Google Custom Search Engine

Creating a Google custom search engine looks like much more work than it actually is. Recently Google allowed webmasters to make them on the fly by seeding them with the links from any page(s).

Add together your few favorite sites, the sites listed in the relevant DMOZ categories, and the sites listed in the relevant Yahoo! Directory categories. Spend 10 minutes purging the spammy our outdated links and you have relevancy that might match Google's in many markets.

Published: June 29, 2007 by Aaron Wall in google

Comments

SwellSearch
June 29, 2007 - 6:38am

I utilised the google custom search engine to create a search engine for surfers - www.swellsearch.com - I think it's great in principle, and i've collated a set of over 500 good quality surfing websites in this search engine. However, I think the reality is you will continue to use the main google search engine because of it's large breadth of results.

I think an excellent addition by google would be to have additional functionality to allow the creation of directory or sites which works alongside the search engine. eg allow the user to browse through the websites that have been selected in the CSE - if that makes sense.

Matt L
June 29, 2007 - 2:47pm

Hi Aaron,

I've read all the buzz about the google custom search engines both on and off your site, but I'm still missing the hook as to where it is useful for visitors... mainly, where will they see this engine? Are these being used on standalone sites or part of your current sites?

Do you have any links handy in your bookmark that show examples of the best use?

Adam
June 29, 2007 - 4:19pm

check this http://devshots.com which is a custom search engine

June 29, 2007 - 8:24pm

Hi Matt L
I think they are best as part of a site, but also they can be used as a placeholder if you have a domain name you purchased that still needs development.

Chris
June 29, 2007 - 9:23pm

I can provide a specific example where CSEs are useful for visitors. I created one for martial arts schools in the Seattle area. This is a difficult search to perform in Google's broad index, because many schools rank poorly compared to irrelevant product sites.

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