Search Engine Land
  • SEO
    • > All SEO
    • > What Is SEO?
    • > SEO Periodic Table
    • > Google: SEO
    • > Bing SEO
    • > Google Algorithm Updates
  • PPC
    • > All PPC
    • > What is PPC?
    • > Google Ads
    • > Microsoft Ads
    • > The Periodic Tables of PPC
  • Focuses
    • > Local
    • > Commerce
    • > Shopify SEO Guide
    • > Content
    • > Email Marketing Periodic Table
    • > Social Media Marketing
    • > Analytics
    • > Search Engine Land Awards
    • > All Focuses
  • SMX
  • Webinars
  • Intelligence Reports
  • White Papers
  • About
    • > About Search Engine Land
    • > Newsletter
    • > Third Door Media
    • > Advertise

Processing...Please wait.

Search Engine Land » Channel » SEO » Neeva’s ‘FastTap Search’ feature presents direct links instead of a results page

Neeva’s ‘FastTap Search’ feature presents direct links instead of a results page

FastTap Search is a reimagining of the search results that’s only possible because Neeva doesn’t rely on ad revenue.

George Nguyen on October 13, 2021 at 9:00 am

Neeva, the ad-free, private search engine is launching a feature that enables searchers to type queries directly into the URL field of their browser or the Neeva app to be shown a drop-down menu with direct links, the company announced Wednesday.

Examples of FastTap Search. Image: Neeva.

Named “FastTap Search,” the feature allows users to bypass traditional search engine results pages and head directly to a site via the list of links generated based on the query.

What is Neeva? Announced in June 2020 and officially launched about a year later, Neeva was founded by Sridhar Ramaswamy, former SVP of ads at Google. Unlike public search engines (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, etc.) that generate revenue by showing ads to users, Neeva operates under a subscription model in which users pay $4.95 per month. In exchange, Neeva provides an ad-free, customizable search experience.

RELATED: What would it take for new search engines to succeed?

FastTap is made possible by Neeva’s unique business model. “A feature like FastTap Search cannot co-exist with a search platform that relies on advertising revenue,” Ramaswamy said in the announcement.

This is because most search engines rely on advertising for revenue: Keeping users on the results page — for example, by adding search features that make it unnecessary to click on a result to find the desired information — typically means that search engines can show more ads and, in turn, bring in more ad revenue.

Since Neeva doesn’t show ads and users directly support the search engine, Neeva is free to create features like this without hurting its bottom line.

Why we care. This feature may take on more significance if Neeva is able to increase its share of the search market or if Neeva is popular with your particular audience. While this is a reimagining of the search results page, it is still a list of results and there is still a top position, which means algorithms have to determine relevance and award that position to a page, just as they do on other search engines. However, since FastTap Search only presents a few results, the brands or publishers that are able to earn that top spot stand to gain significant visibility, which can be important if you operate in a highly competitive sector.

As it stands, this feature is unlikely to impact our workflows or challenge the leading search engines in a meaningful way. But, FastTap Search does represent a new, simplified take on how users can search and how results can be presented. Google has attempted something similar with the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button that takes users directly to the top result for their query, however, the company’s strategy now seems to be on the opposite end of the spectrum. Its MUM-related announcements from Search On in September gave us a preview of search results pages that lead to even more search results, with featured snippets that may resolve queries without users having to click through. If the two search engines were similar in market share, we might get to see whether users prefer a simplified experience, like the one offered by Neeva’s FastTap, or a more robust search results page, which is the way Google appears to be headed.


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.


New on Search Engine Land

    Google search results spam for ‘Bill Slawski obituary’ shows the dark side of SEO

    New mobile Google ad experiment puts favicon in-line with display URL

    Google launches video health tools to help publisher monetization

    SEO pioneer and expert Bill Slawski passes away

    New Yelp feature: Request a Call

About The Author

George Nguyen
George Nguyen was an editor for Search Engine Land, covering organic and paid search. His background is in journalism and content marketing. Prior to entering the industry, he worked as a radio personality, writer, podcast host and public school teacher.

Related Topics

DuckDuckGoSEOSERP Experience

Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.

Processing...Please wait.

See terms.

ATTEND OUR EVENTS

Learn actionable search marketing tactics that can help you drive more traffic, leads, and revenue.

March 8-9, 2022: Master Classes (virtual)

June 14-15, 2022: SMX Advanced (virtual)

November 15-16, 2022: SMX Next (virtual)

Learn More About Our SMX Events

Discover time-saving technologies and actionable tactics that can help you overcome crucial marketing challenges.

Start Discovering Now: Spring (virtual)

September 28-29, 2022: Fall (virtual)

Learn More About Our MarTech Events

Webinars

Take a Crawl, Walk, Run Approach to Multi-Channel ABM

Content Comes First: Transform Your Operations With DAM

Dominate Your Competition with Google Auction Insights and Search Intelligence

See More Webinars

Intelligence Reports

Enterprise SEO Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

Enterprise Identity Resolution Platforms

Email Marketing Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

Enterprise Sales Enablement Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

Enterprise Digital Experience Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

Enterprise Call Analytics Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

See More Intelligence Reports

White Papers

Reputation Management For Healthcare Organizations

Unlock the App Marketing Potential of QR Codes

Realising the power of virtual events for demand generation

The Progressive Marketer’s Ultimate Events Strategy 2022 Worksheet

CMO Guide: How to Plan Smart and Pivot Fast

See More Whitepapers

Receive daily search news and analysis.

Processing...Please wait.

Topics

  • SEO
  • PPC

Our Events

  • Search Marketing Expo - SMX
  • MarTech

About

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Marketing Opportunities
  • Staff

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Newsletters
  • RSS
  • Youtube

© 2022 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved.