Anyone trying to sell anything on the internet knows how important it is to rank well on Google. After all, Google has been the go-to search engine for years, dominating the market and driving the majority of search traffic to websites - as at the time of writing this blog, the tech giant still boasts a 91.04% global search market share. But times are changing. With a recent antitrust ruling against Google and the rise of alternative search engines and platforms, the digital landscape is evolving rapidly.At Blackpepper, we believe in staying ahead of the curve, and that means understanding where your customers are searching and making sure your brand is visible there. In this blog, we’re going to explore the growing relevance of alternative search engines, how they compare to Google, and whether it’s practical to invest in SEO for these platforms. Plus, we’ll dive into the world of social media, where platforms like Instagram and TikTok are becoming the new search engines for a younger audience.Let’s dive in and take a look at ecommerce SEO beyond Google.US Antitrust Ruling on Google’s Search MonopolyWhy look at other search engines at all if Google still has most of the search market, you ask? On one hand, there’s a growing trend of younger audiences (looking at you, Gen Z!) “searching” for products, services, restaurants and more on social media platforms. On the other hand, Google itself might not have a choice in relinquishing that market share. In a landmark decision that could reshape the digital landscape, a federal judge recently ruled that Google violated U.S. antitrust laws by leveraging its market dominance to stifle competition. This ruling centres around Google's practice of securing its position as the default search engine on devices and browsers - like Apple and Safari - effectively shutting out competitors like Bing and DuckDuckGo. The decision is not just a legal blow to Google; it also signals potential shifts in how search engines...