User Assisted Search at Zeedex

Zeedex is a new breed of search that is attempting to get more user input into the search process.

Zeedex provides search results along with suggested search suggestions provided by users.

Zeedex user input works on the basis of lists. Users can create a list of other suggested search terms that are displayed based on a selected search term.

Lists consist of a title, keywords and search terms. The title simply names the collection of suggested search terms. For example: “Popular Dog Breeds”.

Keywords are the words used to determine when the list appears. Using our above example, we would want our list to appear for keywords like “dogs, dog food, dog shows”.

Search Terms are the terms we (as a user) are suggesting to the searcher to either refine or change their search. In our case, we can add “German Shepherd,Poodle, Golden Retriever, etc.” We can also add a short description of each term. In many ways, this list provides a mini-search result set that is related to the topic searched.

Other users can edit or add onto your original list.

Each list is also able to be sponsored. Sponsored lists include a text link ad and description. Currently, being a sponsor is free.

The goal of using these lists is to generate better relevant results.

Will this concept work?

I have thought about what Zeedex is trying to accomplish and I think they are close to having something very workable and usable. There are a few items which I think they need to consider as they move forward.

The search results themselves are not generated based on user input. They are in fact provided by Yahoo. Eye studies have shown that users will generally be looking at the left portion of the screen when looking at search results. Users of Zeedex (or any search engine) will be focused on the actually results not anything in the sidebar.

Clicking on user search suggestions adds the terms to the words already chosen in the search box. The searcher should be given an option either to add or replace.

The user lists are prone to being spammed, manipulated and rendered useless unless there are excellent controls placed on changing the list.

I also wonder if there is too much work involved for users. Do I really want to take the time to generate a list of suggested search terms for other people? It has to benefit the individual user as well. Tagging, for instance, provides an organizational mechanism for both the community and the individual. The lists in Zeedex serve the community but provide little value to the individual.

I think Internet users are interested in some kind of social search engine. The trick for Zeedex is to incorporate user input into the actual search results.

I wish I had the programming skills and the guts to produce a tool like this. I think the folks over at Zeedex would welcome more feedback. Take Zeedex for a spin and contact them with your thoughts. Be constructive and helpful. You never know, one or two tweaks and Zeedex could be the next coolest thing.
[tags]search, zeedex[/tags]