Letting visitors search the web from your site?

[LeafWind]

Hi everyone . . .

I'm working on a "Free Resources" area of our new website, and I'd like to have a "search the web" page with several major search engines' "windows" so that visitors can just choose a search engine, fill in what they're searching for right on that page of our site, then jump to the results pages of the search engine.

I know I've seen this set up on other pages, I just can't seem to remember where. And now when I visit the various search engines looking for the code, the only one that seems to offer it is AltavistaCanada (at http://www.altavistacanada.com/en/yoursite.htm if anyone is interested). Go figure -- I can't find the same thing on Altavista.com (the US/international version).

Does anyone else know where I might find which search engines offer this and where (exact url's, cuz I can't find the links on their front pages) they give the code and images?

Thanks!

Bekariso

PS. I got my very first CGI script installed today!! Woohoo!! http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif (it's bignosebird.com (http://bignosebird.com) 's "Birdcast" site suggestion script)

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www.LeafWind.com (http://www.LeafWind.com)
Growing web sites that thrive in the winds of change.

[Bi4Be]

. general discussion post
[This message has been edited by Bi4Be (edited 02-16-01@9:33 pm)]

[flowersource]

Go here http://www.dogpile.com/
'dogpile' searches EVERYTHING. They have a script for your webpage search and you can put a 'linkback' on their page.

I also have a Yahoo! search thingy on one of my pages. (Yahoo! suggested/asked for a link when they notified me that they had listed my web site) I thought it a good idea, it's the least I could do, seeing as how 80% of my search engine hits come from Yahoo! You can pick up the script/html from the Yahoo! site.
Mike

[Deb]

I agree 100% with Bi4Be http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

As far as a search box... this one will pay you .02 cents everytime someone uses it http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif
http://www.goto.com/d/affiliate/p/befree/?Promo=teknosurf_cashmadesimple.1_2

Deb

[Justin]

Here's my .02 cents on Goto.com:

I never use any search engine that charges a site to be listed. Goto.com is a paid listing, and the more you pay, the higher your ranking in the "search engine". Basically, all you will find are sites owned by people with money to burn, when some of the best sites on the net are starving artists who can't afford to pay to be found.

Sorry, but I hate the idea that the net is becoming as commercialized as TV. Nothing wrong with ads, as long as the content is still creative and rated accordingly. If content is run of the mill, copycat, high priced crap, then we might as well all go to Web TV and combine the two into one big money making idiot box.

I go to a site because it has something of interest to me, or because it is quality content, NOT because they have money to drag users in to see their ads. I heard that Yahoo is taking cash for quicker listings now, but I've also heard that it doesn't guarantee a listing, just quicker response to review your site (I think it's $200.00, non-refundable, even if you don't get listed).

Sorry - I get rather opinionated sometimes.


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Justin Nelson, SFE Inc.
http://www.vdj.net

[LeafWind]

Thanks!

Okay, here goes:
Wooohooo!!! http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif

Thanks for the search information. I also found a free script somewhere online that lets the visitors enter their search keywords, then choose what search engine they want to submit it to from a pull-down box. I've downloaded it and I'm going to look into it. The dogpile one looks good, too -- thanks.

Unfortunately, the GoTo one wants to know my monthly hit count and such before they consider my application, and as this is area of the site that's not linked to anywhere yet, the number of unique visitors is one -- me. http://www.aota.net/ubb/wink.gif So I guess I'll have to wait on that one -- it's bookmarked, though.

You'd think the search engines would *want* people to put them on their sites this way -- why do they make it so hard to find the info?

Oh well, if the cgi script one works, I'll have three windows (plus all the choices in the pull down menu), so that should be plenty. Though I'll definately want to try the goto.com one for the extra income when I can.

Thanks again,

Bekariso


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www.LeafWind.com (http://www.LeafWind.com)
Growing web sites that thrive in the winds of change.

[Deb]

I feel your pain Justin... trust me I feel your pain.

I know for a fact you're not the only one feeling it...

Deb

[LeafWind]

Justin,
Thanks for the extra info on GoTo.com -- I didn't realize that! I never actually use that search engine anyway -- or maybe I did once and didn't find it useful enough to remember! Now I have a reason to continue not using it.

Bekariso

[Justin]

I appologize for that - I still mean it all, but in that rant, I forgot to add my actual input to the idea http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif

I would go to each search engine and perform a search - they all use GET as the method, so the query is in the address bar. Alternatively, you can view source to see exactly what parameters are allowed.

I had an idea once to use a frames page (I know, I know, I'm a hipocrite) with a 30 pixel or so frame at the top with a textbox and a dropdown select box, where you can type in your keywords and select your search engine. Then your search box is always still there, complete with a link back to your site.

Ok, I already wrote 2 scripts today, and now I feel like I need to give this a try http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif You could probably do it all in HTML, maybe with a twist of JS, but with Perl it can remember your last xx searches in a dropdown combo box. Some of MS's search sites do that with a cookie, as well as a clear button.

Ok, me go play with Perl now http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif


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Justin Nelson, SFE Software
www.vdj.net (http://www.vdj.net)
The individual formerly known as SFE Inc.

[Justin]

Boy do I feel like an idiot! I just switched banner programs yesterday but didn't get the chance to change them all. Guess who's banner kept showing up on the old one's? None other than Goto.com!!

Well, their gone now http://www.aota.net/ubb/smile.gif


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Justin Nelson, SFE Software
www.vdj.net (http://www.vdj.net)
The individual formerly known as SFE Inc.