Beyond Google, Yahoo and Bing

When I think of search engines I think of Google, Yahoo and Bing.  After researching this topic I realize that these engines are probably the most popular but far from being the entire list.  The search engine list is quite extensive and beyond what I can imagine.  There are ones that are all purpose, others search for games, people, finance, blogs, international and the list goes on. 

Which search engine is the best?  Which one do I use?  The more choices one has the harder it is to select one.  Being a "beginner" searcher it would be nice if there was just one search engine that would control it all or somehow link all engines into one.  One key word search would result in running multiple searches across multiple engines resulting in the "best" find.  Is this concept too simplified?

However, in the midst of my research I discovered Dogpile.com.  This website combined Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask into one search engine.  This could be the beginning of a new era in searching... Consolidation.

The Internet Landscape is Confusing

Being a first timer to the whole blogging scene has made me realize that there is more to the internet than just web surfing.  However, understanding what is out there is a different story.  From Protocol to Domain to Web design to Social Media, one can get lost in the shuffle.  For example, here is an image which illustrates the abundance of social media and domain.  This is only going to grow with time.  Reading "Internet For Dummy" might be a good place to start.  But this is the case if you don’t know about it or don’t use it, where would you begin to find out about?  Having an audit background, I would also question its security and governance.  There has been some attempts to regulate the social media, but this is only the beginning (see article Governing Social Media).  Having said that, one can see that the benefit is tremendous – any information is just a click away.

Is Internet Marketing taking the same approach as McDonald's ad campaign?

McDonalds have long been known for their "Everywhere" campaign.  No matter where you go, a McDonalds establishment is right around the corner.  They prosper on this principle - "Billions and Billions Served" grace their arches.  Does internet marketing share this approach?
If a company is advertising on the internet then wouldn't it be beneficial for that company's name, product or service to constantly "pop-up".  In other words, high exposure leads to a competitive advantage which leads to an increase in market share.

The truth is, internet marketing shares the same strategy as "traditional" marketing.  You need to know your market, your target and your competitors if you want to be effective.  However, over exposure is not necessarily a bad thing.  It helps create awareness from audiences you never knew you had.