You don't know the past of the Sogou

In the long-term marginalization of Sohu, almost 360 "eat", by Baidu Squeeze, and Ali on and off ... You don't know the past of the Sogou

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With "Endure not hair, forbear to line" to depict Wang Xiaoquan 2005 to 2010 in Sohu days, perhaps not for too.

2004, Sohu launched Sogou search, but relatively quiet, as the person in charge of the Sogou, Wang Xiaoquan in the Sohu system is also a snub, marginalized. August 9, 2010, Sohu will be the official dog to split into an independent company. Alibaba and Yunfeng fund to get 16% shares, Ali accounted for 10.88%, Yunfeng accounted for 5.12%, Zhang Chaoyang personal investment accounted for 16%, Sohu retained 68%.

After independence, Sogou began to run all the way. On this history, Wang Xiaoquan in an open letter to Sogou employees earlier this year said: "In 2011, sogou traffic over Google China and become the 2nd profitable Chinese search company; achieve revenue of 63 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 238%, since the August 2010 split after 6 consecutive fiscal quarter, Sogou revenue to maintain a compound growth rate of 27.5%. "This speed has made it the fastest-growing first-line internet company in the same period. It has become China's fourth-largest internet company, if it is a 300 million-meter user.

People familiar with Wang Xiaoquan said he was very rational and tolerant of loneliness. Admire his people say, juvenile fame Wang Xiaoquan is a rare good product manager, more importantly, "he a tendon, enough perseverance."

July 3 This year, Sohu announced from the hands of Alibaba to buy back the total amount of the outside circulation of 10.88%, Wang Xiaoquan in the internal Mail explained: "With Sogou strategy upgrades, it is expected that Ali group in the strategic level will continue to strengthen the support of Sogou." After consultation, Sohu will buy back Ali holding the Sogou shares. ”

This peaceful breakup with Ali, to a certain extent, is like the adult Rite of Sogou, which means the company has emerged from its infancy, with more independent development possibilities. From doing a new input method products, and then in the browser market blooming splendor, and now intend to "non-Baidu" way to create a new generation of search, Sogou will also create how many surprises?

"Almost dead."

About Sohu Group, the Internet Circle Reporter has given a "thousand Years Penis" nickname. Whatever you do, its business is always the "dick" position. However, but also recognized within the circle, a few major competition in the portal, Sohu's product layout is the most comprehensive. From portals, games, real estate, video, and search.

Sohu in 2003 years to intervene in the search engine, and in 2004 launched Sogou search. 2003, Baidu and 3721 fierce fighting, two companies revenue is good, 3721 ahead of Baidu to 120 million U.S. dollars to the price of Yahoo. Zhang also thought Sohu should launch its own search engine, he gave the Wang Xiaoquan 6 people's compilation.

Lao Zhang is very sensitive to amusement, he thinks the movie "Big Shot" let ' Sogou ' become household name, also may borrow. Wang Xiaoquan to "global entrepreneur".

Portals do search, no doubt are running to make money. "Baidu has more than 70 revenue per 1000 clicks, and the portal is less than 10." However, search is not a game other than a portal.

Like Sohu, Sina, NetEase, Tencent have their own search engine layout, but the portal do search has been met with great challenges. This challenge is iffy, called "genetic determinism". "Sohu itself is not a technology-oriented company, Sohu is a portal, is a media." The logic of Sohu is that we don't give traffic to others. Wang Xiaoquan said, "At that time, Sohu will not ask others to give you the flow, it is a closed system." ”

In the portal rush to do the search, we generally recognized the way is also the easiest way is to put the search box on the portal page. This approach does not conform to today's search engine use habits and experience. The way of this frontal attack has not achieved significant results.

Although the gene determines the portal to do the search is very tangled, but by virtue of the portal site traffic base, 2004 to 2005, Sogou or performance good. But by the year 2005, the situation is beginning to change. This year Zhou left Yahoo China, temporary search engine, he and the arrival of Yahoo China's Ma Yun launched a war of words, this war finally let Zhou 祎 affixed to the "rogue software Father" infamy, and Baidu successfully landed on Nasdaq. Capital abundant Baidu began to become the domestic search engine market alone show a, will sogou far left behind.

In order to bring traffic to Sogou, 2006, Sohu launched the "Sogou Input Method", through the way the client has brought a good effect. This year, Zhou through 360 security guards, again circuitous to the desktop client "import economy" competition. Sogou Input method of success, but also inspired the Wang Xiaoquan, "if the frontal attack does not work, why not flank attack, or simply to dig a tunnel next?" "Exactly so, Wang Xiaoquan to Charles Zhang suggested that the development of Sogou's own browser."

Unexpectedly, the proposal to develop the browser was strongly opposed by Charles Zhang. Recalling this story, Wang Xiaoquan a little excited, he said he was Microsoft's Bing search pit Dead-"when the browser plan, Lao Zhang asked a question, ie such a big market also did not bring Bing up, why do you sure Sogou browser up can bring the Sogou?" ”

Lao Zhang's doubt, Wang Xiaoquan did not refute, he and Charles Chang are some stubborn people. Wang Xiaoquan hopes to persuade the boss through practical results. Browser plan was questioned, Wang Xiaoquan still don't give up, decided to "secret" development browser. In order to retain the development of the browser, Wang Xiaoquan has to put the browser's research and development staff quotas in the Sogou input method, "the same cost to do two things." The development of the browser is not a real secret, Charles Zhang found it, but he just opened one eye and closed one eye. "Lao Zhang is a very generous, inclusive heart of the boss, in exchange for someone else Sogou has long been hung." "Wang Xiaoquan said.

From the "secret" research and development to launch, Wang Xiaoquan has been tolerated, Sohu also spread out a variety of Wang Xiaoquan to leave the rumors, and even whenever Wang Xiaoquan got up to clean up the office, it will be misunderstood as he will leave Sohu. At that time, there were a lot of super "big guy" to Wang Xiaoquan to the olive branch, but he did not choose to leave. "One is reluctant to my team, take away their words are not kind, do not take away and not willing, and old Zhang is the industry's rare inclusive leader." "he said.

The Battle of the Gods

2005 years later, Baidu and Google become the domestic search engine duopoly, although sogou by virtue of Sohu portal flow replenishment remains, but with Baidu, Google compared, it is no longer a strong competitor. 2010, the domestic search engine pattern began to change.

January 12, 2010, Google said it was attacked by Chinese hackers, and will negotiate with the Chinese government to cancel Google's Chinese search engine content censorship, otherwise it will withdraw from the mainland market. March 23 early morning, Google officially closed the Chinese version of the search service, to the Hong Kong server to provide simplified services.

A week after Google's exit, the domestic heat of a Hollywood 3D film "The Gods of the War", Wang Xiaoquan also opened his own Sina Weibo. April 23, Wang Xiaoquan issued a micro-bo "Winter to the ridge on a plum, leaves down the dead branches are not destroyed", the next part of the poem is "but have to spring, still I make Huakui", the whole poem is "brace" meaning.

Google withdrew from the mainland market, let Zhang again smell the opportunity, of course, see the Search Engine time window is not only he, there are Zhou and Ma Yun. The search engine's war is about to erupt again, "the marginalization" the Wang Xiaoquan eagerly hoped to return "the relations" with Charles Zhang, Zhou's arrival unexpectedly facilitated his relations with Charles Zhang to restore.

At that time, Zhou directly to find Zhang, Zhou put forward a stake in Sogou, he put forward three views: first Sogou must be divided into independent companies, in the mother of Sohu to do, very difficult; second, if you want to do a search will need 360 help, because the browser is the most important, browser can provide traffic Third, the Wang Xiaoquan must be responsible for the other people do not understand.

After the establishment of 360 security guards in 2006, Zhou 祎 reopened the computer desktop War, and in 2008 Zhou also began to do the browser, and as the browser launched the navigation page, back to the "import economy" market. In 2009, Qihoo 360 earned 323 million dollars. Of course, Zhou also know that Qihoo 360 mode is mostly for big customers, lack of "long tail flow Market" plate, to do "long tail flow market", improve the flow of efficiency, search engine is undoubtedly the best mode.

Zhou Hope Sohu Search will be independent, Qihoo 360 will inject 30%, accounted for 30% of the shares, but, independent premise is, will Sogou's browser business to 360. In 2009, Sohu's 68%-owned tour company landed on the Nasdaq, which made Charles Zhang excited, but in the competition with Sina, Weibo lagged far behind rivals, while the video field, Youku and potatoes quickly became the internet upstart. This time, the Sogou was independent enough to convince Charles Zhang. However, Wang Xiaoquan's intervention eventually made the partnership a miscarriage.

Wang Xiaoquan that, if the Sogou browser to 360, Sogou search will "become no shell, only meat", will be the lifeblood to each other, such cooperation for the Sogou will be a huge injury, the equivalent of Sogou "surrender". Of course, Wang Xiaoquan also know that only 30% of the shares can not meet Zhou's appetite, "I definitely know how big the appetite of the old week, in order to resist the old weeks come in, I think of Ma Yun."

In May 2010, Wang Xiaoquan went to Hangzhou to lobby Ma Yun, hoping to introduce Alibaba's strategic stake. Sogou give Ali group value lies in the search layout, can resist 360 swallow sogou, prevent bigger giant up, if Sogou can up can also check Baidu. On the other hand, Sogou input method and browser can also give Ali to bring a small flow support, such as input method and shopping keyword cooperation.

Wang Xiaoquan finally persuaded Ma, and Ali's cooperation for Zhang, is also very attractive-whether with Zhou, or Ma Yun Cooperation, he hopes Sogou can bring more revenue. What's more, the electric business is an important Internet advertiser, and Ali's cooperation means more established advertising revenue.

August 9, 2010, Sohu and Alibaba formally signed a joint venture to set up a new subsidiary-Sogou, of which Alibaba and Yunfeng funds share 16% of the shares, Zhang Chaoyang personal account for 16%, Sohu Group retained the remaining 68% shares. Sogou Independent, Wang Xiaoquan as CEO, bear number, Wang Xiaoquan finally started through the "Input method + browser + search" of the three-class rocket model again back to the main battlefield.

After the search dog, Ali Group chief of staff Zeng joined Sogou board. However, it is this year Taobao launched its own shopping search engine a Amoy net. In terms of motivation or the strategy of both sides, this is doomed to a short marriage.

Sogou independence, Charles Zhang has more attention to the micro-broad war, one months later, silent years of Charles Zhang returned to Spotlight Lamp, put forward "reengineering Sohu", video, search, microblogging and games will be Sohu site development of the four directions.

Endurance race

July 2, 2012, Wang Xiaoquan through internal mail that Sogou buy back Alibaba held 10% of the shares. Wang Xiaoquan explained that, with the strategic upgrade, Sogou expects Ali group to continue to strengthen the strategic level of support.

A Sogou employee said that in October 2011 Sogou first overtook Google as the second largest Chinese search engine, when it proposed a buyback plan. 2011 is Ali Group of the Life of the year, but also eventful, on the one hand, due to the lack of energy to take into account, on the other hand, "price is not discussed." "As a shopping search engine in Taobao split at the time to obtain an independent identity, Ali and Sogou envisaged cooperation model is not as planned." "The most important thing is that, as strategic investors, the plan to prop up the Sogou 360 has been achieved and the market dynamic balance is completed, not to mention that 15 million of dollars invested in 25.8 million dollars is a good financial return," he said. ”

It must be admitted that, although either the search or the client traffic import, Sogou and Baidu, Qihoo 360 have gaps, but this does not prevent the company has the ability to grow independently. After independence Sogou Catch a good time--2010 3Q before and after the war, Qihoo 360 no time to take into account the competition, and just in the electricity market rapid growth period.

Sogou, Ali marriage at the same time, Wang Xiaoquan also developed for Sogou "attack Baidu, guard against 360" competition strategy. Wang Xiaoquan said, "The weakness of Baidu's business structure is not strong enough to control the entrance." Users to start the search before the Internet, you must open the browser, you must use Input method, these are not in the hands of Baidu.

The entrance control ability insufficiency, also causes the Baidu market share the gradual encroachment. Wang Xiaoquan revealed that Baidu has half the flow is not Baidu Home (baidu.com) brought, but hao123 or other navigation sites, browser address brought. At the same time, Google 80% of the flow is not from the Google home page, the first quarter of this year Google's market share is below the Sogou 8.9%, of which nearly half the flow of Yuchihu 360 provided.

"Baidu market share is gradually eroded by a signal that last year 360 navigation page traffic over hao123." Wang Xiaoquan said, "If Qihoo 360 cooperates with Sogou, I think it is not difficult to take a 20% to 25% share." ”

Wang Xiaoquan revealed that "offensive Baidu" is divided into two parts, "to the positive, to a singular victory." The so-called "positive" is to further increase the client product development and upgrading, to increase the advantages of this area, for example, the second half of this year will launch Sogou wallpaper. "Odd" refers to, "non-Baidu search."

"Non-Baidu Way search engine" is the dog's own "recommendation engine." Wang Xiaoquan explains, "There are two ways for users to get information, one is to know their needs clearly and to get them by typing in keywords." And the other is the user browsing the web when we dig through the data and calculate ' guess ' what he wants and recommend it to them. For example, users looking at "sky downloads," Sogou will recommend their updated version of the software or official website version, users to watch the video, they recommend to them more high-definition version, faster, or where the next episode. The recommendation engine is a personalized problem on the one hand and a computational problem on the other.

Although Wang Xiaoquan repeatedly put forward, sogou more is to guard against 360, but from Sogou and Baidu, Qihoo 360 competition situation and product layout, we can see that Sogou mode of the most direct competitor is still Qihoo 360. Sogou Input method has more than 300 million users, such as according to 360 security guards and 360 browser data law (360 browser is security guard 1/3 to 1/2), the current Sogou browser users should be higher.

Speaking here, Wang Xiaoquan somewhat helpless, "if according to normal law, it should be so." When you install the browser, clearly your browser is safe and trustworthy, 360 said your browser is not safe, you can guide users to uninstall it off. If 360 is a serious and fair security firm will not and can not do so, these unfair competition is China's national conditions decided.

July 6, Wang Xiaoquan very unexpectedly forwarded the "360 mobile phone defender" Weibo, he commented, "Someone said a set of do it:" The mainland values are king defeat, but innovation often face failure, the risk of plagiarism is much lower. He criticized the mainland's business ethic as too immature, ' the company's success is short, the body is like adults, but the values are like children, if Google in the United States to copy a small company's innovation, will be fiercely criticized '. "Someone in Wang Xiaoquan Weibo is Zhou.

This is very different from Sohu's performance in the 2010 3Q war. November 3, 2010, Zhang said "Tencent plagiarism and monopoly to achieve the ultimate", November 5 night, he also denied that Sogou will participate in joint incompatible 360 action. This attitude is not the same as today's Sogou independence-now, Sogou finally no longer see the "face" of 360.

Looking back on the development of Sogou over the past 2 years, Wang Xiaoquan said, especially thanks to Ali Group's strategic stake, although it has broken up, but it does promote the development of Sogou.

About this agreement to break up, outside also think Sogou is for listing to do equity structure adjustment. Will Charles Zhang be the chairman of the third listed company? "Very likely. But we don't have a specific timetable yet. Wang Xiaoquan answered.