China's online search market will breach the 10-billion-yuan
(US$1.39 billion) mark in four years to overtake Japan and enter
the world's top three.
It means that although the nation's web population size is set
to become the world's No.1 early this year, the commercial value of
the huge search market is still to be fully tapped, according to a
report by Shanghai-based consultancy iResearch.
"The amount of search inquiries actually has exceeded that of
Japan or the United States, but the revenue from each search is far
less than those two markets," said iResearch in a report.
Other than the exchange-rate factor, many Chinese corporate
users haven't realized the value of "indirect key words" that may
lead to visits to their websites.
Another problem is that most searches are centered on
entertainment, among which free movies and music make up the bulk
of inquiries.
Search-related ads generated about 2.9 billion yuan last year,
according to iResearch, which expects this to expand 76 percent
this year and reach 10 billion yuan by the end of 2010. It will
definitely surpass Japan in 2011.
As of last year, Beijing-based Baidu.com had the largest share
of 60 percent.
Google China ranked second with a share of 21.2 percent as it
attracted more customers from real estate, education and
healthcare. China Yahoo! finished third last year with a share of
14 percent.
(Shanghai Daily January 31, 2008)
