Meta Search Engines: What Are They and Why Use Them?

Meta Search Engines: What Are They and Why Use Them?

Did you know there’s life beyond Google? It’s true. Meta search engines, while they may seem like a new topic, actually date back to the late 20th century, as many of these sites emerged as direct competitors to Google in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Investigating metasearch engines is like retracing the history of search. But if meta search engines are confusing you, this guide is for you.

What is a meta search engine?

A meta search engine is a type of search engine that aggregates results from data from other search engines. They can be generalized, like most search engines like Google, or specialized in a specific topic or vertical.

What does a meta search engine do?
Meta search engines crawl other search engines, online databases, and other online information sources. They then collect and index the various search results they collect and rank them using their proprietary search technology. Some use their own methods to rank and group results, while others rely on the search engines they crawled for ranking.

Ironically, the technology behind early metasearch engines was crucial in the development of database technology and the proprietary search engines found on individual websites, such as Amazon.com and eBay.

How do metasearch engines help with SEO research?

Metasearch engines can provide a goldmine of customer and keyword data for SEO and SEM.
Search engines can provide excellent SEO insights, such as:

• Search results grouping: Grouping search terms by phrases and word derivations. This is a great way to brainstorm during keyword research and is especially useful for formalizing the best SEO strategy.
• Search engine results comparison: Sites like Langreiter.com compare Google and Yahoo results, or Fuzzfind, which compares social media and search. The value of comparing terms between social media and search engines is clear.
• Keyword selectionMetasearch engines are also excellent sources for selecting complex and underused keywords that could prove crucial for your business.

Meta Search Engine Optimization: Is It Important?

Frankly, not that important. According to statistics, 86% of search traffic in Europe comes through Google. Since most of your traffic will come through Google, the bulk of your SEO campaign efforts should be directed towards creating quality content and optimizing for Google search. Since Google is the world leader, the various metasearch engines also consider how Google requires websites to be formatted and optimized. Google is still the king of search, and that’s where most of your SEO resources should go.

This means that if 86% of your traffic comes from Google, 86% of your SEO resources should go to Google SEO. The final 14% of your resources should be used for metasearch engines.

Conclusion

Here at Ottobix, we believe you should leave no stone unturned with your SEO training. The world of SEO is constantly evolving, and being armed with the knowledge of how metasearch engines work will help you find and help your clients. Take a look at our SEO services and discover why SEO is important.