Google Zeitgeist…International!

A popular year-end announcement was made last week.  Google released their annual Zeitgeist listing the top searches across a variety of topics around the world.  Although some terms were popular in many places (such as “Obama” and “Facebook”), other terms give insight into the continued diversity of the Internet and the interests of users in different countries.  Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting searches.

But first, the global list of the fastest rising searches:

1. sarah palin
2. beijing 2008
3. facebook login
4. tuenti
5. heath ledger
6. obama
7. nasza klasa
8. wer kennt wen
9. euro 2008
10. jonas brothers

Two of the searches related to the intense US Presidential race; two to major sporting events; two to entertainment; but four of the world’s fastest rising searches (four!!!!) went to social marketing.  Facebook, Tuenti (popular in latin America), Nasza Klasa (a Polish networking site), and Wer Kennt Wen (from Germany) all saw huge increases in their numbers this year.  Interest soared in social marketing and millions more people around the world joined global networks or ones focused more colosely on specific language or geographic regions.  The popularity of sites like Nasa Klasa and Wer Kennt Wen continue to show that many users want to experience the internet in the language they know best: their own.

Germany

Germany’s most popular searches were:
1. ebay
2. youtube
3. wetter (weather)
4. gmx (portal)
5. google
6. video
7. wikipedia
8. web.de (portal)
9. bild  (a popular daily tabloid)
10. telefonbuch  (telephone book)

Overall, Germans were clearly in the market for information.  Searching for weather, internet portals, online references, and directories were the primary goals of German Googlers.  They wanted to find websites that would take them to other websites, based on their informational needs, whether they were sport, entertainment, or looking for a phone number.

Mexico

The fastest rising search terms in Mexico reflect some of the countries particular social interests:
1. facebook
2. hi5
3. metroflog
4. naruto
5. emo
6. juegos.com
7. juegos de mario
8. youtube
9. youtube
10. traductor

Again, social marketing websites topped the list.  Facebook, Hi5, and MetroFLOG ( photographic blogging service from Argentina) rocketed to the top of the list.  Interest in ‘emo’ (the youth subculture) was high due to several high profile reports of unrest and attacks on emos.  Watching videos, games (juegos) and reading comics (Naruto) were tops as well.

India

India’s most popular searches show the country’s entrance into the Internet age:
1. orkut
2. gmail
3. yahoo
4. google
5. youtube
6. yahoomail
7. indian railways
8. rediff
9. cricket
10. katrina kaif

Google and Yahoo! services dominate the list, showing that Indian users are most likely looking for search or portals to be their entrance to the web.  They’re also using websites to find other sites.  With millions of people traveling by train everyday in India, it’s no surprise that searches for ‘indian railways’ were popular as well.  Rediff is a portal website aimed at Indians abroad.  It provides news, information, and job classified for Indians, and others, looking to move to the sub-continent.  As usual, cricket and Bollywood beauties are ever popular.

Australia

The fastest rising terms in Austiralia reflect the savvy searches of those looking to integrate multiple media:

1. iphone
2. facebook
3. google maps
4. youtube
5. wiki
6. anz
7. wow
8. maps
9. sarah palin
10. underbelly

The iPhone was the fastest rising search term in Austrialia, reflecting greater interest in the phone than before and better awareness of the phone’s abilities to combine various media in one handheld device.  Facebook, Google Maps, and Wikipedia were popular as well.  The financial crisis worried many Aussies, and ANZ, a top financial services firm, rocketed into the chart.  Athough, they’re still big on entertainment: World of Warcraft and the newest hit TV show, Underbelly, were very popular as well.

South Africa

In 2008, South Africans were clearly looking to connect and for sources of information during the turbulent year they experienced:

1. facebook
2. cape town
3. games
4. map
5. yahoo
6. news
7. jobs
8. google
9. gmail
10. pictures

As with many other places around the world, Facebook was a popular term, but South Africans were also interested in ‘cape town’ (a center of much unrest), ‘news’ (several political scandals and proximity to Zimbabwe’s struggles), and ‘jobs’ (the country has 23% unemployment).  Despite their troubles, South Africans were also interested in email services, web portals, and pictures.  And they definitely didn’t forget to have fun.  “Games” was the 3rd most popular term.

Google’s Zeitgeist is definitely an interesting peek into the Internet activity around the world.  It’ll be interesting to see how the continued rising interest in social networking and social media affects 2009′s forecasts for social media marketing.  It’s expected to be a great year already, but will it surpass all expectations?