FaceBook the New Search Engine...

We have been watching this story very closely and it is our opinion that FB will be the next big search engine for sure. If you take into consideration Google Caffeine and what it actually is. Clearly the Google has put an emphasis on the need for site speed, feature rich content and videos.

Caffeine is about serving up the freshest information as quickly as possible and is doing that. Now put that in context of FB announcing that it is going to allow it's content to be available to the search engines is simply one more step in the direction.

It is also worth noting that Google has openly declared that FB is it's main concern as on the face of things, FB is poised to take a large chunk of the search market as well as paid advertising. FB last week or the week before had more search than Google as written in the news, (sorry can't remember where) but it was announced. Then take into consideration the fact that youtube is now the 2nd most searched search engine.

Like it or hate it FB has the ability to change the future and social media is here to stay. Most people and business alike are using social media for one reason or another, promoting brand, prodcuts, playing games or simply connecting with friends and family. It has become a one stop shop and why the need for email when you have all your mates and customers in one place.

Another WF member recently wrote an article about Mobile websites and we actually argree that this is a niche just waiting to happen. In context we also believe the video is going to become bigger than ever and feel that Google's insistence for greater speed and download times signifies this.

What is of concern is what is going to happen to the little guys, just normal people with small niche websites, sites built in html, single page sites, WP blogs etc, it would appear that unless you have serious content which is updated frequently you are not going to rank well at all. Look here on these very forums and see how many people have complained at the loss of their PR and the serious drop off in organic free traffic in the last few weeks.

Well what do you guys think?

if Facebook beats Google then there will only be one ruler over the internet and no one will be able to compete with him... Facebook search is quit good as compared to other social media websites, if Facebook keeps it up then surely it can knock Google off of its feet

there is, but currently they are using Bing's engine for web search.

Only 20% of the world has internet access..... oh - you mean OUR world!

FB may be a popular networking site and can be used to trace your long lost friends, but beyond that it has a very limited search capability. You can only search the last 30 days of your News Feed for status updates, photos, links, videos and notes that are shared by your friends and the Facebook Pages of which you're a fan. If people have chosen to make their content private, it won't show up in search results.

Great feedback. Wow! Going to be like an arms race it seems.

@Kieron... Any idea on where that "Mobile Websites" article is?

Well, never say never, but in this case I'll make an acception.

There is NO WAY that facebook would ever give Google a run for their money on search. The search question has been asked, and Google came out on top. Nobody is clamoring for a new search engine to meet their needs. They deliver, by far, the most relevant results and they have integrated everything quite nicely together.

Gmail itself has 176 million users and it's only one of Google's applications. Personally, I think people, on average, check Gmail more than they would their facebook accounts. I think you have 10% hardcore users, the rest are casual.

From what I could tell, Facebook peaked in populararity in 2009. Peaked as in the rate at which it's adding new users. I am betting that 2010 will be much slower for them.

Facebook has positioned itself in the market as a social network and to compete against Google in the search engine market is not a good idea.

When people think of "search" they think of Google.

When people think of "social networking" they think of Facebook.

Both brands are different and to cross over to a search engine would be a dangerous strategy for Facebook. All you have to do is look at their AD Platform and compare it against Adwords.

I rest my case.

@ Ryan D... I would agree with you unless Google does not keep up. As technology changes others can leap frog ahead in time if the leader does not adapt also. I heard that one of Google's COO's and 9% of Google employees have left and went over to FaceBook as well. Hmm... Thought this was interesting.