14 DAY TRIAL // The Mountain View Company has debuted Google Custom Search Engine delivering a way to bring tailored search to websites. Google's initiative follows the footsteps of Yahoo and Microsoft who have already introduced similar customizable search services. Yahoo Search Builder and windows Live Search both deliver the possibility to create custom search engines and embed it into a website. Google provides the same services, the only difference is in the search platform.
"Google Custom Search Engines empower users to choose which pages they want to include in their index, how the content should be prioritized, whether others can contribute to their index, and what the search results page will look like. With this launch, we're extending the power of Google search beyond Google.com," stated the Mountain View Company in a press release.
"We want to make it easy for anyone to create a search engine about all of their favorite topics, without needing a Ph.D.," stated Marissa Mayer, Google Vice President of Search Products and User Experience. "Everyone - businesses, organizations, moms, dads, teenagers, and teachers - can harness the power of Google technology to create a personalized search experience that reflects specific knowledge and interests."
Via Google Custom Search, engine users have extended control over their search index, by selecting the websites to be indexed and controlling the search results associated with them via priority options.
"Custom Search Engines are monetized through the Google AdSense program so they can even generate revenue with it. Universities, non-profits and government organizations can choose not to run ads on their search results if they'd rather not," concluded Google.