Are Predictions about Mobile Searches Passing Desktop Searches a Reality?

The chart below was a graphic released by comScore at qSearch on March 26, 2015. This chart compares searches in increments of billions, broken down by desktops, smartphones, and tablets.

Volume of search queries during the fourth quarter of 2013 & 2014 indicate a significant change. Including smartphones and tablets searches make up approximately 29% of the total search volume for these quarters. In Q4 2013, there were 45.7 billion desktop searches, 10.8 billion smartphone searches and 4.6 billion with tablets. During Q4 2014, desktop search volumes remained roughly the same, but smartphone search volume increased by almost 2 billion searches and tablet search volume increased by up to 1.3 billion. This was the start of speculations that smartphones would surpass desktop searches in 2015.

Here’s an interesting quote by Jerry Dischler, Vice President, Product Management, AdWords from May, 2015:

“In fact, more Google searches take place on mobile devices than on computers in 10 countries including the US and Japan. This presents a tremendous opportunity for marketers to reach people throughout all the new touch points of a consumer’s path to purchase.”

Well there it is, straight from the horses mouth. Google formally announced that mobile device searches have officially surpassed desktop searches in May, 2015. They confirmed these queries were a combination of Google’s mobile search apps, for hotel bookings and an automotive app, plus their mobile browser-based searches. The graphic released earlier by comScore grouped tablets with smartphones, but Google groups tablets with desktops searches so their significant search increase data is based on smartphone search volume alone. We are still awaiting Google’s complete breakdown of each device’s shares.

This increase in mobile smartphone search volume is not isolated to the United States alone, Google says desktops lost ground to smartphones in Japan and eight other countries as well. In the US, I can’t say we’re totally surprised by the news. Every where you look, you’ll see at least one person on a phone or tablet these days. So as a business, don’t slip behind! Make sure you website, search engine and social media presence is mobile ready! At the bare minimum, your website should be responsive and also keep up with your local SEO so people can find you easily when they’re out-and-about and using their phones to geo-target businesses like yours. If you need a hand with your mobile presence, don’t hesitate contacting Surfaced Media. We’re always happy to help!