In the early stages of Google, the search results were clean and simple. In fact, that is what made it so brilliant. While Yahoo covered your page with ads, images, and personalization, people preferred the simplistic approach to Google.
Google is fading away from what they were so good at: Simplicity.
On March 3rd Google announced “teleporting”, search within a search. The concept allows users to search within a website directly from the Google search engine results page (SERP).
Amazon Example
Ultimately it’s just another dirty beer can on the Google highway. As several have pointed out already, it is flawed and unnecessary.
301 Confusion
Dave Dugdale (of RentVine.com) recently pointed out one flaw with the search-within-a-search.
Although, this is probably not a major flaw, because eventually it should find it’s way to the new site. However, it does bring up a point about deciding what sites to use this tool on and what sites not to use it on.
Unfair to the small player
Part of Google’s popularity has often been their ability to give the smaller player a chance to compete against the big name brands.
There is obviously a connection here between the popularity of the site. All sites do not have this new feature. The extra search box gives an advantage to the big time brand names. So what is the magic number to give a site it’s own search box? How many visitors a month does it take?
- Why ChicagoTribune.com and NOT AJC.com?
- Why FoodNetwork and not ESPN.com?
Clearly, there is a rhyme and reason to this… I hope. Is there a certain criteria that some sites have that the others do not?
Non-brand search terms
Searching for a dot com is one thing, but how about just keywords. Below is an example of a search for keywords instead of a brand.
Clearly this site now has a huge advantage over the competition, because Google chose to give them their own search box.
Google is constantly tweaking perfection. Although the new “features” sound like enhancements for the user’s sake, it’s not at all. It leads to more confusion and more pollution.
I am starting to miss the standard 10 Blue Links of Google.
March 10th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Now all Google needs to do is buy digg, then place some digg results in the SERPs and I’m off to Yahoo!
March 12th, 2008 at 8:24 am
My dear friend
It’s not something strange its simple logic google is giving this search box only to the site which provides the best search results to their customer within their website.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Thats an excellent find. Simple but to the point! - Did you by chance get to see my bent on it? http://www.seosmarty.com/search-within-search
I think teleportation is going to change quite a few strategies in both natural and paid search.