ChaCha ranks in top 200 most-visited Web sites worldwide

Throughout the past year, 9 million people have visited ChaCha’s Web site viewing 13 million pages and asking the service 170 million questions, via text message and Internet.

Such popularity has earned the Carmel, Ind., based company a ranking by Quantcast.com in the top 200 most-visited Web sites in the world. It marks a milestone for the thriving company, but also is significant to the state of Indiana and its economic development. 

ChaCha, a site that provides its customers with a unique and personalized search experience is currently ranked 163 and is the first Indiana company to have ever ranked among the 200 Web sites. 

“We’ve been flying up the charts,” said Cat Fowler, vice president of marketing and client care for ChaCha. “We’re like the smart friend. Our service is very viral, and what we have been doing is super interesting to people.”

ChaCha, which was not even ranked a year ago and only began ranking among the top 500 Web sites in May, has now surpassed Web sites such as wsj.com and usatoday.com. 

Through surveys, ChaCha matches its clientele with specific, pertinent advertisements and discounts, Fowler said. Statewide, such advertising has helped bring attention, and business, to a local economy struggling during these difficult economic times. 

“Indiana has been trying to increase their visibility in technology and developing technology so ChaCha illustrates that we have that ability,” Jeff Burt, president of the Hamilton County Alliance for economic development, said.

Both Burt and Fowler said that they hope more companies will move to or be founded in Indiana, attracting a new population and, more importantly, keeping talented college graduates in the state.

“If we can grow this thing like we think we can,” Fowler said. “We can offer jobs which will be really beneficial in this unique economy.”

Burt is more reserved than Fowler in his optimism. He thinks technological growth in Indiana will be gradual. But he cites life sciences companies like Biotech and Marcadia, in addition to ChaCha, as proof that progress is happening.

“For me, it’s on a personal, case-by-case basis,” sophomore and Kelley student Jaymie Wahlen said. “But if I find jobs here that appeal to me, then of course I’m going to stay.”