Search Engine, Ask.com, Shows Pulse on Social Trends

Durham, North Carolina - ( SEO Inc - Search Engine Marketing ) - October 3, 2006 - According to search engine, Ask.com, it may have been able to predict the rise of the President's approval ratings, following Venezuela President Hugo Chavez's comments at the UN, based upon the reported relationship between President Bush's approval ratings and the frequency of Bush-related online searches.

Recent search engine query facts include:

-- Bush-y searches plummeted 249% in the days following the UN incident, showing that perhaps Americans don't mind a little red in the White House.
-- But in Jan 06, when Bush's approval ratings were at their lowest, Ask.com experienced a spike in online searches, with people searching for terms such as ''George Bush,'' ''President Bush,'' ''George W. Bush,'' and just plain ''Bush.''
-- And while fewer people conduct Bush-related searches when he's in good graces, those that do are a jovial lot. When ratings are up, lighter searches (i.e. ''Bush jokes,'' ''Bush funny images'' and ''Bush comics'') prevail 3:1 over serious searches (i.e. ''impeach Bush,'' ''Bush stinks,'' and ''Bush is the devil'').

Search data analyzed 1 week prior to the FDA's announcement compared to the day the FDA issued the e.coli warning, indicated that it wasn't further insight on the outbreak that most Americans sought, according to Ask.com, but rather more primal information:

e.coli?! What is it, and how do I NOT get it! -- Following the e.coli news break, Ask.com recorded a 3,460% increase in searches for ''e.coli.'' -- Searches for ''e.coli symptoms'' jumped 2,000%, showing that once the scourge is defined, most Americans want to be sure that they, in fact, DON'T have it. -- Others, wanted to know more about the leafy green at the center of the crisis, logging a 1,275% increase in spinach searches. -- But the proactive minority sought healthy alternatives, logging a modest 179% increase in searches for broccoli, asparagus and other greens.

Recent trends reveal that tattoos have been stealing the scene as the #1 searched beauty term since 2003. No longer taboo, the popularity of tattoos prove that skin is always in.

-- Virtually every language is searched for in tattoo designs: from Aztec sayings to Russian phrases, but Japanese and Chinese characters/symbols are among the most frequently searched. -- Location, location, location: Backs rank the highest in searches (lower, upper and all over). But, not far behind: necks, arms, wrists and ankles. Unmentionables also rank high. -- Angelina's number, choice and types of tattoos rank the highest in the celebrity category. Ask.com searchers are also intrigued by other celebs. Most notably, Nicole Richie, Alyssa Milano and heavy metal rockers Metallica. -- As for who searches for tattoos more: given the top five ranked designs, which are tribal, cross, stars, butterflies and fairies, we'd say women.

Search engine, Ask.com, endeavors to combine world-class search technology with one-of-a-kind search tools to facilitate fast information retrieval. Ask.com sites include Ask.com US, Ask.com Deutschland, Ask.com Espana, Ask.com France, Ask.com Italia, Ask.com Japan, Ask.com Nederlands and Ask.com UK. Additionally, Ask.com syndicates its search technology and advertising units to a network of affiliate partners. Ask.com is a division of IAC Search and Media, a wholly-owned business of IAC/InterActiveCorp.