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Vertical Search: Market Size, Share & Forecast

Image of Chuck Richard

Author: Chuck Richard, Vice President & Lead Analyst

Vertical search continues to deliver what big search engines miss, and the resulting financial potential remains attractive. Outsell estimates the total ad-supported B2B trade information vertical search market at $518 million in 2007. Our research shows that the user and advertiser needs addressed by vertical search services remain significantly underserved by Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft, and AOL. But many B2B trade publishers and information providers that have launched vertical search services have been slow to do what’s necessary to use vertical search as a springboard to seed a fast-growing virtuous circle. This report follows up on our 2006 study, Vertical Search Delivers What Big Search Engines Miss, and includes:

- An overview of the vertical search market;
- Outsell data on B2B vertical search market size and growth;
- Analysis of vertical search market dynamics;
- Essential actions for building momentum that can trigger a virtuous circle of growth.

Pub Date: March 3, 2008
Pages: 28
Format: PDF Application_pdf

Table of Contents

  • Why This Market?
    1. Methodology
  • Market Overview
    1. Why Revisit Vertical Search?
    2. Focus on Ad-Supported B2B Trade Information Vertical Search
    3. Clear Needs and Gaps Remain
  • B2B Vertical Search Market Size and Growth
    1. Vertical Search Growth Rate Reduced
  • Market Dynamics - New Insights Into Growth Inhibitors
    1. Quality Search Necessary but Current Services Are Far from Sufficient
    2. Be Aware of and Beware Google's Vertical Search Toolkit
  • Essential Actions
  • Related Research
    1. Reports
    2. Insights

    Tables & Figures

  • Table 1. Problems or Challenges Getting Needed Information
  • Table 2. Market Size Data Used in Estimating Ad-Supported B2B Trade Information Vertical Search Revenue (2007)
  • Figure 1. Estimated Traffic Trends for Major B2B Trade Vertical Search Sites from Compete, Inc.
  • Figure 2. Estimated Traffic Trends from IT White Paper Vertical Search Sites
  • Table 3. Revisiting Drivers and Inhibitors: 2006 vs. 2008
  • Table 4. Upstream and Downstream Gaps
  • Figure 3. B2B Structural Model
  • Figure 4. The Information Services and Solutions Value Model
  • Figure 5. ThomasNet Search Plug-in for Firefox Users
  • Figure 6. GlobalSpec Toolbar
  • Figure 7. Advertisers’ Allocation of Total Online Marketing Spending
  • Table 5. Obstacles or Problems in Buying Advertising
  • Figure 8. Screen Shot from ThomasNet’s “Promote Your Business” Services
  • Figure 9. IQS Use of Vertical Search Toolkit from Google
  • Figure 10. IQS Use of Google Maps with Local Supplier Links
  • Figure 11. IQS Use of Google Images Search
  • Figure 12. IQS Use of Google Froogle Included in Toolkit
  • Figure 13. IQS Use of Google News

    • Companies Mentioned

  • Advanstar Media
  • Business.com
  • Convera
  • GlobalSpec
  • IQS Directory
  • KnowledgeStorm
  • Nielsen Business Media
  • Reed Business Information
  • SearchChannel
  • TechTarget
  • ThomasNet
  • ZoomInfo

Companies Mentioned

  1. Advanstar Communications, Inc.
  2. Business.com, Inc.
  3. Convera Inc.
  4. GlobalSpec, Inc.
  5. IQS Directory
  6. KnowledgeStorm, Inc.
  7. Nielsen Business Media
  8. Reed Business (RBI)
  9. SearchChannel
  10. TechTarget
  11. Thomas Publishing Company
  12. Zoom Information, Inc.