Firefox To Partner With Yahoo!

Firefox announced its decision to change its global search default to Yahoo!, ending its ten year agreement with Google. The new five year partnership will change the look of Firefox’s web searches starting at the end of 2014.

What If I Don’t Like Yahoo!?

If you’re a Firefox user and are not a big fan of Yahoo!, you’ll still have access to other search engines as built-in alternatives.

These include Google, Bing and DuckDuckGo to name a few. To use new Firefox features such as safe browsing and geolocation, Google will still be the main engine, which will leave current SEO practices unscathed. In addition to the new partnership, Firefox will improve other key functions including innovative new search interfaces, content experiences and privacy enhancements for both mobile and desktop.

Wise Decision?

More people use Google for their online searches than any other, which has turned “Googling” into a new word in the dictionary. It also means people are asking if Firefox made a sound business move based on the number of people using Firefox compared to Google Chrome.

While some are excited about the change, most searchers who invested in Google’s features are nervous about Firefox’s decision. Unless Firefox provides the same services or better, people will stay with Chrome so they can use features provided by Google like Hangouts, Docs, Gmail and Google Plus.

Over time, Chrome has continued to gain a larger share of the market while Firefox has declined. Google dominates the search space, of which it controls over 68%

How The World Has Changed

According to w3schools’ browser statistics of October 2014:

• 60% use Chrome
• 23% use Firefox
• 10% use Internet Explorer

And back in 2008:

• 3% used Chrome
• 44% used Firefox
• 46% used Internet Explorer

Looking at the numbers, it’s unlikely Firefox will ever claim the lead once again. It seems rather to be strengthening its second place. The decline of Firefox is generally due to its technical problems, which include memory leak, a failing mobile strategy and its lack of other productive features related to the browser.

What Does This Change Mean to Search Marketers?

Nothing, at least for now. Keep the same strategy and you should be able to rank for Yahoo! as well as other search engines as Google’s algorithms are far more advanced than any of its competitors. Currently, Yahoo! is not giving clear hints as to the future of its own algorithm.

Optimization Tips – Including Baidu and Yandex

Firefox is making Yahoo! its new default global search engine in America. Baidu will be Firefox’s default search engine in China, and Yandex its search engine in Russia. Because different places use different search engines, it is very important to pick a search engine based on your targeted audience.

• For example, when you have a website dedicated to an audience in China, optimizing for Baidu is a great idea.
• Optimizing for Yandex is great for an audience in Russia.
• Yahoo! and Google will reach your global audience.

Regardless of Yahoo!’s change to Firefox, your audience is still the prime consideration.