Online Searches for UK Portals Declining

Online searches for the UK's biggest portals are going down, according to research.

Analysis of AdWords and Google Trends data by online search expert MediaVision showed declining H1 2022 searches for each of the UK's main portals: Rightmove, Zoopla, OnTheMarket, Purplebricks and Boomin.

The drops are compared to the first six months of 2021.

Online searches for Rightmove dropped 9%, searches for Zoopla dropped by 20% and searches for OnTheMarket fell by 14%. There were also drops for Purplebricks (3%), Boomin (25%) and Yopa (24%).

Louis Venter, chief executive at MediaVision, said:

"No one benefited from the surge in demand last year more than property portals. The uptick in performance and interest was significant, but this year a decline in brand searches more accurately reflects the market."

"Reports across the board indicate that properties are taking longer to sell in 2022. Combined with a lack of stock driving continued house price growth, it means portals are seeing online activity plateau and, in many cases, fall away."

MediaVision's findings also indicate the commercial property market and interest in companies providing shared working spaces continue to rise.

Venter said: "The rumour was that working-from-home was going to be the death of the office, but demand says otherwise."