Search Results Page Design

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Search Results Page Design
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• Searching vs. Browsing
• more than half of all users are
  search-dominant. (Nielson, 1997)
• task-focused and want to find specific
  information as fast as possible tend to favor
  searching over browsing.

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The Search Interface

• Although a search engine may employ the most
  sophisticated algorithms, the search results will
  be worthless if they are not presented in a
  usable format that is meaningful to the user.

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• Search results should support both the goals of
  the site and the goals of the users.

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The search entry may include

• Abstract
• Title
• URL
• File size
• description

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• Show enough information about an entry to allow
  users to differentiate between results, but not
  so much information that only a few entries can
  fit on each page.
• Design for simplicity and then allow for
  customization of the amount of detail shown.

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Sorting vs ranking

• Sorting is especially helpful to users who are
  looking to make a decision or take an action.
  (Rosenfeld Moreville, 2002, p 154)
• Ranking is more useful when there is a need to
  understand information or learn something.

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Sorting
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Relevance ranking
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User Rating
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Recommendations
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Pay For Play
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Pay For Play
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Clustering
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Three Decent Search Results Pages

• Amazon.com
• MacMall.com
• Monster.com

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Amazon.com
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MacMall.com
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Monster.com
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Monster.com