The Top 100 Alternative Search Engines, October

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Every month on AltSearchEngines, we update our list of the Top 100 Alternative Search Engines (ASE). Out of the 100 finalists, we select one above all the others to be the Search Engine of the Month (SEM). We also name ten honorable mentions (hm) randomly because we know that no one can check out all 100 - so we encourage you to visit the SEM and the 10 hm. And if you don’t see a search engine that you like, please leave us a comment, but do remember that there are 900+ search engines that we know about that did not make the cut.

There was very little change in the list from September. There are several possible reasons for this:

1) As 2007 progresses, the very best search engines tend to solidify their positions as others shake out. It’s not inertia, but rather a confirmation that success usually breeds success.

2) In that same vein, good ASE often come up with new features which keep them in the mix. This month’s SEM is an excellent example of this. ASE that are the same month after month tend to eventually drop off.

3) It may just be a lull in the Alternative space. There are many interesting projects in Stealth mode, and we still have all of October, November, and December to hear from them.

4) One trend that I am beginning to see is this: We have always said that there are 4-5 major search engines (Google, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Ask) and 100 Top ASE. But we may have to revisit that. Some ASE (maybe - blinkx, GigaBlast, Exalead, picsearch, Answers.com, Eurekster, Quintura - this is a new concept) seem to be growing larger than a typical ASE, but are not “major” yet either.

So I wonder, should there be a second tier? Should it just be based on market share - or some other measurement? What do you think?

5) Finally, the apparent stability of the Top 100 can, in the unique perspective of AltSearchEngines, be seen as a negative. It means that there are still “too many choices.” How many people will check out all 100 of these excellent ASE when 10 minutes a piece will take you 16 hours to complete? Have you looked at all 100? Have your friends, your spouse, or your boss? “Collaborate or Perish” (Not Merger) is still our battle cry, and we’ll continue to shout it from the rooftops until our voices are hoarse.

The Top 100 is not static, after all, it has its ebb and flow. But at the end of each month, what is the combined market share of the entire List - 2%? 4.5%? The sun goes down, the sun comes up, and another 100 ASE fight the good fight against (relative) obscurity.