Comments on: Six Reasons Why Your Website Needs a Search Function

By: No Site Search? You May Be Missing Out On Sales | WNW Design - Web Design & SEO

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:15:27 +0000

[...] through the stories on the Internet marketing news and discussion forum Sphinn, I came across an article from Brody Dorland, who gives the following six reasons for why your site needs a search [...]

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:35:48 +0000

I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:34:29 +0000

I’m not sure if “they will leave” should be number one reason in your list, but the user certainly will if they can’t find what they are looking for. Search fills in where your site navigation fails. Visitors don’t want to search, they prefer to easily navigate.

By: rascalpants

rascalpants — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:19:13 +0000

Nice post… I think the huge selling point to clients is the analytics that can be captured from an integrated site search tool. Not only can you find out what products your customers want, but you can also use these search terms in your Search Engine Marketing campaigns as well.

There is something to be said for having a custom site search built for your clients web site that can do things like “smart search” which after some text is typed into the search form, the application drops down the page recommendations(like google does). But since you control the engine, you can give priority to the pages that you want to drive your customers to.

I am working on a Flash tool like that right now.

rascalpants
aka Casey Hill
http://www.rascalpants.com

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:07:42 +0000

Brody, this is a great post and often bloggers overlook the importance of search. I agree with you, especially around the intent behind a readers search query. This helps with marketing strategy and understanding readers better which are two key points for any publisher.

Thanks for including Lijit in the mix of web search tools! You forgot to mention that as part of our services, we also provide stats that uncover reader intent around search behavior, traffic, exposure, etc. often revealing information specific to your site and search that many searches don’t offer. In addition, we are ad supported as well through a revenue share with targeted ads in your search results and we have an advertising network.

Thanks again for the shout out and writing the interesting post. Very valuable for readers and bloggers, alike!