|
June 2000
|
Must Search Stink? |
|
As sites swell to thousands of pages and products, search becomes essential. But on most sites, search fails five critical tests. Fixing this problem requires appropriate technology, tagged content, and goal-focused interfaces. |
by
Paul Hagen
with Harley Manning,
Yolanda Paul |
|
|
 |
- As content grows, 90% of firms rate search as very or extremely important.
- However, 52% don't measure search effectiveness.
|
|
|
- Search fails typical user tasks.
- Success depends on improved content management.
|
|
|
- Choose specialized search tools to solve the right problem.
- To avoid flying blind, monitor search success rates.
|
|
|
- Search will become central to site navigation.
- Personal information will enhance user queries.
|
| |
- Figure 1.
Search Rates As Important, But Few Know How Well It Works
- Figure 2.
Grading Criteria
- Figure 3.
Vendor Landscape
- Figure 4.
Costs To Fix Search
|
| |
|
|
|
- Individuals Interviewed For This Report
- Companies Interviewed For This Report
- Related Research
|
|
|
|
|
- No bricks, no mortar -- why do we have aisles?
- How useful is that content, anyway?
- Bad search hall of shame.
- We confess: Our search stinks, too.
|
