CheezeDMG Blog

First we had Cuil, developed by experienced ex-Googlers and now there is another search engine trying to break up Google’s market share. Oparla arrived on 14th April, birthed by 29-year-old Internet entrepreneur Daniel Jupp, founder of online SEM consultancy company Apple Jupp Media Ltd.

Whereas with Cuil, the unique selling point was the interface and the way the results were displayed, this time it’s about letting users rank sites according to relevance and quality of the content.  Oparla’s interface is colourful and simple, yet difficult to focus on at times and subsequently “trying too hard to be different” comes to mind.  Though arguably they have to, to differentiate themselves from the dominate big G.

Oparla search results

The ability to rate results is welcomed, though we’ll have to wait until Google has decided whether their SearchWiki experiment has been rendered a success or not.  The measurements of engagement will really gauge whether this is the future and a indicator for Oparla that their on to something.

New search engines are always welcomed and innovation cannot be left up to Google, and the ideal of having a more equal market share among the search engines would only drive these innovative ventures. Both Cuil and Oparla could have futures if they develop on site search deals for example and essentially forcefully integrate themselves into users everyday internet engagement.

As with any start up, it’s essential to either develop a business model from the off or attract investment from the potential on offer with a view to implementing a strategy later, a la Twitter.  Oparla are currently offering a month’s free advertisement to stimulate revenue and with the launch hype it’s potentially a good move from advertisers and companies point of view.   Free brand exposure anyone?

The advertising platform is fairly basic at current, with no PPC model, just pay per ad space, which doesn’t invigorate competition and growth, though maybe this will be developed with time.

Can Oparla be a success and if it can, why can’t Cuil?  The key feature yet to be mentioned, that could be the key difference between the two is the desire from Jupp to create a community of searchers.

“Those who register and comment on the search results will be helping to shape the development of a search engine in way that previously, was unheard of.” (NetImperative)

By only allowing registered users to rate, comment and message other co-searchers, Oparla could not only increase the quality of results but turn itself into a social search channel.  Time will of course tell whether they have caught on to something here.  They will need to enforce the Oparla dream and functionality upon internet users and as mentioned, their daily behaviours and online journeys.

One things clear, no one can compete with the market share Google has within traditional search, Yahoo and MSN have managed to stay afloat by integrating search within their email services and portals.  Start ups must “search” for a different angle just like Blinkx has with their video focused search engine.  In the same way, Oparla could take the first steps into producing a social network out of search and potentially open a corridor of opportunity for more start ups with a vision.