Blended, Universal Search Stats

Pete Prestipino — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:59:00 GMT

Have you started optimizing your specialized digital content for the search results?

Search engine marketing firm iProspect and research and consulting firm JupiterResearch surveyed 2,400 online consumers about their habits in relation to blended or “universal search”. “Since users have historically ignored the vertical offerings of the major search engines, a marketer might conclude that users aren’t interested in that type of content, and as a result, not invest in producing or optimizing digital assets,” said Robert Murray, President, iProspect. “But that would be a mistake — the findings of this study make that quite clear. Marketers have a great opportunity to claim more search shelf space by optimizing their news, image, and video assets.”

Key finding from the iProspect study include:

36% of search engines user click “news” results within blended search results, while only 17% click a “news” result after conducting a news-specific search
31% of search engine users click “image” results within blended search results, while 26% click an “image” result after conducting an image-specific search
17% of search engine users click “video” results within blended search results, while only 10% click a “video” result after conducting a video-specific search
While images are the most clicked type of result after a vertical-specific search, news items are the most clicked type of result within blended search results

ZVents Launches Federated Local Search

Pete Prestipino — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:02:00 GMT

It looks as though Zvents will be the first local search engine to provide a localized version of Google's Universal search. Zvents will provide users with a blended local search (akin to Google Universal Search) which will integrate traditional business listings with local events, movies, store sales, performances, spots, venues and resaurants.

"Our objective is to help users find what they need quickly and effortlessly," said Ethan Stock, Zvents CEO and co-founder. "Federated Local Search will enhance the user's search experience by instantly providing one convenient list of local search results for a more accurate response to a search query for everything to do."

Zvents currently powers search and local content for more than 200 media partners such as LA.com and Boston.com, as well as newspapers including the Detroit News, Denver Post, and the San Jose Mercury News. Federated Local Search will roll out to media partners in the coming months.

'Net Features : blended search

Blended, Universal Search Stats

ZVents Launches Federated Local Search