Tuesday, 14 August 2007

Google Loses To Yahoo In User Satisfaction Poll

For the first time ever, Yahoo has outsmarted Google in the University of Michigan's annual American Customer Satisfaction Index report, which ranks business Web sites such as portals, search engines and news outlets....

For the first time ever, Yahoo has outsmarted Google in the University of Michigan's annual American Customer Satisfaction Index report, which ranks business Web sites such as portals, search engines and news outlets.

According to the survey that was released today, Yahoo replaced Google as the top Web portal with a customer satisfaction score of 79, up nearly 4 per cent over last year. Google's score slipped by 3.7 per cent to 78.

"With a 78 and 79 score, you don't declare a clear winner," said Larry Freed, chief executive of ForeSee Results, which sponsored the survey. "Yahoo has seen a great resurgence, and for Google the message here is that the competition is getting stronger.

The online survey polled 250 users in the second quarter of the year. Participants rated all of Yahoo's and Google's services, such as maps, e-mail, information and entertainment features.

Freed says Yahoo's score improved because it redesigned its page last year. The makeover created a one-stop shop that made it easier for consumers to find services all of Yahoo’s services.

"They are making solid incremental improvements," he said.