Using Google Search on Typepad
by Brian Brown (follow me on Twitter): September 9, 2006
El Jefe from El Bloggo Torcido commented on my use of Google search a few days ago. Typepad gives instruction for placing a Google search on one of their blogs, however it's not the most attractive format. I settled on a search which is basically this one from Ask Dave Taylor with slight format modifications.
Note: you must be indexed by Google before this search will work on your blog.
How good is it? Like a normal Google search, this search is damn good. I can't say I've ever had a problem finding something that I've written on this blog by using this search. I would highly recommend it for any blog that is currently indexed by Google. As a comparison, I used the Technorati search option for a couple of weeks, but their results tended to lag way behind what I had already written while Google updates at least daily.
Tags: google search, personal google search, google search for your website, technorati search, google search code, google search layout
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hey Brian - If I had been smart I would have used Dave's Search Box to search Dave's to learn how to make a Search Box. I'll see your trees and raise you a forest...
Thanks for the post!
(I am so far behind on my comments, because I have been messing around with that Qumana editor - that and haikus can be fun :) - j
Posted by: El Jefe | September 12, 2006 at 07:03 PM
El Jefe, after you've tried it for a while, please leave a comment on your experience with Qumana. I'm very curious to hear someone else's experience with it (I love it!).
Posted by: Brian Brown | September 12, 2006 at 07:08 PM
Can adding a search box to your sidebar be done with TypePad (and what level is required, e.g. Pro), or are you using Moveable Type?
I agree that it is a great idea to add search capability to a blog (or a winery Web site), so now, I need to do it!
Posted by: Mike Duffy | September 16, 2006 at 10:20 PM
Yes Mike, in fact that's what I did, added the Google search box to my Typepad side bar. I'm using Typepad Plus, the middle package. I used the code mentioned above and altered it slightly to look better on my site.
Another great site to check out for Typepad manipulation is Typepad Hacks.
Posted by: Brian Brown | September 16, 2006 at 11:48 PM
hey Mike - Just use the code from Dave Taylor, modify for your site, and install it using a "Notes" Typelist. The Typepad help explains how to do this in detail. It's easy, I promise.
- j
(Brian - I'll put my Qumana comment on the Qumana post, momentarily.)
Posted by: El Jefe | September 17, 2006 at 04:30 PM