‘SPECIFIC SEARCH ENGINE’ IS BORN.
The general search engines have realized that not every keyword needs millions of links. Also many companies are not bothered with the competition that surrounds the top ten links scenario. These companies are local shops, salons, travel agencies, bookshops etc. With everything entering the web world, these local entrepreneurs have found a place in the internet. That’s why, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and others are focusing on local, need specific search engine, which will help the users locate the nearest Thai restaurant or medical store in their locality or neighborhood.
Marchex Inc. is a Seattle based search and media company, founded in 2003. Lately, Marchex Inc. has launched 100,000 specific search sites/ engines. Its focus is mainly local search, search marketing and direct navigation. The reason why all the search engine companies are now involved in local search is because, it is a known fact that almost 30% of internet users are in search for local places. The main flaw with the general search engine is that, they only have millions of links for global companies, entertainment, social networking sites etc but when a user wants to find out about that one music shop where they stock “The Best of Carpenters” cd in plenty; such general search engines are useless.
Spock.com is another specific search engine company by Jay Bhatti. He feels that when a user wants to find out about his long lost high school friend, who then aspired to start a college where subjects such as dating, safe sex and the art of partying are taught like biology and trigonometry; that user should have a website where not only he/she can contact his friend, but also know all his details. Spock.com specializes in vertical search and finding an individual on the internet is no longer like finding a pin in a haystack.
Quite frankly, specific search engine is not a new phenomenon, it was in existence since 90’s, but it waited till people were comfortable with using the search engine for social networking and fixing an appointment with the local spa, simultaneously. Finally, it seems that people have caught up with technology and its time that the search engines go micro from macro.
Not only these specific search engines and sites are beneficial to the internet users, but also to those global companies who want to tap on the consumer requirements; for their improvement. For e.g. any multinational cosmetic company can invent a product that is a consumer need; but not in existence as a product. With the help of local sites and search engines they can derive a systematic statistics, which tells them exactly how many people in the world need that non-existent product. If the statistics favor it, then that company can go ahead and make that product. With that, one can say that specific search engine is reborn, and has attacked the market with vengeance.
