Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I see many new web sites adding google or yahoo search bars to their new web sites. My thought is that it simply makes it one step easier to navigate away from your page and you reduce your professional image.

Thoughts?

 

 

-------------------------

Business Development Services

These search bars are site-specific, and make it easier to find a product, area, or text within the site. It`s true that some of them offer a way to "search the web," but the reason to have a search line on a site is to search only that site.

They often come with shopping cart software, and they`re, I think, a critical part of having a useful site. The forum search capabilities on the SuN forums isn`t very good. From what I`ve seen, since Google is in the business of searching, their integrated search bar is a lot better, it`s free, and it uses all sorts of built-in fuzzy logic.

Searches can be restricted to the website or you may allow a search of the web.

If your site`s content is relevant and what the viewer is seeking...then people will return to your site.  Another way to think about providing a web search is that you are providing an additional "service" for your web site viewer.... that service may be of value to the viewer.

~Roland

-------------------------

Web Design | Best Beef Jerky | ecommerce articles | Follow vwebworld on Twitter

There are usually 2 options.
1. The site bar searches the web, just like if you went to google.com and did a search.

2. It does a site specific search. (just like CraigL said). It does the same search as if you went to say google and did a search like site: yourdomain.com blueberries All results are contextually the same.

Final thoughts. Search for your website is a good idea but only if it is useful. If it just clutters your site and makes it one more thing to distract your users from looking at your product or services then get rid of it. People are A.D.D enough on the web and they have enough distractions. Make sure your website has focused goals with what you want your users doing.

nGenuity has a good point. What "searchable" information does your site contain in the first place?

I`ve been to Web sites that offer 1 product, explain 1 thing, or they`re an article about a single topic. Why would I care to search that site?

On the other hand, I`ve been to Walmart`s site, looking for a product I found in one of their stores. Their site search sucks so badly, it`s not even worth using. In fact many large commercial retailer sites have a supposed "search" feature that just ends up making me angry. It doesn`t work, uses no fuzzy logic, and can`t find even the most explicit information.

So it comes down to *helping the visitor* to accomplish something. It`s not about making a site look cool and fresh, using the latest fad item element.

Thanks...wasnt aware of site specific search functions.

cheers.

 

-------------------------

Business Development Services

cutts... At Elusive Treasures you will find a search field at the top left of the page. Our search function does not search the web. There`s not even an option present to do so. It does search our site for the keywords you enter. It is much faster and easier to find a specific product by using a search field, although, I must admit it is possible for a user to enter a term I (store owner) did not anticipate for a particular product. It`s also possible to search for something like "plant" and end up finding "planter" within the results. However, for the most part, the search function (at least for my site) is only searching my "elusivetreasures.com" domain.

Why don`t you try it out? Do a search at www.elusivetreasures.com for "plant" or "imitation flowers."


-------------------------

Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words