July 17, 2007

Google Small Business Search - Now It's Hosted

Google offers 2 types of web site search options. You can buy it's web site search appliance, starting at about $2,000 or you can use its free search service.

There's now a new option. Google Custom Search Business Edition

The Associated Press writes Google Inc. is offering to run the search engines of small Web sites for as little as $100 per year, marking the company's latest attempt to make more money off technology that already steers much of the Internet's traffic.

The service scheduled to be unveiled Tuesday is aimed at the millions of Web sites that either don't have search engines or are unhappy with the quality of their current search results, said Nitin Mangtani, a Google product manager.

Whether your web site has a lot of editorial content, like Smallbiztechnology.com or has thousands of SKU's for products for sale, great navigation and SEARCH and vital components of your search engine.

If "customers" can't find what they are looking for, they won't be able to effectively use your web site.

If you visit the "mascot" of web sites usability, Amazon.com, you know they do all they can to ensure you can find what you want. Search is not the only tool they use, but an option such as, "users who bought this [product] also bought this [product]" are invaluable to help web visitors find the right product.

Search Engines are NOT perfect, but can help. Don't forget good navigation this is absolutely essential as well.

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