How Google Improves Search Quality Through The User Interface
Nov 7, 2008 at 8:32am ET by Barry Schwartz
Dan Russell from Google’s search quality team has a post at the Google Blog on the art of field study. In short, he describes how the search interface plays a role in search quality, and what measures Google takes to study and improve the user interface, to ultimately help improve search quality.
Dan mostly discusses how Google watches searchers and how they search. By watching and observing, they can find things, they might not otherwise find. User groups and test groups, with eye tracking studies is nothing new to search or the computer field. All major search engines run them and run them often. I have actually seen rooms devoted to studying how users use their search engines at both Google and Yahoos offices.
Dan explains that it is not uncommon to see “people trying to find out something about a topic, but then never actually mention the topic itself.” He then shared a short video of an eye tracking study done at Google, here is that video:
He also explained how Google came up with the revised advanced search page.
Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:
Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter
See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Google: User Interface, Google: Web Search sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!
TOP STORIES
SEARCH NEWS BRIEFS
FEATURES & ANALYSIS
RECENT COMMENTS
- davebarnes said " Or you can use AdBlock Plus with this filter: *google-analytics.com*"
- andreaBG said " I came here via Matt Cutts, Twitter.com, after navigating to Twitter from a tab that was open to FB,"
- nexcerpt said " Oh, the ~irony~ of reading this article at this moment! I had just arrived from this clickable image"
FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!
SearchCap is a once-per-day newsletter update:
STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.
SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »
Join us at an upcoming SMX event:
- SMX Munich – March 23-24, 2010
- SMX Toronto – April 8-9, 2010
- SMX Sydney – April 22-23, 2010
- SMX Advanced London – May 17-18, 2010
- SMX Advanced Seattle – June 8-9, 2010
- SMX East – October 4-6, 2010
- SMX Stockholm – October, 2010
Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:
- Excel Tips & Tricks for PPC Success – March 18, 2010
- Paid Search and Big Brand Marketing – March 30, 2010
FOLLOW US SOCIALLY
- Wall Street Journal Recommended Reading
- Ad Age Power 150 Blog
- Technorati Top 100 Blog
- Techmeme Leaderboard Source
- Best Search Engine Community/Forum
Featured sites from our Blogroll
Get Your Search Engine Land
Premium Membership!
Become a premium member today and receive:
- Express commenting privileges & photo.
- Exclusive videos & newsletters.
- Discounts to our SMX conferences.
- Access to "How To" & Other Archives.
© 2010 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Google, Yahoo & Microsoft logos trademark respective companies and used with permission.
