|
| Recent
Articles |
Titles Should Be Used In Web Design For SEO
As we have all heard, titles are a very important part of anything. Especially when it comes to designing web sites, the title says it all. The title element is how your site is understood by your visitor and also by search...
Usability Reviews Verify Good Work
While on a plane heading home from a conference I happened to meet the mother of a Human Factors employee for a well-known global Internet software company. As we chatted, she noted that when I...
SEO Copywriting
In day-to-day life, a person needn’t be Shakespeare to get his (or her) point across in writing. As a matter of fact, it’s probably easier if a person isn’t Shakespeare. But when writing for search engines, communication...
Readers Want The Full RSS Monty
We can all agree, I think, that for things we like, full is better than partial. This goes for nudity, chocolate donuts, and cleanliness. But we're really talking about readership here, and text feeds, and the ongoing riff...
|
| Recent WebProNews Articles |
Long Live Free: How Free Makes Money
The concept of "free" isn't exactly a new one, but it is taking on a sort of new life in the digital age as major publishers (slowly) warm up to the concept – except the recording industry, of course, where the "free" is...
YouTube Videos Premiere On AdSense
Google added another revenue opportunity for AdSense publishers, with the debut of video units and their connected relevant advertising. YouTube has a new job, supplying Google's AdSense with video for a new...
Microsoft CEO Says Google Reads Your Mail
Ask an average guy on the street, and, assuming he’s not a conspiracy theorist, he’ll tell you that the only people who read an email are listed in the “to” and “from” address boxes. But Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer...
Link Selling Equals Google Juice Squeeze
The paid link debate has a new topic to chew on, namely the official word and demonstrated effect of Google penalizing sites that sell links. From Google's mouth to Danny Sullivan's ears came the word on selling links.
|
|
10.01.07
The Search For Better On-Site Search Usability
 By
Stoney deGeyter
Not every site needs, nor should have, an on-site search feature. But those that do must be sure that the search isn't just an after-thought.
It needs to be more than something to add because you think visitors want it. Adding a search function is not necessarily good for on-site usability. Implementing a search function improperly is often a greater source of frustration than not having one altogether.
For this reason your on-site search function should not be taken lightly. In fact, it's better that no search option be present than one that potentially gives the searcher a "false impression" as to the availability of products/information on your website. Much time and consideration (and development) needs to go into the search option to ensure that it not only returns accurate results, but is fully comprehensive in interpreting the searchers intentions.
Location
Website search boxes are most often located in the top right corner of the website. This creates an expectation from shoppers, so make things easy for them and place your search box where they expect to find it.
Search options
The search box should default to a "simple" search. If warranted, provide a link to "advanced" options that allow visitors to fine-tune their search helping them find what they want more quickly.
Cost Effective Website and Network Monitoring
IPCheck Server Monitor - Free Download |
|
Case sensitivity
The basic or "simple" search should not be case sensitive. If case sensitivity is an issue then this option should be made available through the advanced search option.
Search labels
The search box and/or button should be clearly labeled. Using words such as "go" or "start" are not inherently obvious for search. The word "search" should absolutely be used on or near the search box.
Results query
The original search query should be presented on the results page, both in the search box and as a headline above the search results. This ensures the visitor knows what exactly was searched and allows them to refine it without having to retype the entire query.
Misspellings
The search feature must be intuitive enough to recognize all possible common misspellings. Searchers who mistype their search and don't realize it will otherwise be told their product is unavailable on your site, causing them to leave for another site.
Result matches
Results should display exact matches first, with close matches second. This provides visitors with enough information that a second search may not be necessary. Get them what they want sooner, rather than later.
Result highlights
It's beneficial to highlight (or bold) the words on the results page that were used in the query. Even better if you can continue the highlighting of search words as the visitor clicks through a link into the content page.
Titles and descriptions
Each result should display a clear title and description. This information should be pulled from page titles and meta descriptions or on-page content.
Number of results
Results page should display 10-20 search results at the most, however it's a nice benefit to add an option to increase/decrease the number of results per page.
Number of result pages
Links to additional search result pages should be provided as necessary and located at both the top and bottom of the page.
Zero results found
If no results are found, you must provide clear messages to visitors suggesting alternative searches, refinement options and links to important areas of the website. You should never leave them with "no results found."
Comments
About
the Author:
Stoney deGeyter is president of Pole Position Marketing (www.PolePositionMarketing.com), a search engine optimization / marketing firm providing SEO and website marketing services since 1998. Stoney is also a part-time instructor at Truckee Meadows Community College, as well as a moderator in the Small Business Ideas Forum. He is the author of his E-Marketing Performance eBook and contributes daily to the E-Marketing Performance (www.eMarketingPerformance.com) marketing blog.
|
