I use Google for a lot of my search needs – sites, blogs, images, video, mapping, addresses, reviews, etc. The list goes on.
But I’ve always wondered if Google is always the best option.
Well Phil Bradley has compiled a list of what he calls Finding What You Need With The Best Search Engines. I’ve looked over the list and found the usuals like Google, Yahoo! Search and MSN Live Search for keyword searches.
But there’s some other gems in the list. Like using Encarta and Answers.com for facts searching or GooFresh for new additions to Google. KartOO, of course, gives some beautiful, visual search results (try it if you haven’t) and can be fun to use. I’d never seen Quintura before, but I can see its usefulness. It displays search results with a tag could of similar search keywords.
There’s lots of good stuff on his list. Much you’ve probably seen but some I’m sure you haven’t. So take a look, and let me know what gems you find.
By the way, he plans to continue updating this list on a regular basis. Maybe this is a resource to bookmark.
Dawud, did you check a kids’ version of Quintura?
The URL http://www.philb.com/whichengine.htm seems broken.
Anyway, Quitura seems very nice. My favorite from those mentioned by you.
Yakov,
There is a kid’s version of Quintura. It’s fun and seems quite safe. I tried a few inappropriate terms and Quintura Kids returns a “no results” error. And the interface is cute.
Yakov,
No, I didn’t. Though I should think about it, having two young kids myself. Will do so in a bit and get back.
Smarty Blog
It works, just renders slowly. I like Quitura too. Helpful, yet functional. Unlike KartOO – which just seems fun.
You should check out http://www.aftervote.com which was actually search engine of the month for april from RWW.
Cheers
It would be more useful if Google results were not so accurate 😉
If we would have 3 major search engines more close to each other in terms of search results relevancy, this concept would be quite interesting.
Unfortunately for them, Google results are usually all you need.
dan,
Yeah, I’ve seen it as well. Pretty neat concept. I’ve played around with it for a couple of weeks myself. I find it more fun than functional. But hey fun is fine.
Smarty Blog,
I know. That’s what makes Google so darn valuable – their accuracy at helping you find what you’re looking for. Still no one comes close. It’s remarkable. Is that because everyone else lacks the sight that Google has or is Google just better at it than everyone?
I use Google for about 90% of my searches… sometimes I use Yahoo, but typically if i am not happy with the search results in Google, I use en.wikipedia.
Garry Conn:
Usually the first result in a Google search is the Wikipedia page for the thing you’re searching 😛
Agreed. But, if and when Google can’t provide an exact match for what I want… then I have to dig for it, and in most cases when I am looking for something that Google can’t handle it pertains to facts, history or quotes and that is when I turn to en.wikipedia. 🙂
A few months back, and I don’t remember where I read it, I heard that Google was going to be dropping en.wikipedia from their SERPs… but it doesn’t seem to be the case, because the references still pull up strong.
Your comment got me to thinking more about it and I dug around a little bit and found a an interesting article about it on WebProNews
Garry,
As I said, I’m pretty much the same. I think my backup tends to be…well, I don’t have one anymore. If I’m looking blog-specific – Technorati, IceRocket or BlogPulse are often my faves.
Garry,
Isn’t that interesting? Google’s pretty good at finding what I want much of the time. But as a user, I certainly think it can be better. Just goes to show you how difficult it must be to create a truly functional search engine.
I am totally pleased with Google. I think they do an awesome job. For Google to have the power to micro-manage the entire Internet, that’s impressive.
I can write a post and within 24 to 48 hours, I can find it in Google. To me, that is amazing!
🙂 Whether other people can find the post, that’s a different topic! LOL… but the post is there!
Site maps are without a doubt a very powerful way towards getting your content indexed quickly.
Google’s webmaster Tools is a source of abundant information for people interested in improving their site’s optimization and standings with Google.
http://www.google.com/webmasters/
The challenge is just reading all what Google has to offer and putting into practice. Most people don’t have time to do all this, also there is a ton of trial and error in this as well. It is one thing to take advantage of SEO Tools, but the second half to the unleashing the power, as you know, is the content on the site and the market demands for the content. If all these elements are balanced, then a blogger is looking at running a very powerful site.
Oops… sorry man, the direction of this post is changing from what it was originally intended. I take the blame for that. 🙂
Garry,
I find the same thing. Using site maps my posts are often indexed in under 2 minutes. I’m simply amazed with it myself.
Garry,
Don’t worry, my friend. I’ve already compared blogging to coffee shops. For me, it’s the conversation that makes blogging worthwhile – that and the relationships built through conversation.
I hear you on SEO techniques. Oh, how does one find the time?
for me it’s still the best search engine but i’ll try to take a good look at your suggestion when i was starting up in my web business google provided me with some of the best tools for my website like the webmaster tools but thanks for the info