Facebook beats Google in directing traffic to websites

In a turn of events that took even the savviest Web 2.0 experts by surprise, recently released statistics indicate that Facebook now directs more traffic to major websites than Google, the world’s most prominent search engine and one of the internet’s iconic brand names. According to Compete Incorporated’s web survey, 13 percent of all traffic to Yahoo, MSN and AOL came from Facebook profiles this past December, while Google only managed to lay claim to 7 percent of the traffic to these major portals. In fact, even eBay managed to narrowly beat Google, as 7.6 percent of the traffic to these sites was directed from the online auction giant. MySpace, a pioneer in social networking, only directed 2 percent of the traffic to Yahoo, MSN and AOL. Social networking experts note that the younger generations are surfing the internet in a very different manner than people did only five or ten years ago, and fewer of them are relying on search engines. Instead, links posted by Facebook friends are often what drive internet users to specific articles, videos, pictures and websites.

Facebook currently counts over 400 million active users, and this number continues to expand by significant proportions. The social networking leader managed to attract a staggering 225 million new users over the course of the past year. Web strategist and consultant Jeremiah Owyan noted that the way in which we browse and search the web is increasingly based on an “intricate set of connections,” especially on sites such as Facebook. The clear message to companies and organizations is to be active in the world of social networking, particularly if their target clientele includes the youngest, most web savvy generation.