Comments on: Our Current Thinking on Search http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/12/05/our-current-thinking-on-search/ UIE\'s latest insights on the world of design Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:18:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: WebEssentiel » Archives » Moteur de recherche interne http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/12/05/our-current-thinking-on-search/#comment-82163 WebEssentiel » Archives » Moteur de recherche interne Thu, 12 Jul 2007 03:39:12 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=133#comment-82163 [...] Our Current Thinking on Search [...] [...] Our Current Thinking on Search [...]

]]> By: What I Learned Today…»Blog Archive » No need for search engines? http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/12/05/our-current-thinking-on-search/#comment-775 What I Learned Today…»Blog Archive » No need for search engines? Sat, 07 Jan 2006 00:28:49 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=133#comment-775 [...] I just read this article on UIE Brain Sparks that states: [I]t’s pretty clear that users choose to use on-site Search when the page they’re on fails them. They scan the page for trigger words. Only when they can’t find them, do they turn to Search. It’s their trigger words they type into the search box. (In essence, they are creating their own links to the content, primarily due to absence of the necessary links on the page.) … Usage of Search is a predictor that the scent on your pages isn’t working. Fix the scent and the demand for Search goes way down. [...] [...] I just read this article on UIE Brain Sparks that states: [I]t’s pretty clear that users choose to use on-site Search when the page they’re on fails them. They scan the page for trigger words. Only when they can’t find them, do they turn to Search. It’s their trigger words they type into the search box. (In essence, they are creating their own links to the content, primarily due to absence of the necessary links on the page.) … Usage of Search is a predictor that the scent on your pages isn’t working. Fix the scent and the demand for Search goes way down. [...]

]]> By: Debbie Stewart http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/12/05/our-current-thinking-on-search/#comment-522 Debbie Stewart Tue, 03 Jan 2006 19:55:06 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=133#comment-522 The one thing that we use on our Intranet that does make a form of search work is a Name search - like AOL Keywords. This is because of the size and different audiences the one site serves. A user can type in this Name/Keyword and go directly to the section/page (e.g. Benefits Enrollment) . Then you do not have to have long paragraphs helping people navigate to your benefits enrollment, etc. that are only highly used once a year. We do add them as links to the home page but our users still tend to like and use (over 75% of searches on the site are based on a Name search) this method. If it failes we then go ahead and perform a full-text Google-like search. Thoughts? The one thing that we use on our Intranet that does make a form of search work is a Name search - like AOL Keywords. This is because of the size and different audiences the one site serves. A user can type in this Name/Keyword and go directly to the section/page (e.g. Benefits Enrollment) . Then you do not have to have long paragraphs helping people navigate to your benefits enrollment, etc. that are only highly used once a year. We do add them as links to the home page but our users still tend to like and use (over 75% of searches on the site are based on a Name search) this method. If it failes we then go ahead and perform a full-text Google-like search. Thoughts?

]]> By: UIE Brain Sparks http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/12/05/our-current-thinking-on-search/#comment-436 UIE Brain Sparks Fri, 16 Dec 2005 15:32:45 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=133#comment-436 <strong>What about Site Maps and Site Indexes?</strong> Site maps have been popular since the invention of the web. Site indexes are more in vogue these days. Are they worth the effort? ... What about Site Maps and Site Indexes?

Site maps have been popular since the invention of the web. Site indexes are more in vogue these days. Are they worth the effort?

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]]> By: Thomas Watson Steen http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/12/05/our-current-thinking-on-search/#comment-397 Thomas Watson Steen Mon, 12 Dec 2005 12:48:36 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=133#comment-397 It's funny how things seem to happen at the same time. Just the day before you published this new article I was feeling very frustrated about this exact topic: The quality of On-Site Search Engines - Or the lack of quality to be exact. I remembered your famous post on the topic from 1997 and decided to write a post in a Blog I'm authoring about how things have changed since then. Now I see that you where also wondering about these things ... It's nice to see that we are not alone with our frustration :) It’s funny how things seem to happen at the same time. Just the day before you published this new article I was feeling very frustrated about this exact topic: The quality of On-Site Search Engines - Or the lack of quality to be exact.

I remembered your famous post on the topic from 1997 and decided to write a post in a Blog I’m authoring about how things have changed since then. Now I see that you where also wondering about these things … It’s nice to see that we are not alone with our frustration :)

]]> By: vicentjorda.com » Si buscan… malo http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/12/05/our-current-thinking-on-search/#comment-366 vicentjorda.com » Si buscan… malo Wed, 07 Dec 2005 07:38:17 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=133#comment-366 [...] Según Jared Spool, de UIE Brain Sparks: El uso de la búsqueda es un indicador de que el esquema de navegación de tus páginas no está funcionando. Arreglalo y las búsquedas en tu sitio bajarán. Hemos comprobado que esto se cumple la mayoría de las veces. [...] [...] Según Jared Spool, de UIE Brain Sparks: El uso de la búsqueda es un indicador de que el esquema de navegación de tus páginas no está funcionando. Arreglalo y las búsquedas en tu sitio bajarán. Hemos comprobado que esto se cumple la mayoría de las veces. [...]

]]> By: Eddie http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/12/05/our-current-thinking-on-search/#comment-362 Eddie Mon, 05 Dec 2005 21:10:57 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=133#comment-362 Also, for intranets, I've found that the vast majority do not put the same attention into meta data as you would fin on the web. You search the company site for the dental reimbursment forms, and you get tons of results of word docs with cryptic files names and department speak mixed in: "EGRS/HPSS Dent_Form.doc" -which is less than friendly. Most intranet searches I've done have rarely been useful. Also, for intranets, I’ve found that the vast majority do not put the same attention into meta data as you would fin on the web. You search the company site for the dental reimbursment forms, and you get tons of results of word docs with cryptic files names and department speak mixed in: “EGRS/HPSS Dent_Form.doc” -which is less than friendly. Most intranet searches I’ve done have rarely been useful.

]]> By: Will Gaus http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/12/05/our-current-thinking-on-search/#comment-358 Will Gaus Mon, 05 Dec 2005 16:36:29 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=133#comment-358 Great piece. I see this first hand from a Knowledge Management perspective. Everyone wants search to solve their problems of finding information. Little do they know (as you point out) that they are using the missing terms as search queries. Giving them mixed results on the SERP. The problem with on-site search, enterprise search etc is that users are looking for specific answers, they dont want to have to choose which document best answers their question. They want the site to tell them...alas search is less than stellar! Great piece. I see this first hand from a Knowledge Management perspective. Everyone wants search to solve their problems of finding information. Little do they know (as you point out) that they are using the missing terms as search queries. Giving them mixed results on the SERP. The problem with on-site search, enterprise search etc is that users are looking for specific answers, they dont want to have to choose which document best answers their question. They want the site to tell them…alas search is less than stellar!

]]> By: John Labriola http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/12/05/our-current-thinking-on-search/#comment-357 John Labriola Mon, 05 Dec 2005 16:27:48 +0000 http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/?p=133#comment-357 I agree with your statement. Careful and deliberate thought should go into the navigation and inline links available to other content available. Other examples include <i>you may also enjoy these links</i> or <i>related links</i>. However, sites with a large extent of content become quicker to navigate when they have search functionality. Especially as there are many free and/or inexpensive add-ons available. But having one just for the sake of having one, there is no excuse for that. I agree with your statement. Careful and deliberate thought should go into the navigation and inline links available to other content available. Other examples include you may also enjoy these links or related links. However, sites with a large extent of content become quicker to navigate when they have search functionality. Especially as there are many free and/or inexpensive add-ons available. But having one just for the sake of having one, there is no excuse for that.

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