Google sites - ranging from the company's search engine to YouTube - accounted for the most internet traffic during July, new comScore data indicates

Google sites – ranging from the company's search engine to YouTube – accounted for the most internet traffic during July, new comScore data indicates. This is only the second time in the past six months that Google has managed to come out on top of the company's web property rankings.

Given the timing with the launch of Google+ on June 28, comScore's data seems to suggest the social network has given the search giant a slight edge over competitors. Google sites served more than 182 million unique visitors over the course of the month, while only 177 million Americans went to Yahoo-owned sites. (As Brafton has reported, Yahoo sites were the top web properties for several months running.)

Microsoft, Facebook and AOL rounded out the top five, with Microsoft garnering 174 million visitors, Facebook attracting 162 million and AOL drawing 105 million visitors. Overall, more than 215 million Americans used the web in July, up 1 million from the previous month.

ComScore's data illustrates how many American consumers use Google and the other major search engines. The top three internet destinations are all owned by companies with search engines, and by leveraging search-optimized news content, businesses will be able to extend their companies' reach and generate more exposure.