For those wanting to enter the world of Search Engine Marketing in China, you cannot over look Baidu. It has the largest market share of about 60% followed by Google at about 35%. Baidu has had a lot of “inside” help as it is not as technically advanced as Google which is of no surprise.

So the question still remains, “What is so good about Baidu?” There are a few reasons why.

Firstly, Baidu knows China. Their team of programmers know how Chinese people think, their surfing characteristics and typical internet behavioural patterns. Google is probably not too far in this department if not better but that is debatable. They arguably have better search algorithms when indexing Chinese websites because of the complexities of the Chinese language system.

Secondly, Chinese people are very patriotic. This is perhaps a given all around the world but no one in China really wants to see the Google Giant come in a take over China. It is already starting to take over the world already! Chinese people back Baidu and have supported it and will continue to support it. For how long is another question.

Thirdly, Google is the foreigner, the immigrant, the “minority” so to speak and it is human nature to be afraid new things, things we don’t initially understand. Google once was the king in China, and at that time, the guys in the corridors of power had a sudden fear of this “thing” that was coming into China. Google has to play by the “rules” in China. Enough said there.

Finally, sometimes people just want to talk to someone. Google’s system is pretty swish. Automatic, customizable, pretty reliable. But you never get to talk to anyone. With Baidu, they really are just a phone call away. Their service is getting better all the time and they are improving all the time.

It will be a forever ending debate regarding Baidu and Google. Having experienced both systems in a variet of manner, it is really about using the right tool for the right job.