Do you want to add a search engine to your own site?
Google run a free hosted service, called Google Custom Search. This is easy to implement on your site, as you simply cut and paste a block of code. You can be up and running in minutes, and Google does all the heavy lifting for you.
Search engine software
For the corporate user, Google’s Site Search product offers the same functionality, but includes support. This is a paid service.
Google has pretty much owned this market in the past few years, as it is difficult for other vendors compete with a free offering, and Google’s product uses the exact same processing power as Google.com.
If you’re looking for alternatives, Wikipedia has a comprehensive list of commercial and free search services.
Do you want to create your own search engine?
There are two ways to go about it: host your own, or use a hosted solution. A hosted solution is by far the easiest option, which involves adding a short piece of code to your site.
Google run a free hosted service, called Google Custom Search.You can include as many sites as you wish, and Google does all the work. You can brand this search service as your own, and generate revenue using Google Adsense.
There are similar services offered by Rollyo, Eurekster, and Topicle.
If you’re after search software you host yourself, check out Nutch, an Open Source search project based on Lucerne Java. Also check out ASPseek.
If you want to run a Yahoo-style search directory, which includes a search engine, take a look at FocalMedia’s PowerSeek product. I’ve been using this script on a few of my sites, and found it to be reliable and easy to use.
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