What is DuckDuckGo?
DuckDuckGo is a privacy-first search engine, which means that the service does not collect any personal information when you use it. Since DuckDuckGo has no access to private data, it cannot be shared with third parties.
DuckDuckGo has been around since 2008, so it has over a decade to deliver on its promise to users. During this period, its global market share has grown to 0.66%. That may not sound like much, but DuckDuckGo is particularly popular in the US, where it is the second most used search engine in the US (2.45% market share).
Considering how important internet privacy has become, it's probably not surprising that DuckDuckGo's market share has grown rapidly over the past few years. In addition to the search engine, DuckDuckGo also offers mobile apps and a Chrome extension. These apps help you browse the web and use search engines while protecting the privacy of your data.
How is DuckDuckGo SEO different?
Most users choose DuckDuckGo due to privacy concerns. It's no secret that most search engines collect user data and then use it to lure businesses into buying ads on their platforms. However, not every user agrees to this policy.
Duck Duck Go does monetize its platform by selling ads. However, its advertising platform is based entirely on keywords, not personal data collected from users. Most DuckDuckGo searches will return an ad or two, depending on the keyword you use.
As a user, DuckDuckGo's case is simple - you have more control over your online data. Search engines also do not store search history. DuckDuckGo can also help you block ad trackers on the web if you use its app or browser extension. This means you get more privacy when running searches and browsing the web in general.
The search experience itself is consistent with what other engines offer. DuckDuckGo Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) include all the elements you're used to, such as images, videos, news, and even maps:
DuckDuckGo uses a custom algorithm for search results. It also compiles information from third-party sources, including Bing (check out our Bing SEO guide), Yahoo! (and our primer on Yahoo! SEO) and Yandex.
Run a DuckDuckGo search and compare it to the same query in Google. You will get similar but not identical results. Unlike Google, DuckDuckGo doesn't display sections such as "people also ask " or directly answer questions in its SERPs. This is a more "old school" search engine, but the quality of its results is probably as good as others.
At the end of the day, DuckDuckGo's main selling point is that it takes privacy more seriously than any other search engine. If you're concerned about your internet privacy and aren't averse to leaving Google, then DuckDuckGo might be the logical choice.
3 Best Practices for Optimizing Content for DuckDuckGo SEO
Most search engines use similar signals to rank websites. Search algorithms tend to be proprietary, so we often don't know how each factor is weighted. However, we know some of the most important ranking factors such as good keyword usage, backlinks, proper use of metadata, and more.
Follow the SEO basics and you should rank well in most search engines. However, there are certain SEO practices that can make DuckDuckGo more liked. Let's talk about what those are!
1. Add location data to your website
Search engines like Google can tell where users are searching from. This means that if you're looking for local search results, Google can provide more accurate suggestions.
Since DuckDuckGo doesn't collect location data, local SEO can get tricky. Search Engine Ask If you want to share your location and pull results from Apple Maps. If you disagree, searches like "restaurants near me" will not return accurate results:
When running your website, you should assume that DuckDuckGo users may not want to share location data. After all, if you're using it as a regular search engine, you're probably very privacy-conscious.
The best way to sidestep this problem is to use local keywords in your website (which you should already be doing). Local SEO optimization will enable DuckDuckGo users to find your business when looking for the right keywords. SEO plugins like Yoast and Rank Math can also help you use local SEO options in your WordPress posts.
2. Submit your sitemap to multiple search engines
Unlike other search engines, DuckDuckGo does not allow you to submit sitemaps directly to the platform. Google and Bing support this feature through Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
DuckDuckGo uses its own crawler (called DuckDuckBot) to index websites across the web. However, it also compiles data from other search engines, including Bing and Yahoo. Submitting your sitemap to these search engines can help DuckDuckGo properly index your site. With a WordPress sitemap plugin, the process is even easier.
As a rule of thumb, you don't want to rely on a single search engine for all your traffic. Submitting your sitemap to multiple services will ensure your site appears in the SERPs. That way, you're not completely dependent on Google, and you're not at the mercy of a game-changing search algorithm update when it happens.
3. Declare the Apple Maps listing
If you run a business with a brick and mortar store, you need to make sure it appears in DuckDuckGo search results. These results are displayed to users who enable location-based search and users who find your business directly.
DuckDuckGo pulls business information and maps from Apple Maps. In order for your business to appear in these results, you need to "claim" it through Apple Maps:
In the meantime, we also recommend that you claim your business with Bing Places for Business and Google My Business. This way, users can find information about you and your services, no matter which search engine they use.
in conclusion
Traditional SEO advice tells you to focus all your energy on Google. With Google dominating search in much of the world, this approach could yield huge returns. However, optimizing your content for "smaller" SEOs like DuckDuckGo can pay off handsomely. You may not get as much traffic as Google, but this way you won't be tied to a single search engine.
If you want to work on DuckDuckGo SEO for your website, we recommend you focus on the basics. Here are some additional tips to help you get more traffic from DuckDuckGo:
- Add location data to your website.
- Submit your sitemap to multiple search engines.
- Claim your business's Apple Maps listing.
Do you have any questions about DuckDuckGo SEO? Let's discuss them in the comments section below!
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