Beyond Google Does the Search Engine Matter?

Thumbshots.com has developed a tool to measure the overlap when the same search term is used on different search engines.  Thumbshot research reveals big differences in sites found and ranking.   The tool also shows how search results differ if different search terms are used on the same search engine.

Try it! http://ranking.thumbshots.com/ 

Search Engine Information

Now that we know that the results provided by search engines differ substantially, we need information about search engines.  If Google, Yahoo, or MSN don't help us find the information we need, what other choices do we have.  The following sites categorize and sometimes rank search engines.  For instance, FaganFinder offers selections of major and minor engines.  In addition, it has pages for  Meta Engines, Kid Search Engines, and Directories.  FaganFinder provides descriptions of each category and representative engines.  SearchEngineWatch goes further and provides descriptions of individual search engines.

One way of focusing a search is to use a specialty search engine.  Searching for turnovers with food engine will give very different results to a similar search with a sports engine.  Fossick and  SearchEngineWatch list specialty engines.  Research Buzz is eclectic rather than comprehensive, but offers a newsletter that tracks search developments and reviews specialty sites and directories. The data in some of these sites  is "invisible" to search engines due to the way is stored.  PDF and DOC files used to be invisible, but now most major search engines will find them.   Still invisible is information stored in relational databases like the AMG All Music Guide (http://www.allmusic.com/).

Clustering Engines

Sorting through several thousand results may be addressed through specialty engines.  Another approach is offered by clustering search engines.  They group results by theme.   For instance, results of a search for internet predators with Vivisimo were grouped in: Internet Safety, Protecting Children, Sexual, Victims. etc..

Advanced Search

Real men don't use clusters, they use advanced search techniques.  :)  Advanced search isn't difficult.  Even a researcher who doesn't know what a boolean operator is can use.  In fact most search engines make it simple use their advanced search capabilities.  Most advanced search pages allow you to build your query with no knowledge of sophisticated techniques.  Searches can be limited by: exact phrases, excluded words, dates, type of document, file format, web address, and language, using dialogue boxes.  Professionals can do much more, but an amateur can build a precise search.

Interesting Interfaces

There are other approaches to sorting and filtering results.  Now that many meta engines merge results, Queryster allows users to switch among engines.  Others like Whittle and Surfwax have different approaches to paring away results until only what you want is left.  The search engine business is competitive and new approaches to displaying and sifting results are developed daily.

Natural Language

Meta Engines

Meta Engines search other search engines.  The theory is that the combined results of many search engines will be more relevant than the results from any one engine.

Tools and Directories

Directories narrow the search by having humans pre-sift the results.  Yahoo and the Open Directory Project are the most used and recognized.

Then there are the tools that are being developed assist site publishers and searchers.  Two highlighted here are translation services and a site search product.

Specialty

Other Engines

© 2004 SD27, Larry Phillips