to comply with the latest Google webmaster guidelines it is often the case that other search engines namely Yahoo and MSN are overlooked.

Why?

As things stand, Google's reported UK market share is approximately 75% and rising, with Yahoo, MSN and the rest making up the difference. Therefore, logic dictates, that Google compliance must take precedence when it comes to optimising for search engines. I personally don't have an issue with this stance, however, please take into account the following if you are devising your own SEO strategy or taking advice from others;

• Google's market share may fall in the UK.



• Internationally, Google is not always the dominant force, for example, in Russia, the Yandex search engine is reported to be the market leader with 49%, similarly, in China, Baidu controls 62% of the market. In Italy, Google's market share is reported to be 53.5%.



• It is constantly rumoured in the press, forums and blogs that a search engine merger or acquisition is just around the corner, therefore, search engine market share today could radically alter tomorrow!



• Depending on your viewpoint, some observers have also pointed out that some Google webmaster guidelines will have no impact on SEO. For example, is the "If-Modified-Since HTTP header" inclusion which is recommended, merely an attempt by Google to reduce the work of its spiders?

Compared to other market places which have been around for hundreds of years, the internet industry is still in its infancy, therefore, as the title of this post says "strike a balance with your internet marketing strategy".