Google Custom Search Engine allows anyone to create a search engine that searches only specific sites you choose and/or specific topics, languages…in short all of the things you can do with Google Advanced Search filters and operators.

What does this mean?

• Create a custom search engine for your website (or sites) that uses Google’s infrastructure but only searches what you want
• Pay for the Business Edition which starts at $100 USD per year for sites with less than 5,000 pages. This will allow you to present the search results page in your own site with no ads and no Google branding.
• Create a community vertical search engine that multiple people contribute to. You can open this up to anyone or restrict it to invited contributors

Here is a quick one I have put together:

Check out some more examples and related posts:

• Google Custom Search: Setting The Bar For Vertical Search Engines
• Google’s Custom Search Engines run amuck!

I have to ask, why would you try and build your own search engine ever again?

For an alternative and more community focused take on vertical search you should check out Swiki from the New Zealand search geniuses at Eurekster.

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