Adding Search Functionality to Your Site

Foster Fosters   – Raleigh, NC
123Triad: Web Design & SEO Company

Adding Search Functionality to Your Site

Surfing the internet is based on searches. Running a search on a search engine, searching within results, and even advanced searches. Everyone who uses the net knows how to search.

Because it’s become an industry standard, internet users expect search functionality wherever they go. They want to find results quickly and easily, not sift through pages of content to get where they want to be. The internet is all about instant gratification, and your site is no different.

Adding search functionality to your site therefore should not be an option, but a prerequisite. If you’re not sure how to go about it, here are some helpful hints to get your site search enabled:

• Because searching is so entrenched in internet consciousness, you can’t get creative with results. Stick to the format the big search engines use: title, followed by a description with keywords highlighted, followed by a hyperlink. You can’t go wrong with that!
• Keep most relevant search results first, followed by progressively less relevant results
• You might want to include an indicator of the number of results. This is represented as figures, for example, “1 – 20 of 202.”
• Keep detailed records in your database with regards to the number of times links have been accessed – this, along with some scripting, will automate the search in terms of popularity.
• You can find open source search software to install on your site. Have a look at source forge.net or run a search. These packages are free, and usually offer great results.
•    You could also consider opting for a Google search bar on your site, which is also free.
•    Lastly, don’t forget to include the search bar on the results page, along with an “advanced search” or “search within results” option.

Along with good, clear navigation, searching is one of the most important things you can have on your site to make it user friendly. And user friendly sites are more popular. So use one of these options, and include a search function in your site design. Your visitors will thank you!

123Triad webdesign offers affordable custom website design. Our full service website design company only hires certified website designers. Please contact us today on 1-800-720-0816 for your next web site design project.

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