Top 10 Questions of 2009

In a troubled economy there are so many questions people ask on a daily basis. How am I going to pay my bills? When will I find a new job? Are you really not allowed to wear white after Labor Day (wouldn’t want to blow an interview due to a ‘wardrobe malfunction’)? With all these different questions being asked, you’d be surprised to find out which ones actually made the top 10 list of questions asked on Ask.com.

More than 50 million people visit Ask each month, where they are three times more likely to enter their queries in the form of a question than on other search engines. Of course, this is understandable since there use to be guidelines on how to ask a question in order to get an answer on Ask.com. In either case, from the list below, it seems that people are looking more towards doing something about their financial future, as well as, their health. I’m surprised questions about Swine Flu weren’t closer to the top of the list. I am also VERY curious to find out the age range of the people asking question number three – and where are their parents when they do.

Ask.com’s Top Questions of 2009:

1. How much should I weigh?

2. How do I get out of debt fast?

3. How do I get pregnant?

4. What is Twitter?

5. What is Miley Cyrus’ phone number?

6. What is the meaning of life?

7. When will the world end?

8. How long does marijuana stay in your system?

9. What are the symptoms of Swine Flu?

10. What time is it?

For all you fitness marketers, and enthusiasts out there, Ask.com also has a special list that focuses on what questions were asked in regards to fitness – most of which seemed centered around calorie consumption and usage:

Top Fitness Questions:

1. How many calories should I eat a day?

2. How do I get a six-pack fast?

3. What is the best exercise to burn calories?

4. How much should I be able to bench press?

5. What is Pilates?

6. How many calories do you burn running a mile?

7. What are the benefits of jogging?

8. How long does it take to tone muscle?

9. Is yoga better for you than Pilates?

10. How do you boost your metabolism?

The topics for the top financial questions asked were all over the place. They ranged from debt, to bonds, to bankruptcy. Maybe these questions show the main places people are checking out instead of reflecting one specific trend:

Top Personal Finance Questions:

1. What is a good credit score?

2. How do I file for bankruptcy?

3. How do I start my own business?

4. What is a short sale in real estate?

5. Who owns the Federal Reserve Bank?

6. How much is minimum wage?

7. How do savings bonds work?

8. What can I deduct on my taxes?

9. What is a trust fund?

10. What is a hedge fund?

The top technology questions seemed to be more centered around the idea of making a website. Sites that cater to teaching people how to make their own web page may want to pay attention to the results of this list:

1. How do I make a website?

2. What does URL stand for?

3. How do I find my IP address?

4. What is an RSS feed?

5. How many megabytes are in a gigabyte?

6. How do I delete my cookies?

7. What is JavaScript?

8. What does FTP stand for?

9. What is a 3G network?

10. What is a PDF file?

The top celebrity questions didn’t present much of a surprise. Basically, the celebrities that did something that was news worthy made the top list. With that being said, I’m still greatly surprised about the number one question. As many times as you see Miley Cyrus jumping around on stage, and in her recent videos (not that I would know, mind you), I’m confused as to why people even bother asking this question. Just boggles the mind.

Top Celebrity Rumors of 2009:

1. Is Miley Cyrus pregnant?

2. Is Adam Lambert straight?

3. Is Lady Gaga a man?

4. Is Michelle Obama pregnant?

5. Is Robert Pattinson dating Kristen Stewart?

6. Did Chris Brown get Rihanna pregnant?

7. Are Jon and Kate getting a divorce?

8. Is Michael Phelps using marijuana?

9. Who is the father of Michael Jackson’s children?

10. Did David Letterman keep a secret bedroom is his studio?