Global Online Google Search Trends - Visa, Mastercard and American Express

Below is an infographic depicting the search trends for Visa, MasterCard and American Express from 2007-2011 for 33 countries. I have used Google Trends to collect the for data last 5 years. You can sort the data by Country or by Year. The key words used in the analysis are 'visa' 'mastercard' and 'amercian express' in the Financial Services Category.

According to Google - The data reflects how many searches have been done for a particular term, relative to the total number of searches done on Google over time. They don't represent absolute search volume numbers, because the data is normalized and presented on a scale from 0-100.

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Following is the list of countries covered in the above analysis - Australia Austria Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Netherlands Poland Russian Federation Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom United States Argentina Belgium Indonesia Denmark Egypt Hong Kong United Arab Emirates South Africa Ireland Israel Singapore Saudi Arabia Turkey New Zealand Portugal

Google Search Trends for Banks in Singapore - 2011

A known fact - people in need of Financial Services flock to the Internet to conduct their preliminary research. A largely ignored fact - Online Sentiments determine the demand and supply in the 'offline' world and online research helps the customers make their purchase decisions. An excellent example of Sentiment Analysis is how Google's Search Index trends along with the UAE's housing pricing index to show fall in online searches when the property bubble burst. Search engines are one of the most popular ways for people to conduct their research for financial products. Google being one of the most popular search engines is able to give data on customer's online behavior and their search habits. 

I have used few queries to determine the Google search habits of people in Singapore. The below analysis is on Google using 'Rising Searches' and 'Top Searches' for Financial Services Industry in Singapore. According to Google "Rising searches highlight searches that have experienced significant growth in a given time period, with respect to the preceding time period" and "Top searches refers to search terms with the most significant level of interest."

The below data could be used in planning your online acquisitions, positioning your products/channels online, competitor analysis, understanding customer behavior etc.

Banking

The 2011 searches for the "Banking" category shows that, people are actively searching for POSB iBanking. POSB was acquired by DBS bank in 1998, however they continue to serve the customers. POSB branches fall at the 3^rd place in the Top searches for banking. HDFC quick remit, a free online remittance service, seems to be very popular in Singapore, as it appears on 2^nd, 3^rd and 5^th rank. OCBC, CITI and DBS internet banking channel also appear in the top 10 list of searched keywords. OCBC branch keyword appears at number 10.

Insight – POSB bank customers are very loyal, as they continue to use the brand services/channels, thanks to its wide spread network and low cost offerings. It is interesting to see people searching for bank branches on Google, showing potential to understand why they are interested to know branch locations. Alternatively, they could be migrated to other cost effective channels.

Cards

In the Cards search category I have queried the 'Top Searches' for Credit Cards category to derive the results in the chart. Standard Chartered card is a clear leader in keyword search.
Standard Chartered’s Manhattan Card is a popular search on Google. CITI bank is another MNC bank that appears in the top 10 list. UOB and OCBC are the only regional banks that make it in the top 10.

I also did an analysis on what are 'Rising Searches' for cards on Google in the Credit Cards Category during 2011. Regional bank, OCBC and Standard Chartered are on the top of the list. May Bank and UOB are the other banks that make it in the list.

Insight – MNC Bank card searches are quite popular. Regional banks may need to step up efforts for their online presence

 

Auto Finance

Cars in Singapore are a luxury. However there are many financing option available in the market. Probably this data can be useful to banks to position their online campaigns. I have queried the Auto Finance category to arrive at the results. The most common terms used on Google search are 'lease' and 'leasing'. People are also looking to Car Loan Calculator in the online search.

Insight – Bank’s should offer calculators on their Public Websites to give customers an idea on financing details.

Home Finance

Loan Calculators also searched on Google, which shows that banks need to invest in having easy to use calculators on their public websites. This could help in acquiring new customers.'

Property prices in Singapore are high; however government has always intervened to provide affordable housing. Keywords like ‘loan’, ‘home loan’, ‘mortgages’ are popular amongst users. ‘HDB Loan’- is part of a government scheme to provide affordable housing. The Housing & Development Board (HDB) is Singapore's public housing authority and a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development.

Insurance 

Insurance is one of the hottest Businesses at present; thanks to all the uncertainness in the world. I have used the 'Top Searches' category for the below analysis. NTUC Insurance seems to be the most searched on Google followed by Aviva and AIA insurance. Car and Life insurance fall at 8^th and 8^th rank respectively. I am not able to see any specific search for health insurance, my hunch on this would be probably, insurance brands are more popular searches than the type of insurance.

Insight – Travel insurance is the most popular search on Google in Singapore.

Online Banking

Online Banking has been growing in popularity in Financial Services Sector and the channel remains popular among customers to conduct their banking transactions. I have queried 'online banking' and 'internet banking' keywords in the 'Banking' category to determine these results. In the 'internet banking' keyword category UOB clearly takes the lead in the most searched keyword for online banking followed by OCBC. POSB and DBS also make it in the top 10 list.

In the 'online banking' keyword category the results are strikingly different. DBS takes the lead for the most searched keyword followed by its own brand POSB. CITI Bank is the only MNC to make it in the top 10 search category. OCBC and UOB also manage to appear in the top 10 keyword search list.

It is important to understand how a bank has positioned itself on internet for various keywords. Some banks are able to leverage on the keyword 'internet banking' while other top the list of 'online banking'.

An analysis on the interest level in both terms shows that ' Internet banking' is a clear leader in terms of online search.

Google Search Trends for Banks in UAE - 2011

A known fact - people in need of Financial Services flock to the Internet to conduct their preliminary research. A largely ignored fact - Online Sentiments determine the demand and supply in the 'offline' world and online research helps the customers make their purchase decisions. An excellent example of Sentiment Analysis is; how Google Index trends along with the UAE's housing pricing index to show fall in online searches when the property bubble burst. Search engines are one of the most popular ways for people to conduct their research for financial products. Google being one of the most popular search engines is able to give data on customer's online behavior and their search habits.

I have used few queries to determine the Google search habits of people in UAE. The below analysis is on Google using 'Rising Searches' and 'Top Searches' for Financial Services Industry in UAE. According to Google "Rising searches highlight searches that have experienced significant growth in a given time period, with respect to the preceding time period" and "Top searches refers to search terms with the most significant level of interest." The below data could be used in planning your online acquisitions, positioning your products/channels online, competitor analysis, understanding customer behavior etc.  

Banking

The 2011 searches for the "Banking" category shows that, people are keen to know about the recently introduced "iban" payment system. "Rakbank Online" seems to be a very popular followed by 'emiratesnbd'. HSBC and Emirate NBD's online banking also fall in the top 10 searched keywords. Overall Emirate NBD the largest bank by assets in Middle East, seems to attract lot of searches on Google. IFSC code is another payment system used by the banks in India.

Cards

The search criteria were to use the keyword 'Card' in the Credit Cards category to derive the results in the chart. 'Prepaidcard' is the most searched term in this category. Interestingly, First Gulf Bank card seems to be popular search term among the online users. Emirate NBD is also listed in the top 10 category. NBAD is listed in the top 3 as a preferred search term in the credit card category.

I also did an analysis on what were the Top most searches for cards on Google in the Credit Cards Category during 2011. 

Visa Card makes an entry in this category. "Prepaidcard" keyword is no. 1 in the rising searches category. To connect the dots, probably Visa Prepaid Card was something people may be searching for. HSBC, Mashreq and ADCB also have made it into the top 10 keyword search list.

Auto Finance

There has been a sudden spike in Auto Finance online ads in UAE. Probably this data can be useful to banks to position their online campaigns. The most common terms used on google search are 'lease' and 'leasing'. Availability of second hand cars and steady fall in the price pf popular cards in the region would make the auto-financing a hot proposition.

Home Finance

Post crash of the property market in UAE, there has been several inaccurate predictions with the real estate pundits on how the market will perform in the near future. For the banking industry there lies an opportunity to encourage borrowing. I have used 'home loan' and 'mortgage' as keywords in the Home Financing category to arrive at these results. 

(زايد للإسكان) Zayed Housing Scheme is the top keyword searched on google in UAE.  It is a housing scheme run by the government of UAE to help nationals buy/build a home by granting them loans. 'ADCBloan' is a popular keyword searched online. Calculators also are very popular search, which shows that banks need to invest in having easy to use calculators on their public websites.

Insurance

Insurance is one of the hottest Businesses at present; thanks to all the uncertainness in the world. I have used the 'Top Searches' category for the below analysis. 'LifeInsurance', rank's 2nd in the search list followed by 'healthinsurance' and 'carinsurance'. Medical and Travel insurance fall at 7th and 8th most searched keywords respectively. AXA  and RSA are the only two companies that fall in the top 10 keywords list.

Online Banking

Online Banking usage in UAE has significantly grown and the channel remains popular among customers for conducting their banking transactions. I have queried 'online banking' and 'internet banking' keywords in the 'Banking' category to determine these results. In the 'internet banking' keyword category HSBC clearly takes the lead in the most searched keyword for online banking followed by Emirate NBD. Interestingly two bank, Axis (Indian Bank) and BDO (Philippines Bank) also turn up in the top 10 list.

In the 'online banking' keyword category the results are strikingly different. NBD takes the lead for the most searched keyword followed by Standard Chartered. Mashreq and ADCB are the other two banks who appear in this search.
It is important to understand how a bank has positioned itself on internet for various keywords. Some banks are able to leverage on the keyword 'internet banking' while other top the list of 'online banking'.

Google Search Index v/s Dubai's House Price Index

Below is a comparison of how the Google Search Index varies when the housing bubble burst in Dubai in 2009. From the charts you may notice that a peak in the search of 'Home Financing' category happened few quarters before the bubble burst in UAE. This is very interesting and probably tells a lot about the fact that sentiment plays a very important role in the market movements. Surprisingly, the search for housing information drops before the bubble bursts and stays lower while the prices are wiped off and most of the people lose their homes.

However, at a macro level the trends match and show that online sentiments do determine the demand and supply of a commodity.

There is a surge in the search for property on Google in 2010, which matches with the house price index trend.

Click here to read Google Trends 2011 for Banks in UAE

Image take from - http://www.globalpropertyguide.com

What did Middle East Search in 2011 on Google - Trends Part 2

This series covers Google Trends 2011 for UAE,  Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Oman and Lebanon.

Google has once again released its annual Zeitgeist report, showing the fastest rising searches for countries all over the world. Saudi Arabia and Egypt were covered as part of the MENA region. I have used Google Trends to do the analysis of other countries in the Middle East.

Part 1 covers - UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Part 2 cover Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan

Jordan 

Youtube and Facebook take the lead in the searches. Saraya a popular news website is also among the top 10 searches. 

Gaddafi is a most sought after person on Google Jordan. 4Share a file sharing site is a popular in Jordan.

Interestingly Chrome browser is a among the top 10 rising keyword searches.

Egypt

Egypt has the highest number of Internet Users in the MENA region (20,136,000 as of 30 June 2011, according to internetworldstats.com). 

With all the political action happening in Egypt, no doubt ‘youm7’; a news website is among the list of popular searches.  Terms like ‘

Tahrir Square

’ and ‘Revolution of 25 January’ are among the top rising searches in 2011. Youtube and Facebook remain in the top 10 searched keywords.

Hossini Mubarak remains the most searched person on Google followed by Wael Ghonim one of the key activist in the Egyptian revolution.

Lebanon 

The country has internet usage penetration of 29%. Most of the searched terms are in English language. ‘Twitter’ is also appearing among the top 10 searched words. 

Applications like ‘whtsapp’ and ‘ebuddy’ are popular searches. 

Lots of users are taking interest in searching for the keyword ‘Syria’, assuming out of interest in the current political situation.

Click here to read Part 1 of this series

Click here to read about Middle East Google Trends for 2010

What did Middle East Search in 2011 on Google - Trends Part 1

This series covers Google Trends 2011 for UAE,  Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Oman and Lebanon.

Google has once again released its annual Zeitgeist report, showing the fastest rising searches for countries all over the world. Saudi Arabia and Egypt were covered as part of the MENA region. I have used Google Trends to do the analysis of other countries in the Middle East. 

Part 1 covers - UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman. 

Part 2 covers - Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan 

UAE 

The country has the highest Internet Penetration rate of 69 % (via - according to internetworldstats.com) in Middle East. Most of the search terms are in English. After ‘Dubai’, ‘Facebook’ remains the most search term. In the rising searches, ‘Al Jazeera’ and ‘Dubizzle’ are amongst the top 5 searched terms.

Cricket and related websites like ‘cricinfo’ are amongst the top emerging searches, giving credit to the world cup held this year.  

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia – The country with the highest number of Internet Users (11,400,000 as of 30 June 2011 according to internetworldstats.com) in Middle East region. Most of the searched terms are in Arabic, which shows popularity of the language in the online world. ‘Facebook’ and ‘Youtube’ remain popular searches amongst the internet users. Photos and Game are some of the most searched categories in Saudi Arabia. Spongebob and Twitter are also popular keywords among the Saudi users. With the recent investment of $300 million by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal in Twitter, the website’s popularity will surge in the country. 

Oman

Oman – The country has an internet penetration rate of 48.4%. Facebook and Youtube are popular searches in the country. Al Sablah seems to be popular community forum in Oman, which appear in the existing and rising search trends. Hotmail is also among the rising searches in the country. Elakiri Community is another forum listed in the rising searches. 

Click here to view Google Trends for 2010.

Google Trends for Middle East 2010

The below study covers UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

Check out below the Top Keywords that the users searched on Google in 2010. The searches are dominated by social media sites.

One interesting point to be noted is how users are searching their interests in Arabic (العربية) on Google.

Dubai emirate has dominated search in UAE, considering it has been in highlights for financial issues through out the year. Facebook remains the most sought after site in the search world.

User search for صور (Games) was the 3rd highest in Oman. Forums (منتديات ) stands at 7% of the top 10 searched items. 

Youtube is the most popular video engine site in the Middle East and Facebook the most popular Social Media Site.  People are keen to play games, view photographs and participate in forums. 

Interestingly Lebanon has Nokia among the top 10 searches, which can predict that it may be one of the most popular brands there. 

Google goes la la la laaa

Google India has recently introduced the Bollywood Search Engine. You can now search the latest to the oldest bollywood music online and listen to the songs. The search can sort by Artist, Albums, Songs and even the time period.

List down the 1950 melodies or the latest hindi movie songs on the website. Google has partnered with SaReGaMa, In.Com and Saavn.com to stream music, which is fully legal.

Click here to listen to the music

Photographs of Google Office in Dubai

Check out the below link for few unofficial photographs of the Google Office in Dubai Internet City. The office has a modern Arabic look with dedicated area to work and relax. Most of the meeting rooms are named after famous Arabic cartoon characters.  Google opened its office in Dubai Internet City in early 2008 as part of its plans to focus on its Arabic language services.

Google office is located in Dubai Internet City, Building no. 9.

Address Details of Google Office


Updated on Nov 19, 2011

Google UAE
Dubai Internet City
Building 4, office 306
P.O Box 502966
Phone: +971 4 4509500
Fax: +971 4 4509523

Photographs are courtesy @ghonim. Click here to view all the pics.

Sachin – Most Searched Player on Google

Google India announced today the IPL (Indian Premier League) Zeitgeist for 2010. Sachin remains at the top as the most searched player followed by Saurav Ganguly.

Interestingly Deccan Chargers are the most searched team on Google followed by Mumbai Indians. MI was the most searched team in 2009.

MS Dhoni and Sehwag were not able to make it to the top 10 searched players list. Newcomers in this year’s list are Praveen Kumar, Ryan Harris and Bret Lee.

Most searched IPL player

Royal Challengers Bangalore was the least searched team this year, but it proved itself by notching the 3rd slot. Youtube fans were interested in watching the Super Over, as it was the most searched query followed by Chennai Super Kings.

Top 10 Searched IPL Teams

Read the entire post here

Google Helps Predict Gender Differences

Google can help us predict what the sexes are looking out for in a relationship. Wow! That's a discovery. What are the needs of a man and what is a women looking out for. You don't need to look out for a relationship consultant. Just Google your thoughts :). A query on Google.ae gave the below results of what men and women may be frequently searching for in UAE. I used the phrase "How can I get my" replacing it with various variables. Check out the results : -

The above query show girl's may be always looking for security or attention from their boyfriend's.

The guys always seeking pleasure in various forms ;)

I tried seraching similar info by replacing 'girlfriend' with 'wife' and 'boyfriend' with 'husband'. Married people may think on the lines of a single person but with a little difference. Now see the difference below: -

The power of Google can help us understand the way our subconscious mind thinks. It is very interesting to know the gender differences in UAE. You may check out a similar post done by  Dan Ariely who had conducted similar queries on Google.com.

UAE Residents Search for 'Octomom' in 2009 – reveals Google Zeitgeist

Every year Google releases a list of most popular search of the year on the search engine. This is called Google Zeitgeist. Google tracks what people are searching online from most popular news site to restaurant. Below are the rising trends in UAE:

The above chart shows that most of the people in UAE were busy searching for airlines like Fly Dubai, Air India etc. this year. The trend shows that many people are inclined toward low-priced airfares.

Most Popular Airlines

1. emirates airline

2. pia airline

3. flydubai

There is definitely a growing interest to know more about social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. This indicates that businesses need to invest time and money in these sites as this is where most of the people may be spending their time on the Internet.

Fastest Rising: what is ...

1. what is Twitter

2 .what is facebook

3. what is love

There was an urge amongst the UAE resident to understand the economy by searching for what is recession and GDP.

Fastest Rising: what is ...

5. what is recession

6. what is life

7. what is gdp

One of the most interesting stat released in the report was that there is a rising news search among the people in UAE to know more about Nadya-Suleman – the ‘Octomom’ who gave birth to 8 children in Jan 2009.

Slum Dog millionaire and Indian Elections are also amongst the fastest rising news searches.

Fastest Rising News Searches
1. nadya-suleman

2. slumdog-millionaire

فتح الإسلام .3.

The trend to read the news online has definitely caught in UAE and the local news papers need to make a note of it.

Most Popular News Sites
1. gulf news

2. malayalamanorama

الامارات اليوم .3. (al emarat al youm)

Globally the King of Pop Michael Jackson dominated the charts once again: -