Google Launches Google Custom Search Engine
Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Google on Monday launched the Google Custom Search Engine, a new way to bring tailored search to Web sites and blogs. According to Google, in just minutes, anyone can use the Google search platform to create a search engine focused on any content they like – from Hollywood heartthrobs, to favorite sports team, to personal hobbies, and more.
Google Custom Search Engines empower users to choose which pages they want to include in their index, how the content should be prioritized, whether others can contribute to their index, and what the search results page will look like. With this launch, Google said it was extending the power of its search beyond Google.com.
However, Google’s not the first one to launch such a product. The New York Times today pointed out that Yahoo has introduced a similar product, called Search Builder. Still, Google says its service allows more customization.
The new Google service is free. Web site publishers split the revenue from the text advertisements that Google places on the search results through its AdSense program. Nonprofit organizations, government agencies and educational institutions are not required to include ads.
In announcing the launch, Google said a number of sites have already created Custom Search Engines.
For example, Google said Intuit's JumpUp.com site, which provides information and resources to small businesses, is combining a Custom Search Engine with its years of experience in small business to provide the most useful resources on the Web to its users.
Or take RealClimate.org, a site that offers expert opinion on the science of climate change. According to Google, RealClimate has created a searchable subset of the Web to provide reliable scientific information to its visitors.
In a more everyday use of the product, Google said users can create search engines pointing their friends to sites about their favorite pop stars and place them on their personal homepages.
"We want to make it easy for anyone to create a search engine about all of their favorite topics, without needing a Ph.D.," said Marissa Mayer, vice president of Search Products and User Experience. "Everyone – businesses, organizations, moms, dads, teenagers, and teachers – can harness the power of Google technology to create a personalized search experience that reflects specific knowledge and interests."
Here's how a Custom Search Engine works:
· Organizations or individuals simply go to www.google.com/coop/cse.
· Select the Web sites or pages they'd like to include in their search index.
· Users can choose to restrict their search results to include only those pages and sites, or they can give those pages and sites higher priority and ranking within the larger Google index for their site.
· Users can then customize the look, feel and functionality of their search engine.
Google Custom Search Engine is available at www.google.com/coop/cse.
Google said it planned to expand the offering internationally in the coming weeks.