Search Forward

How people search on Google, Yahoo, MSN

• They type a search term into the search box and click enter
• A list of items is returned
• They scan the list for promising results

At this point they face a decision to either click on one of the results or refine their search to get a new set of results.

For this example, they

• Click on a link
• They scan the page for information

Now they are faced with a second question. Did the page answer the question well enough, or do they still require more information?

Again, we decide that they need more information, so they

• Click the back button
• Scan the search results again

And now they are back to a similar place of where they started.

Search for the most part is a process.

• People search
• Go to a site
• Come back to the search results
• Refine their search
• And loop through the process until they are satisfied or their spirits crushed

Search should be a forward activity. No more hitting the back button. In my opinion, search should be a process with simple list management built into the browse experience.

• Start your search with a query
• Scan the list
• Click on the link
• On the page, the search results should be in the sidebar, in a widget or somewhere easily visible

If the result is bad, you can delete it, if it's good it can be saved. The list can be refined and added to with new queries.

Will someone make a widget or toolbar that does this? It's real simple, search with list management that moves with you as you explore the search results.