Google Zeitgeist 2009

Nigerians surfing the web showed varied interests from education and online tools to international and local musicians. Yahoo, facebook, Nokia, Google and Badoo all featured in the year’s most popular searches reflecting the growing importance of finding and sharing information online. The fastest rising searches were dominated by local requests – Zain, Aero, Gani Fawehinmi and Kwara State University – a clear indication that local content matter to Nigerians. And finally Nigerians are absolutely passionate about music as the top celebrity search list is dominated by pop stars with Obama as the only exception!

Above is the conclusion of Google for the Nigeria search pattern for 2009. Google Zeitgeist is the annual search pattern recorded by Google for each year. This year Google decided to extend it to Nigeria; this point to the fact that Nigerians’ online activity is gaining the giant’s attention. Nigeria currently has about 11 million users online.

Fastest Rising

This list represents most happenings around the internet in Nigeria. It will change significantly next year as it will be replaced by the events of Next year. Though one or two may still make the list but others will surely drop off.

1. facebook
2. zain
3. aero
4. opera
5. yahoo mail
6. mtn
7. michael jackson
8. gani fawehinmi
9. myjambexams.com
10. kwara state university

Facebook is the most significant search term for the year 2009 pointing to the importance of Facebook to Nigerian online. We recently reported that Facebook users in Nigeria crossed the 900,000 mark double the number last year. According to Alexa, Facebook is the second most visited site in Nigeria after Yahoo. With Facebook growth, it is expected get more attention next year given the number of of Nigerians on it; less than 10%.

The growth of Zain could be attributed to change in name from Celtel to Zain late last year. Taking the Nigerian telecom market by storm and phone users’ searching the internet to know more about it and what new stuff they’ve got to offer.

Aero and Airline operator in Nigeria organized promo this year, offering cheap price across its local flights and a compulsory online payment for the flight booking. Flyaero.com debuted on our top Nigerian site in July on the 17^th spot and grew steadily over the following months. It made our top ten in August with its growth and fell in September to regain itself in October. But in November it dropped 17^th places to 32^nd spot.

Opera search is also worth noting, I visited couple of Cyber Cafés this year and most of them have it installed on their systems. Some internet users also like the interface haven implemented tab-based browsing before Mozilla and Internet Explorer.

Yahoo Mail remains the most used internet program, used amongst almost all Nigerian internet users. MTN a search term people used mostly to get to mtnonline.com; MTN introduce various products and services to its product line this outgoing year and saw its site visit soar. The site ranking has dropped significantly this month from 12^th to 29^th place on the Nigerian top websites.

Michael Jackson’s death in June, shake the world, Nigeria inclusive. No surprise people went online searching for the “King of Pop” bio and Funeral procession.

Gani Fawehinmi;a top Nigerian human right activist. Also died in the outgoing year. This increased search for information about his online.

Myjambexams.com: It debuted on our Top Nigerian Websites in April on the 12^th spot which obviously is Jamb season.

Kwara state university is also a significant search term as student went online to register for its post UME exam.

Most Searched for Nigeria

It’s also good to note that Zoom Nigeria gained attention after it rebranded last year. Punch made a big blunder as to the mode of access to its news content that I believe gave guardian newspaper an edge. We also need to understand that Guardian Newspaper is one of the most trusted tabloids in the country. News remains a top activity of Nigerians online as news related searches represents 3 of the top five searches (No 2,3,and 5).

1. zoom nigeria
2. guardian newspaper nigeria
3. Time in Nigeria
4. Firs Nigeria
5. newspapers in nigeria
6. lasunigeria
7. hitv nigeria
8. first bank nigeria
9. klm nigeria
10. nigeriaworld

Most searched for Media

Osun defender really got the year started on a good note given the tussle between the incumbent governor of Osun state and the AC candidate over 2007 election. Osundefender.org debuted on our ranking list last march, since then has remained on our list. Mnetafrica’s growth could be attributed to the Big Brother Africa that started in the third quarter of the year and just Sunday. Others on the list are news site that saw significant growth during 2009.

1. osun defender
2. mnetafrica
3. the nation newspaper
4. pm news
5. daily trust newspaper
6. guardian newspaper nigeria
7. sahara reporters
8. vanguard newspaper
9. bbchausa.com
10. bbc sport football

Most Popular

Nigeria top the list, which means (as stated above) Nigerians wants something that relates to Nigeria. More people wanted something about Nigeria much more than they want to use Yahoo or Facebook or Nokia not even news. Yahoo and Facebook on the list goes to validate the Alexa ranking where both sites occupy number 1 and 2 most visited websites in Nigeria. Google is default on most browsers and people don’t search before they get to Google; they go to other sites from Google. Badoo; a social networking site also made the popular search term, this shows a good knowledge of social networking amongst Nigeria internet users. Expectedly, MySpace search has reduced and couldn’t make the list. Chelsea news shows a strong and increasing support for the popular English Premier League top club.

1. nigeria
2. yahoo
3. facebook
4. nokia
5. news
6. mail
7. google
8. badoo
9. michael jackson
10. chelsea news

Most searched for Brands

Telecom and airline companies dominate the top searched brands for 2009 with zain topping the telecoms list and aero topping the airline operators list. Firstbank also made the list having successfully undergone CBN scrutiny and refining its IT drive to serve is customers.

1. fitc
2. zain
3. aero
4. dana air
5. mtn
6. arik air
7. blackberry
8. first bank
9. dhl
10. wema bank

Most searched for Celebs

Michael Jackson death this year increase quest for information about the “King of Pop”, while that is understood, Wande Coal top other living celebrities list with his hit album “M2M” coming atop Kanye West, Rihanna and Whitney Houston.

1. michael jackson
2. wande coal
3. kanye west
4. rihanna
5. whitney houston
6. beyonce
7. chris brown
8. lil wayne
9. akon
10. barack obama

The Google Zeitgeist 2009 is consistent with our Nigerian web ranking for 2009. As Nigerian Internet population continue its growth. It could be concluded that most Nigeria comes online to do the following;

• Read News
• Socialize
• Read about Celebrities
• Search for information about their gadgets
• Make flight schedule.
• And find information about general buzz around the world.

As we look forward to next year, we expect online activities of Nigerians to grow and diversify. Local content will surely be on the rise next year as more startups are bracing up for launch next year. What do you think? Have you ever make searches about any of the item that made the list.