A decision to implement enterprise search cannot be taken lightly. After all, many companies end up disappointed and frustrated with high-priced products that failed to live up to expectations. Yet, it's surprising how little effort these companies typically put into creating a compelling search experience for employees — especially given the potential productivity gains effective search implies. To avoid the failed search project trap, information and knowledge management pros should follow seven steps to maximize the impact of their search investments, while minimizing the risk of over-investing in the technology.