Tip 64 - The Quickest Way to Find Information at InternetTIPS.com

As a website grows, naturally more content is added. While having more choice and answers to more questions can be more useful, sometimes more is not always better - unless you choose a different route or method to find the information you may be seeking.

For example, as we add more content to our website here at InternetTIPS.com, finding the information you may want may not be such an easy task compared to perhaps interacting a smaller website. Yet a simple and highly effective answer is always easily available.

Providing a Powerful, Deep Search Tool on Your Website

Sure, we can create and apply an effective website internal link structure, yet by far the best method is to simply do what Google does: add a simple, yet powerful Search facility. That's what we've done. On every page, each visitor has access to the site Search box.

To find what you want, simply:

• Click in the Search box to insert a flashing cursor or insertion point into the Search box.
• Then type a word or phrase about what you're looking for.
• Press the ENTER key.

Our website search engine delivers targeted results. You'll also see the word or phrase you searched for highlighted in the list of relevant content returned.

Also, if on the main website navigation menu, you choose the "Home" button, on the lower deck under the Home button, you'll see an extra button called "Deep Search", that provides access to an even more powerful website search tool that covers search in a variety of ways across multiple options, including searching by:

• Website Sections.
• Website Categories.
• All the words in your search phrase.
• The exact search phrase.
• One or more specific words in your search phrase.
• Omitting one or more specific words in the search phrase.
• Web page title.
• Author.
• Days, including: today, the past 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, over a full year, or using a specific "to ..." and "from ..." date range.

Website users can also set how many search results to display on each single search results page.

Tip: by using site search, we can find the answers we're seeking in perhaps a fraction of the time needed using the traditional click and navigate method.

How We Set up Our Website Search "Power Horse"

Since we're already using the excellent Joomla web Content Management System (CMS), even though Joomla comes with it's own built in search feature, we wanted something stronger and more flexible. That's why we choose the excellent Search & Archive add-on extension / Component from iJoomla.

As a bonus, we were also able to include a website Archives feature that automatically updates itself as we add new content pages and edit existing website pages.

A Final Perhaps Surprising Benefit

If like me, you have feel more at home with the idea of simply using a website navigation menu or internal links to sequentially find information, if a site search facility is available, I highly recommend that you choose that as your first choice approach.

What's more, I have discovered that if we choose to take a more "search focused" approach to finding information, rather than perhaps using the older ways to get the answers we seek, we can learn quicker, better and more effective ways to search on the web through site like Google.com, Yahoo.com, MSN.com, and so on.

InternetTIPS.com is a unique, plain English "How to" resource designed to help you create a profitable, interactive Web 2.0 website rich in engaging content, community and commerce.

Brian Austin is a member of both the Society of Authors and the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators. He has over 25,000 hours of extensive experience combining the disciplines of web site design, search engine optimization, and creating remarkable, compelling content interwoven with persuasive writing.

Whether you're an individual, small- or medium-sized business or organization, we can work with you to design, create and populate a "ready-to-go" website that you can be proud of.

Moreover, for no additional cost, clients who order website design services, can also enjoy full access to our member-only area containing a growing vault of downloadable resources including: 9,000 articles, 1,500 marketing strategies, plain English training tutorial videos, software, ebooks and more! To discuss your project, in the first instance, to ensure we don't miss your emails, please contact Brian using our web Contact form.