Google Tests Site Links Search with Microsoft
I was tipped off today by a WebmasterWorld thread that Google is testing their Site Links feature that includes a search box right under the Site Links. See the screen capture below:
From what I can tell, and from the short amount of testing that I’ve done, the search box appears when you search for Microsoft at Google.com. It looks to me that it’s nothing but a Google custom search engine, or simply a site: command search of the microsoft.com domain, which includes all of their subdomains.
Being the search engine marketer that I am, I thought that I would try a few creative searches to see what I could come up with. First, I tried this search:
“search engine spam”
I thought that I would see what I can find out about search engine spam at Microsoft. Most of the results are from Microsoft’s Research area. Well, it’s certainly makes for interesting reading:
What’s interesting to me, though, is the fact that Google thinks that Microsoft’s Front Page 2002 has more to do with search engine spam than anything else. Go figure.
However, it’s kind of frightening to me that there are at least 1250 pages on the Microsoft site that do not have a title tag. C’mon, guys, clean up your site!
Back to Google Site Links search. Site Links have been around for a while, and as a search engine marketer, I have always thought that if you’ve “done everything right” so to speak, Google will “reward you” by giving you site links. After all, I haven’t seen (yet) any sites that are “spammy” sites or sites with site links that shouldn’t have them. If you come across a site like this, I would love to see it.
By adding the additional search field to the Site Links area, it appears to me that Google has identified the fact that when Google visitors search for the search phrase “Microsoft”, they’re looking for particular information about Microsoft. So, it only makes sense that a search field be added there. After all, it’s helpful.
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Mar 6th 2008
I agree. When I find sites Google’s given site links to, they tend to be good ones. Should be a goal for search engine marketers to aim for.
Mar 7th 2008
I’ve been reading your site for quite a while. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It is very helpful to all of us that use the search engines daily. Hopefully the Site Links feature will be a reward for quality sites. I am going to play with it myself the upcoming weekend.
Mar 7th 2008
1250 pages without a title tag ?? That’s …. well, not surprising
Microsoft after all can sometimes act quite noobish. Maybe they outsource to china ?;)
Mar 10th 2008
I think the additional search box is such a cool idea. No wonder Google is where they are today.
Ajay
Mar 10th 2008
How can people still nto have a title tage for their website? One of the first things I try to do is hit my sites from the outside to see what it looks like externally. I still have some things to tweak but man, no title tag???
Mar 11th 2008
yes google has added a new feature in their search results , link sitelinks search box to search that site also , when you search for the keyword php its the same .
Mar 12th 2008
As long as these search boxes only show up for branded searches I am fine with it.
Mar 13th 2008
I just checked and Google has about half dozen docs with no title. Guess maybe when you are sloppy, its better to buy your competition (Yahoo).
These site results can help in two ways:
1. Help users preview sites to know which are most relevant
2. Help show related products searches to the main search term.
unfortunately, I think google is getting cluttered enough. This is the direction of serach engines for the years to come
Mar 13th 2008
Obviously the sites given by the google are very good ones. We gain a lot from those sites. Adding a new search box for the google seems to be good. google always has a search box from where we can search what ever we want.
Mar 13th 2008
Yeap. This SearchBox is also avaiable when You type wikipedia, ny times. In my opinion it is because these are strongly linked in websites with huge site.
Mar 13th 2008
What is google trying to do put search boxes in the bigger sites that need to be narrowed down to a search within a search?
Mar 16th 2008
Yes I think that sitelinks have become more and more popular and easier to cahive within the last few months – I’m not sure if they have anything to do with the quality of the site – I hope so as I do have them on a couple of sites
Mar 16th 2008
This would certainly be an interesting thing to achieve – will people now be battling to get the search box rather than the site links?
Nice post BTW
Mar 17th 2008
I just googled ‘wikipedia’ and it came up with some quite strange site links – eg ‘chitty chitty bang bang’.
I’m not sure how useful I think this is going to be yet – will wait for a while and then come up with my verdict!
Mar 19th 2008
Clearly the sites specified by the Google are very fine ones. Accumulating a new explore box for the Google seems to be excellent. Google forever has a search box from anywhere we can explore what ever we wish for.
Mar 20th 2008
It’s no surprise to me that MSN has no title tags on some pages. And these are the guys that are gonna buy Yahoo to make it better?! LOL, please. I often wonder how many people at Google could even really SEO a site. It just goes to show you that even the BIGGEST companies have issues with SEO.
Mar 23rd 2008
i think it’s pretty cool and make it easier to user when google add more search box,especially for the big web site like microsoft.
Apr 3rd 2008
I’m not sure how useful I think this is going to be yet – will wait for a while and then come up with my verdict!