Why Add Your Own Search

Adding your own search engine to a site is well worth the time or money. The search function kicks in when your site navigation fails. When I say fail, I don’t mean computer error, I mean that the visitor cannot find the page they are looking for using the normal navigation menu.

Google offers a little search function that you can add to your site, but I don’t think you are doing yourself any favors by using it. Using the site Dealigg as an example, test their search out by using the word “test”. The search box is in their top right corner, an ideal location. When you test it out notice the results, it’s their products! With a Google search box you either get a list of other sites, or if the visitor chose to list results only from your site, a list of pages with no pictures. Dealigg wants to sell product, not put you to sleep with text, or even worse, send you somewhere else to find the products.

Another problem with using Google’s search box is the fact it only lists results of pages that it has in its cache already. All new products you add to your site will be void of search results until the Googlebot visits. Hope it’s not a popular item.

When you add that search button, try to make it available on every page, and try to keep it in the header if possible. Suggested methods throughout the industry are to do just as Dealigg has done by simply using a text box followed by the search button. Having the word “Search” in front of the text box is not needed at all.

On a side note, I think Dealigg needs to check out my recent post about highlighting promotions. They had a sky scrapper type ad full of coupons their customer could use on the site, but it was burried down on the far right. I’m not sure where you live, but here in San Jose, CA a Circuit City Coupon could always come in handy. I think I am surrounded by them.