SPH Search is coming! Watch out Google!
I met up with my SEO mentor two days ago over lunch and coffee and we chatted about the things going on in Singapore, and he brought up this article he read in the Straits Times, about Singapore Press Holdings coming out with a search engine to “supplant Google”!
Personally I think it is an interesting concept for SPH to come up with - a search engine delivering content localized to Singapore context… but I think its going to take time (a verrrry loooong time) before they are going to achieve their outcome!
As of today, Google.com.sg stands in number 4 the Singapore Alexa’s ranking, and as far I know, the first SPH owned site in the Singapore’s Alexa top 100 is Stomp.com.sg, which stands at 81! If they’d want to achieve their outcome in the shortest time possible, they’d better know what to do with this tip.
… and learn some SEO! If you figured it out, they didn’t even optimize their news headlines for their keyword!
It will be interesting to know how SPH Search progresses! 
Tell me… Do you think you will use SPH search at all?
Tan Kian Ann is blog marketer based in Singapore. He now works with individuals and small businesses reach out to the world using blogs. 
November 1st, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Visit Google’s 1st Page in 17 minutes!? - Blogopreneur.com
[...] was just re-editing my previous post on SPH Search just now, and I refreshed the other tab in my browser, only to find that my post was in the first [...]
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:48 am
Visit ChuanJiang
I guess Singapore is following the South Korea model.
I just read this article in this week issue about search engines. Do take a look if you are free
http://www.newsweek.com/id/62254
November 8th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Visit SPH-Search.com
Thanks for the link. It is now ranked #5 for the search terms sph search. Not bad for a 1-page web site.
You are right, “sph search” is not a popular keyword and hardly searching for it in Google. I guess I am the only person that bothers as far as SEO is concerned.
November 14th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Visit Harro!
SPH Search? Yawwwwwwnnnn…..
November 15th, 2007 at 5:37 am
Visit Kian Ann
Hey Harro! Come on, give them a chance
January 28th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Visit Tinsiders
Wow, I’m impressed!