A very simple way to make your website more user-friendly is to add a search feature. Google Search makes that easy: just Create a Custom Search Engine by filling out a form, and then paste the resulting code wherever you want into your web page. (If you want it to search only on your website, then enter your URL only under the "Select some sites" portion of the form.)
After you have completed the form, it will take you to a page that has a link to the Control Panel for your new custom search. Click that, and then click "code." This is what you will copy and paste into your home page.
Here’s what that code looks like when it’s pasted into your HTML page:
But what if you don’t like the default look? No problem: there are several ways to change the look and feel of the search bar, and also the search results page that comes up afterwards. Just click the "look and feel" link and you will be presented with several options, including the option to choose your own text colors, and add your own logo to the custom search results page. (Note: you can also choose where that search results page is hosted: either on your own site, or on google. That option is under the "code" link.)
And that’s it– your own custom search in minutes!
February 24th, 2009 at 1:36 am
That sound like a good summary. I tried on my own and about three hours later had a large search box. So I put it at the bottom of my home page instead of the top since it was too awkward looking. I’ll work on slimming it down and then after that get it at the top where everyone tends to look.
What is it that Amy says . . . something like don’t make me think . . which would apply to getting that search box where people expect it to be.
Cheerio,
Brenda
February 24th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Hi Brenda,
Try using the small version of the box as shown in my example above. It was a pretty straighforward process to create the code; the more difficult part, if you’re not very familiar with HTML, is inserting it in the right place in your site to get it to come out right. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
July 19th, 2011 at 2:56 am
thats sound good , is it possible that we change the full search box and make of our own search box and the give the functionality which search using google??
October 6th, 2012 at 7:39 am
A nice tutorial. but is it possible to create your own feel of google search box?