Want to be like Google?
Category: Stacy Benefield, Ektron
Google is now offering a type of related search results it's calling "Something different." The feature allows you to explore other items that fall into the same category as your original search term. Google gives a great example: Suppose you search for "zebra." The Something different section suggests additional search terms like "giraffe," "hippo" and "elephant." Great idea, especially if your grade-schooler is doing a report on zoo animals. Read more about it on Google's blog. Also, do keep in mind the Something new section is only available for certain search terms – those that easily fall into a broad category, such as musical instruments, breeds of dogs, restaurants, etc.
As far as search engines go, Google is pretty hard to beat. That said, if you offer a site wide search on your own Web site, you could include features similar to some of the features offered by Google. For example, one CMS solution provided by Square Root, Ektron's CMS400.NET, has the ability to display related search results right out of the box. Best of all, it's all controlled by the end user, who can select a specific search term and define which Web site pages should be displayed as "related results" when a Web site visitor searches on that term. It's a great feature for cross-marketing, up-selling, or simply improving usability.
Here, at Square Root, we'd be more than pleased to provide more information about the Ektron related search results feature or other ways to make your search more like Google. Just give us a call (334.832.4340) or e-mail me at stacy@squareroot-inc.com.
Posted By: Stacy Benefield | Date Published: 5.12.2010 | Comments (0)