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Guide to the different search engines

by Lisa Mazurek

When it comes to search engines, Google accounts for 40 to 60 percent of the search engine market. It isn't surprising given its speedy results and great user interface. If you add in Yahoo and MSN, the top three search engines have around 90 percent of the market. But even Google doesn't have everything. Google's search results are based on relevance and popularity, so you can't discover new Web territory. So, if you would like to widen your search try these.

If your not searching blogs, you are missing out on some great content that won't be found in a typical search because it is new. Technorati searches blogs with the newest content and most linked blogs. ChaCha search is another way to search, only with a live professional guide who will take your query and returns results to your specifications. Rollyo, short for roll your own search engine lets you do just that. You can search blogs and the Web at large. With this type of a search engine you can limit your search to certain sites.

Clusty takes a different approach for searches. It takes results from several search engines, Google not included. The results are arranged in clusters to help you refine your search.

For a feature rich site that uses subject popularity among pages try Ask.com. It has a great preview page feature and editorial selected smart answers. For a way to find content you wouldn't be exposed to is StumbleUpon. This site gives you thumbs up and thumbs down in your tool bar which you use to rate pages and sites. As it learns your preferences, it gets better directing you to the stuff you like.

Draze.com will let you get search results from Google, Yahoo and MSN. With this search you can choose just one search engine or exclude one. Another site that searches all three engines is aftervote.com. This site adds a feature that lets you vote on results. The search results include Alexa, Page Rank, Digg and Delicious buttons.

Now if you can't find it on Google go post a search on (www.cantfindongoogle.com). After you post your search, you wait for another user to help out. The response of queries are plenty but the results are few.

For information on search engines like Web search, selection based and meta search. http:// www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_searchengines.

For search engine marketing tips and news. http://www.searchenginewatch.com

Meta -search search engine searches dozens of search engines. http:www.search.com

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