Desktop Search is Surging…and This is Why
Something is happening in the search trend that we didn’t think we’d see so soon.
Although the desktop search has never gone so far out of popularity, we all know that mobile search has dominated trends for the past few years.
But recently, that has changed.
With the global spread of the new Coronavirus, more than a third of the world’s population has been forced to stay at home in quarantine.
It happened either willingly or as part of a nationwide lockdown.
Staying all-time at home, whether spent working or not, has changed the way that people are accessing the web.
Search engine marketers (SEO’s) across the world have noticed a definite increase in desktop searches, in what has become one of the more surprising shakeups of the lockdowns.
With just about everyone at home behind a desktop computer or laptop, it is natural that people are browsing the web via their desktops as opposed to their mobile devices.
Not only does the desktop search allow them to minimize expensive phone data usage. It also gives the freedom to search for something the moment people think of it.
In the busy day to day office life, searching for anything online is a bit of a juggle.
There is no time to search simply, and sometimes there are restrictions on what can be accessed.
But with the onset of COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns, people have nothing but time, and with no one looking over their shoulders, they are free to browse as they please.
As early as March 2020, as some countries had already introduced laws to keep people at home, mobile search had a noticeable drop of almost 25%.
Marketers noticed that while mobile devices are popular, primarily because they are available when searchers have a choice, they will always pick the desktop.
Smartphones are not the only mobile devices that are suffering a drop in popularity.
Tablets are also being set aside in favor of the desktop, although the decline in tablet use is not as dramatic as that of the smartphone.
Another surprising element in the surge in desktop usage is that Bing has enjoyed an increase in popularity, as it is the browser of choice for those using Windows 10.
Seeing that Bing is built into Windows 10, and needs to be manually changed to another search engine, should users prefer to use something else, many simply stick to what is available.
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How can you use this information to your advantage?
It’s great to know that desktop search is trending again, but how can you use this to your advantage?
With the lockdown in full swing, and with it being extended in many countries, there has never been a better time to turn your business digital.
Even with COVID-19, online buying has not really diminished, so for small businesses, online marketing might just be a lifeline.
It’s true that online marketing is not something that can be done overnight, but making an investment now, can payout for years to come.
Did you know? – The most significant breakout keywords during Covid- 19 was Stocks and Shares.
If you find that you are now ready to take those all-important first steps towards making your business online, here is what you can do right now.
Design your website (or give it a makeover)
Most web design companies are working remotely at the moment so you can get in contact with them and discuss building a new site, or you can chat about how to give your existing one a revamp to suit your new marketing plan.
Now is a perfect time, because you have the time to focus on this specific task that you might have been putting off up until now.
Make sure that your design is simple and easy to use, but also more than capable of meeting your needs.
A good web designer, or even an SEO consultant, should be able to help you.
Up your social game
Where are most people when they have nothing to do?
They are on social media, checking for updates, and looking for ways to pass the time.
Most small businesses already have a social media presence, particularly on Facebook, but not all companies are committed to doing it right.
During this unexpected lockdown, set aside some time to improve your social media engagement.
There are so many free resources on the web that will help you make the most of your Facebook posts.
And when we all go back to work, and you don’t have the time to take care of your social media, you can hand it over to a social media management company.
Start promoting
When your website is up, and you have a reliable, consistent plan for your social media, you can then start promoting your company online.
Right now, with the world the way it is, and with SEO being a process that takes months to gain traction, you can instantly start getting attention by using paid Google and Facebook adverts.
They are reasonably easy to set up, and they have been proven to have an impact.
Even if what you are offering is not an essential service right now, this lockdown will pass.
Once it does, you’ll want to make sure that you have your company at the forefront of people’s minds.
Will desktop remain at the top?
Right now, it is hard to say. The move to go back to normal might take time, so we could be seeing desktop staying popular for a while still.
The best thing that you can do right now is to plan for desktop but make your marketing adaptable for mobile so that when people return to the office, you have a consistent presence on both.
