eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Most of the searching going on at major Internet sites involves a surprisingly small number of search terms, according to new research from WebSideStory, an Internet traffic analysis firm.
The San Diego-based concern bases its findings (here in PDF form) on a study of 34 million search sessions conducted at 40 major Internet sites in April.
It found that half the search sessions were to locate just 4 percent of the key words the site’s search engine encountered.
Among other things, the findings suggest a “search this site” feature on a Web site is the best way to steer people to the information they are looking for. This runs counter to the school of thought supporting a more proactive means.
“A site search feature is a tremendous gift to you from your customers,” writes the Susan Aldrich, a senior vice president at The Patricia Seybold Group. She prepared the research for WebSideStory.
“They are telling you exactly what they want, in their own words.”