top tips for intranet search

Top tips for intranet search

Search engine optimisation is not a dark arthttp://not-alchemy.org

A poor search function doesn’t just mean users can’t find the content they want; it reduces user confidence in the whole intranet.

It‟s one of the most useful features on an intranethttp://webaddresshere.com

When it works, it’s great – helping people to quickly find what they’re looking for.

But also one of the most complained-about.http://webaddresshere.com

Pages and pages of badly-titled, irrelevant results annoy and frustrate users, leading many to ask…

“Why can‟t it be more like Google?”http://notgoogle.com/you/wish

Users have grown used to search engines ‘just working’. So when yours doesn’t, they’re even more disappointed.

Good content + Good pages = WINhttp://quitesimplereally.com

Problem is, a lot of intranet content just doesn’t meet these basic criteria.

Intranetizenhttp://intranetizen.com

A world-leading intranet blog written by four amazing UK practitioners.

Interaction Intranet

Conferencehttp://www.intranetconference.com

Exclusively intranets. Learn all you need to know about the hottest intranet topics of 2012.

#IIC12http://twitter.com

That’s today’s hashtag. Join the conversation online now, and after the event.

Optimise your contenthttp://optimisation.net

Ensure your content is designed to be found by search engines

Titlehttp://title.net

The title is what shoes up on the results page. Can someone tell what the page is about just from reading the title?

Introhttp://intro.com

The introduction should clearly summarise the content. It’s the bit that shows up in results.

Keywordshttp://what.your.page/is/about

Search engines scan the page for keywords. Make sure your content contains the right keywords so it can be found. Simples!

Metadatahttp://metadata.com

You can set up enterprise search to more heavily weight this and ensure important content is found.


A work of staggering genius. About intranets.



Interaction Intranet

Conferencehttp://www.intranetconference.com


Optimise your contenthttp://optimisation.net

Ensure your content is designed to be found by search engines

Titlehttp://title.net

The title is what shoes up on the results page. Can someone tell what the page is about just from reading the title?

Introhttp://intro.com

The introduction should clearly summarise the content. It’s the bit that shows up in results.

Keywordshttp://what.your.page/is/about

Search engines scan the page for keywords. Make sure your content contains the right keywords so it can be found. Simples!

Metadatahttp://metadata.com

You can set up enterprise search to more heavily weight this and ensure important content is found.

Before you let them loose on your CMShttp://quite-simple-really.org

You wouldn’t give someone your car keys if they haven’t got a licence.

Give them a little training on the basicshttp://a littleknoweldgegoesalongway.com

Some basic training on the key elements of content SEO

And help them understandhttp://webaddresshere.com

Understand how they can make their content perform better in search

How to make their content findablehttp://notgoogle.com/you/wish

Using those key elements – title, headers, keywords

Train your contributorshttp://optimisation.net

Make sure the people who write the content understand SEO

Sharon O‟Deahttp://sharonodea.co.uk

That’s my blog that I hardly ever update

James Robertson

has a book outhttp://www.steptwo.com.au

He probably won’t mention it though.



Because Google has much more money than youhttp://www.google.com/minted

Search giant Google has a turnover of billions of dollars and tens of thousands of staff across the world

And they‟ve spent the last fourteen years stalking youhttp://www.google.com/search

They have hundreds of people who analyse search behaviour

They read your emailshttp://www.gmail.com

They scan every single one of your mails to make sure adverts – and paid search – is as closely targeted as it can be.

They‟ve driven a little car down your streethttp://streetview.google.com

You live in the terraced house with the blue door. You drive a grey VW Polo. You should trim the hedge out the front.

They know your search historyhttp://saucy-pix.xxx

All of it. Even the bit you don’t tell your wife about.

“Why can‟t it be more like Google?”http://www.morelikegoogle.com

Yeah, we’ve all heard this. A lot.#IIC12http://twitter.com


Follow the livebloghttp://intranetizen.com/lliveblog


@sharonodeahttp://twitter.com/sharonodea

That’s me. Tweet me up; I’ll read it after.

It‟s not Google

Don‟t leave it all to „that bloke in IT‟http://that-bloke-in-IT.co.ck

The one with the Marillion t-shirt who lives with his mum

Get access to the back endhttp://a littleknoweldgegoesalongway.com

Persuade the bloke in IT to give you access.

And learn how to use ithttp://userguide.net

Ask your supplier for training and documentation. There’s tons of information about most common search engines on the interwebs

Take control of your toolshttp://seizetheday.tv

Spend some time working out how to configure your search engine. Like Marx said, he who controls the means of production holds the power.

Understand your toolshttp://make-search-work.netLearn how to use your admin interface

Tweak me

lunch menu

expenses

payslip

leave form

HR

jobs

sick leave form

phone book

new starter

IT helpdesk

Focus on popular searches

Think: what do people use the intranet for?http://www.backtobasics.org.uk

Think back to when your rolled out the intranet; what’s it supposed to do for your organisation?

Focus on key taskshttp://www.my-organisation/key-user-tasks

What are the key things people in your organisation need to do to get their jobs done

And key searcheshttp://www.what-people-need.net

What do they need to look for in order to do those tasks?

Test them outhttp://www.checkitout.co.uk

What happens when you search for those things? What do you get? Are you disappointed with the results?

Understand what users are looking forhttp://www.key-objectives.com

Focus on the basics first.#IIC12http://twitter.com


Martin Whitehttp://www.intranetfocus.com

He has a book too. It’s not bad.


The finest intranet blog on the planet, if we do say so ourselves

Play scheme

Transport disruption

Your search top tips for intranet search did not match

any documents

Suggestions:

• Review your failed searches regularly

Intranetizen.comhttp://intranetizen.com

All intranet, all the time. On your internets.

J Boye Aarhushttp://www.jboye.com

Enjoyed this conference? Come to Denmark! In November! And run with the Vikings!



Acme refrigerator – design specificationshttp://intranet/departments/design/fridges/acme

Acme is the largest and quietest domestic refrigerator in its price bracket

Acme refrigerator - New models for 2013http://intranet/departments/design/fridges/acme

2013 models are the most energy-efficient yet. This new range is also available in a range of colours

Acme refrigerator – older modelshttp://intranet/departments/design/fridges/acme

Full design specifications for pre-2012 models

Personalise results

Acme refrigerator – what they‟re all aboothttp://intranet/departments/customer-service/brands/acme

Troubleshooting and home fixes on installation and other common concerns, eh.

Acme fridges – Maple Syrup storage tipshttp://intranet/departments/customer-service/brands/acme

Best Acme range fridges for storage of maple-based syrups in small to medium quantities

Acme refrigerator – Moose damage, eh?http://intranet/departments/customer-service/brands/acme

Details of how to book home engineer visits for Acme products

Keep it simple

SearchFor exact phrase

For at least one of these words

Without these wordsBetween these datesData source Meaningless DatabaseName

run query

search

File type web pages (.html)

canteen menu

and

salesfigures-Q1-with-debbie-

comments.xlsxhttp://intranet.acme.com/sales/records/2011-

2012/Q1/sales/individual/916643/debbie/excel

Created by: Deborah Smith Uploaded by: Deborah SmithLast modified: 29/03/2010 Size: 46kb

salesfigures-Q2-with-debbie-

comments.ppthttp://intranet.acme.com/sales/records/2011-

2012/Q1/sales/individual/916643/debbie/presentations

Created by: Deborah Smith Uploaded by: Deborah SmithLast modified: 26/03/2010 Size: 1.91MB

salesfigures-2009-10.ppthttp://intranet.acme.com/sales/records/2009-

2010/sales/individual/916643/my-stuff


Sales targets DRAFT 2012-13http://intranet.acme.com/sales/records/2011-

2012/targets/sales/individual/916643/debbie/


Sales leaderboard Q4 2011.docxhttp://intranet.acme.com/sales/records/2011-

2012/Q1/sales/individual/916643/debbie/


Improve look and feelhttp://www.morelikegoogle.com

Strip out unnecessary detail on the results page

People equate Google with qualityhttp://www.google.com/quality

It’s seen as the ‘gold standard’ of search engines

Even if you leave everything else the samehttp://www.google.com/search

And don’t change any of your search setup at all.

Just make your results page more like Google‟shttp://www.gmail.com

Using familiar layouts, colours and fonts

And satisfaction with search will go uphttp://streetview.google.com

Call it a quick win.

Make it look more like Googlehttp://www.morelikegoogle.com

Research shows this makes a huge difference#IIC12http://twitter.com


Follow the livebloghttp://intranetizen.com/lliveblog


@intranetizenhttp://twitter.com/intranetizen

That’s us. Follow us on Twitter for weekly(ish) intranet news and views

top tips for intranet search

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