One search does not fit all

Google today released the Google Custom Search Engine [news story], a utility that makes it easy to create a custom search. It allows you to query only the sites you specify or to search all sites with preference given to your specified sites.

Since search is a key component of any site, anybody who publishes a Web site or a blog should pay attention to this new service. Custom search can make sites much more useful. After all, when people type in a search query on a site, it's a safe bet that they want to search for topics the site is about. For example, if I'm on a gadget site and I search for "notebooks," I want laptop computers. On an office supply site, I'm more likely to want pads of paper. Custom search can tilt results in the right direction.

I created a PC reviews search in about two minutes. Try searching for a general term, such as "power," and compare your results to a standard Google search: