Is Yahoo Mail Still Relevant?

The article dives into Yahoo's overall performance, analyzing each of its major properties with a particular focus on Yahoo Mail. It utilizes Google Trends to assess the traction of these products, comparing them to their competitors. The article reveals that while some Yahoo products like Yahoo News and Sports are performing well, others are struggling. The article also discusses the growth of Gmail and its impact on Yahoo Mail's usage.

The article reveals that Yahoo experienced strong growth until mid-2009, but has since seen a noticeable decline.

Yahoo Mail is in steady decline since mid-2010, directly coinciding with the rise of Gmail.

This decline is attributed to the increased popularity and market share of Gmail.

The Decline of Yahoo Mail

The article highlights Yahoo Mail's declining navigational query volume. It points out that Yahoo Mail's usage has been steadily dropping since mid-2010, while Gmail's has been increasing.

The article uses Google Trends data to visually demonstrate the decline of Yahoo Mail.

It analyzes Yahoo Mail's usage compared to other email providers, highlighting the dominance of Gmail.

The decline in Yahoo Mail's usage is attributed to the rise of Gmail's popularity and functionality.

Yahoo's Other Properties: A Mixed Bag

The article explores the performance of other Yahoo properties. It reveals a mixed bag, with some properties showing positive trends while others are declining.

Yahoo News has shown steady growth over the last 10 years.

Yahoo Sports has also enjoyed a positive trend, likely due to the rise of fantasy sports.

Yahoo Finance experienced a modest growth trend, obscured by a spike during the economic collapse of 2008-2009.

Yahoo Weather is falling out of favor, with navigational query volume declining to half of what it was at its high.

Yahoo Travel has been in steady decline since 2007, likely due to the growth of other travel aggregators.

Yahoo Shopping continues its decade-long decline in navigational query volume, possibly attributed to the rise of Amazon.

The Rise of Tumblr: A Hope for Yahoo?

The article explores Tumblr's potential as a growth driver for Yahoo. It notes that Tumblr, acquired by Yahoo in 2013, has seen a hint of stagnation since 2013. However, the article suggests it's too early to call Tumblr a failure, and that it could potentially be a core product for Yahoo's future.

The article presents Google Trends data showing Tumblr's growth and recent stagnation.

It discusses the potential of Tumblr as a core product for Yahoo.

It also acknowledges that it's still too early to determine Tumblr's success.

Yahoo's Future: Doubts Remain

The article concludes with a cautious outlook for Yahoo. While acknowledging some positive trends, the author remains skeptical about Yahoo's ability to reverse its overall decline.

The article suggests that Yahoo needs to show real, tangible traction with a core product to regain confidence.

It suggests that Tumblr's potential for growth is still uncertain.

It emphasizes the importance of core products for success in the post-Web 2.0 era.

The Key Takeaway

The article highlights the declining usage of Yahoo Mail, suggesting that it faces a significant challenge in competing with Gmail. While Yahoo has some successful properties, the overall picture remains a concern.

The article emphasizes the importance of Google Trends as a tool for analyzing product traction.