Ads now in harmony with search results

Posted by: Tom Duerig, Software Engineer

Many folks have pointed out that all the results on the page -- both the search results and the advertisements -- should be appropriately customized so that the ads are in sync with the search results. We are happy to tell you that this is now indeed the case. Keywords that you use to tune search results will also be used to tune the ads.

To demonstrate the power of keywords for tuning ads, we've created 3 search engines. Note the differences in ads when we search for [leash] on all three:

A search engine about children, with the keywords [child children]:


A search engine about dogs, with the keywords [dog dogs]:


And, a search engine about surfing, with the keywords [surf surfing]:


So, keywords are even more important than before to your search engine. Make sure that you choose the keywords that provide the best overall search experience!

Custom Search in your language of choice

Posted by Matt Wytock, Software Engineer

Since we launched Google Custom Search last year, webmasters and businesses around the world have been able use specific language controls to build customized search experiences. However, the Custom Search administration console was only available in English -- until now. Starting today, the Custom Search platform supports 40 languages in close to 80 countries worldwide.

Webmasters can use CSE to create tailored search experiences on community web sites; businesses can add hosted site search to their web sites; users can add search to their blogs and web pages; and developers can build search right into their applications with the Custom Search APIs. And there's no software to install or hardware to maintain. Custom Search engines can be built in minutes and are easy to customize and manage. You can also control the appearance of the search results to match the look and feel of your web site. Now, you can administer your favo(u)rite CSE in the language of your choice.

Custom Search is available as a free, ads-supported version, and through Custom Search Business Edition (CSBE). With CSBE, further customization of search results is possible using an XML API, and ads are optional. CSBE offers options for email and phone support. This launch also brings Custom Search Business Edition (CSBE) to your country. So if you're looking for fast, easy and relevant search for your website in your language, you'll be pleased with this launch.

As always, we'd love your feedback. Visit our User Group to tell us more about your Custom Search implementation.

Custom Search Results Overlay

Posted by: Matt Wytock, Software Engineer

The ability to integrate Custom Search with your site is an important feature , and we recently added a new option to the Code tab that makes this integration easier. Using AJAX techniques, you can now get your search results in an overlay that appears on top of the page containing the search box. Here's an example.

Go to the Code tab of your search engine's control panel and select "Host results on a non-Google site" and "overlay" to get this new code.

Behind the scenes, this is powered by the AJAX Search API, which gives you complete control of your search results and is easy to use with Custom Search.

Difference - HTML and XHTML

When inserting codes into the Blogger template, page element, or blog post, you may have seen error messages that the code could not be parsed, was not well-formed, was broken, or that the elements were not closed properly. These errors can be corrected if you understand the rules that must be adhered to in XHTML documents. Blogger templates use the XHTML 1.0 Strict Document Type. In this

Three Columns Thisaway Template (I)

We have polled readers to find out what Blogger templates they are using so that we can roll out articles pertaining to their templates, such as our 3 column template guides to add another sidebar and convert their existing Blogger templates from two columns to three columns. We have posted the conversion tutorials for the popular templates – Minima, Rounders, Denim, Dots, Scribe and Sand Dollar

Three Columns Thisaway Template (II)

In the earlier Three Columns Thisaway Template (I) article, we have given a how-to guide on changing the Thisaway and Thisaway Blue templates from two-column to three-column templates. In this second part, we shall show you how to add a new sidebar into the Thisaway Green and Thisaway Rose templates. As we had mentioned, before modifying the template, be sure to back up the existing template.

SEO Tools - Search Engine Optimization

What are search engine optimization tools, webmaster tools, Google page rank checker, SEO tools, and how can these internet tools help to bring more quality traffic to your Blog? There are many free online web tools that webmasters can use to find out more information about their sites. The tools can also alert the webmasters to possible problems search engines may have with the site's template