For years now Google has completely dominated the search market and almost all other search providers have continued to lose market share despite numerous re branding, site updates, new features and other tactics. Microsoft has recieved a beating in the press about how they have been struggling to get Live Search higher in market share despite it’s dominance in other areas like the browser and their Windows operating system.

The question now is:
What will it take for Microsoft to actually gain market share in search? Will it be another new re branding with their new Kumo name? Is it by doing more marketing and advertising? Or do they need to simply drop out of the search game?

I think Microsoft can significantly increase it’s market share by making one simple change. One simple change, is that really possible? Yes

Microsoft’s biggest advantage right now over Google is the fact that it has a huge OS market share around the world, their OS comes with their own browser installed called Internet Explorer which is still the dominating browser on the internet. When any person buys a new computer with Windows or does a clean install of Windows onto their computer then that person pretty much HAS to open up Internet Explorer to access the Internet, even if it means they are going to go download FireFox to set as your default browser.

This simple fact that IE is a users first access point to the internet is what Microsoft can use to its advantage to get Live Search to grab marketshare from Google. What is the first page that people see when they open IE for the first time? MSN.com, what else do they see? 50+ links to articles about, sports, news, weather, etc. etc. or links to ads and videos. What do people not see? The search box.

People by nature are going to read what is put in front of them, they will take the lazy route out and simply click on things that look interesting rather than having to hunt down and search for something. Sure it’s “easier” for the user to find news, however it simply kills the need for search. Once one article heading catches the eye of a user that user will click on that link, they will read the article, then find something else to do and never give search a second thought.

However, if you go to Google.com the main and single purpose of the site is Search. When a user is on Google.com their focus stays on search there is very little else to distract the user from doing exactly what Google wants them to do.

If Microsoft wants to gain market share and to get people actually using their search, all they have to do is set the default homepage in Internet Explorer to Live.com (or kumo if/when it comes out and assuming it’s as nice or better as the Live.com). I honestly believe it would be that simple to compete against Google.

Why it would work:

1. It would look totally different and un-expected to every single person that opens up IE for the first time on a fresh install of windows. The user in return would give it at least a few extra seconds of attention and the user would probably be interested at least a little bit about the photo on the page.
2. The photo on Live.com in my opinion is the most appealing part of Live.com versus Google.com I enjoy great photography for one and also enjoy learning about new things that I normally would not have thought to look up. The image accomplishes both of these things, plus the boxes that you can click on about the photo returns Live Search Results not some random article like MSN.com would have brought up.
3. The focus of the user is now Search, there are no articles grabbing my attention and pulling me away from what Microsoft wants most “Search”
4. The interface is super clean and super easy to use. Live.com is minimalistic and has good design, whereas Google.com is simply minimalistic.
5. Windows 7, Microsoft’s next major OS. Over the last few months/year Windows 7 for the most part has gotten great reviews as being the best or nearly the best OS Microsoft has ever put out. With Vista having poor acceptance (despite the fact it really isn’t that bad) Windows 7 will be 100% more successful than Vista without a doubt. If Microsoft would set IE homepage to Live.com when it Windows 7 is released I think Microsoft will be able to get a new and fresh start with it Live Search and since people will find Windows 7 to be a really great operating system they will be happier with Microsoft which will give them confidence in Live Search which will increase market share.

Consequences:
There are certainly a few side effects with changing the default homepage for IE. People may feel lost at first and miss seeing the new pushed in their face. Microsoft will lose significant traffic to MSN.com and all the articles and advertising which could be a big issue in the short term but would be better in the long run if Microsoft is more concerned about Live Search market share and staying competitive in the search market.

I could dig a lot deeper into my theory and provide more points of why it could work and go into futher detail, however this post is already plenty long and doing this writing thing is still quite new to me

Some articles about Kumo:

• http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/11/23/microsoft-to-rebrand-search-will-it-be-kumo/
• http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1736
• http://www.pcworld.com/article/154403/kumo_kmon.html

I look forward to your comments and critiques of my ideas.
zebb.

Greetings to all!
My name is Micah Iverson, I am a freelance graphic designer, web designer and 3D Artist. I own Krazier Designs LLC a small design and services company. Our current services include TextureArchive.com (WIPfolio.com) – which offers free textures, brushes and other resources to all kinds of artists and our newest service GetInnStyle.com – which offers an easy and affordable way for Inns and Bed and Breakfast owners to get a professionaly designed and developed website.

The next service in development is Superior Apartments, the service will offer listing services to apartment, town house, condos, bed and breakfast and others to property owners and managers. People looking to rent will be able to search all these listings completely free on a clutter and ad free website. Visit our site now to sign-up to receive notification of when we go live with our new service, we are getting really close and cannot wait to open it up to the public!

It has been a long time since having a blog on Krazier Designs and we are excited to get back into it. Why has it taken so long? For one I have been focused on my clients and building great new websites and services for all of you. I am still very busy with designing and developing but felt it was time to start talking and sharing what is going with Krazier Designs and what the future holds.

Obviously, I am not done setting up the blog, the blog is currently still using a basic template and doesn’t match any of our other services. We will be working on this over the next few weeks/months as we design a blog that fits our style.

I am looking forward to hearing comments and having starting to build relationships with all of you.

Plenty more down the road!

Cheers
Micah (Zebb)