Taking the ' ' out of Getting site search right for news Martin Belam Euro IA 2008 currybet.net

Map of the Internet - 2001 Research by the BBC in the early 2000s produced this 'mental map' of the Internet

Research by the BBC in the early 2000s produced this 'mental map' of the Internet

Map of the Internet - 2006 With increasing market dominence, for many people, Google IS the Internet

With increasing market dominence,

for many people, Google IS the Internet

Map of the Internet - 2008 Whilst the Internet has grown in size, the mental 'map' of it has shrunk

Whilst the Internet has grown in size,

the mental 'map' of it has shrunk

Map of the Internet - 2008 Browser search has become so ingrained that users don't notice which results they get from the 'box'

Browser search has become so ingrained that users don't notice which results they get from the 'box'

Where does that leave site search? Shall we just give in?

Shall we just give in?

Transform your results Google's results are a 'map' of what the search giant knows about your site

Google's results are a 'map' of what the

search giant knows about your site

Use the correct title Use the headline of the article - not truncated HTML <TITLE> information

Use the headline of the article -

not truncated HTML <TITLE> information

Use an editorial snippet For news, the opening paragraph conveys more than keyword based snippets

For news, the opening paragraph conveys more than keyword based snippets

Credit the author Google can't tell exactly who wrote an article, but you can

Google can't tell exactly who wrote an article, but you can

Add the publication date You know the definitive publication date - Google doesn't

You know the definitive publication date - Google doesn't

Provide lateral navigation The crumb-trail of links that accompanies each story could not be provided by Google

The crumb-trail of links that accompanies

each story could not be provided by Google

Provide lateral navigation Add structured information to your results to guide your users

Add structured information to

your results to guide your users

Use thumbnail images Google sometimes adds a thumbnail image to 'breaking news' results

Google sometimes adds a thumbnail image

to 'breaking news' results

Use thumbnail images Thumbnail images add an extra 'information scent'

Thumbnail images add an extra

'information scent'

Use thumbnail images Placing them on the right keeps text snippets 'scanable'

Placing them on the right keeps

text snippets 'scanable'

Use thumbnail images Thumbnail images aid rapid comprehension

Thumbnail images aid rapid comprehension

Use thumbnail images It is obvious the results are about &quot;Footballer's wives&quot; and not footballers

It is obvious the results are about &quot;Footballer's wives&quot; and not footballers

Use thumbnails There can be a risk of 'repeats' if you use lots of stock images

There can be a risk of 'repeats'

if you use lots of stock images

Let people click! Make everything that could be a link into a link

Make everything that could be a link

into a link

Impart vital information Some search results indicate whether archive articles are free or not

Some search results indicate whether

archive articles are free or not

Impart vital information Indicate premium content - don't surprise the user

Indicate premium content -

don't surprise the user

Handle multimedia better than Google Incorporate your multimedia into your search results

Incorporate your multimedia

into your search results

Handle multimedia better than Google Indicate multimedia content with icons or a different format

Indicate multimedia content with icons or a different format

Take search further Allow users to set up alerts directly from the search results

Allow users to set up alerts

directly from the search results

Don't be afraid of advanced search This interface uses a calendar format for date entry, rather than a lengthy drop-down

This interface uses a calendar format for

date entry, rather than a lengthy drop-down

Don't be afraid of advanced search You can present a small 'advanced search' interface alongside the 'simple' results

You can present a small 'advanced search'

interface alongside the 'simple' results

Don't be afraid of advanced search Set 'advanced' search up like a dialogue

Set 'advanced' search up like a dialogue

Avoid gimmicks You don't have to use every 'feature' of your search technology in the interface

You don't have to use every 'feature' of your search technology in the interface

Present easy to digest results De Pers combines different formats in one page

De Pers combines different formats in one page

Sometimes conventions are there for a reason… 10 results per page is a pretty good standard

10 results per page is a pretty good standard

Celebrate site search success! Make gadget and widgets and promote the service

Make gadget and widgets and promote the service

Taking the ' ' out of Getting site search right for news Martin Belam Euro IA 2008 currybet.net Tintin imagery thanks to the genius of Hergé Official Tintin site - tintin.france3.fr Tintinologist fan site - www.tintinologist.org