This just really isn't sitting well with me... so, warning. Total conspiracy-theory cynicism ahead.
These numbers are from a company that at least in part appears to generate revenue from supplying analytics, and helping other companies tune their search results. While that may put them in a good position to tally these kinds of numbers, it also strikes me that it puts them in a good position to benefit from a redistribution of search-engine market share.
I'm not making an accusation at all. I'm far from informed enough to do so. That said, I'd love some insight on this angle from someone who's more familiar with the space that Hitwise is in.
Hitwise has been around before Google. I've never known them to be in the middle of a controversy. It's always possible, but application of Occam's Razor wouldn't look favorably on your theory.
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This just really isn't sitting well with me... so, warning. Total conspiracy-theory cynicism ahead.
These numbers are from a company that at least in part appears to generate revenue from supplying analytics, and helping other companies tune their search results. While that may put them in a good position to tally these kinds of numbers, it also strikes me that it puts them in a good position to benefit from a redistribution of search-engine market share.
I'm not making an accusation at all. I'm far from informed enough to do so. That said, I'd love some insight on this angle from someone who's more familiar with the space that Hitwise is in.
Hitwise has been around before Google. I've never known them to be in the middle of a controversy. It's always possible, but application of Occam's Razor wouldn't look favorably on your theory.
"They're making money" is often the simplest explanation - not that I'm advocating a conspiracy theory.