Tuesday, December 23. 2008

Latest Web Stats: Google Maps Gaining on MapQuest

"In November, the most recent month for data, MapQuest's unique-visitor count fell 9% from November 2007 to 41.5 million, while Google Maps' rose 29% to 38.8 million, market tracker comScore says."

Analysts note that Google's position as top search engine drives much of Google Maps success. Christian Dwyer, MapQuest's general manager, details two instances what Investor's Business Daily calls "dirty pool" which seem to promote Google Maps and move down MapQuest.

(1) In a Google search the top search result gets a lot of space, pushing all other search results lower on the page (often that result is Google's).

(2) In paid links Google seems to always come out above MapQuest.

The article confirms these observations. The good news? No one seems to think there's anything wrong with MapQuest, though the sentiment "too little, too late" comes through.

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Perform a search for "driving directions" (the reason I assume most people use Mapquest) and they're first. They even get the "inflated" first search result.

I think it's not just "too little, too late", I believe all the innovators have left Mapquest or been redirected. It's easier to hire PR people to spin elaborate explanations on why market share is slipping than it is to get programmers to come up with something great that'll be a reason to use the site. Mapquest has long been piloted by ad men, just look at the home page. Every search result comes with listings for Holiday Inn and gas stations. They're not about innovation.

#1 John Reiser (Link) on 2008-12-23 09:58 (Reply)

MapQuest = AOL. 'Nuff said.

#2 Atanas Entchev (Link) on 2008-12-24 08:36 (Reply)

Google Maps works better, is easier to use, and has more features.

#3 Eric on 2009-01-09 02:10 (Reply)

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In reply to	[ Top level ]#1: John Reiser on 2008-12-23 09:58 #2: Atanas Entchev on 2008-12-24 08:36 #3: Eric on 2009-01-09 02:10
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