Search Improvements On This Blog

I have made some tweaks to the way the search field on this blog works. I've been using Lijit for the search box for a while now and I like it.

According to Lijit, I get about 50 searches a day on this blog. That's enough usage to try to get it working right.

So first, I moved the search box above the fold on the right sidebar (at least above my fold). That's been nagging me for a while.

Second, I added back the search term cloud. It's interesting to me what people search on. Maybe it is to you too.

Third, I added re-search to my archive/permalink pages. When you come to this blog via google or any search engine, you'll see the re-search box at the top of the archive page with some additional links. Since about 40% of the traffic to this blog is search driven, I think that should be helpful. I'd be curious to hear what people think.

Comments

[Dan]

"So first, I moved the search box above the fold on the right sidebar"

Hey Fred. Your "other right". :)

[Michael]

Yes, I see it on the left, just below my fold. My opinion? Move down that Voki thing -- I really am not sure what that does -- and put search in its place. That would be a lot more useful to me.

[UPC Tech Blog]

Took me a minute to spot the search box on the left, but I found it.

I love the re-search idea, it seems like the perfect way to keep search users interacting with your content. If I ever implement a non-google driven search feature on my blog, I will have to keep that in mind.