Google search anyone?

I was recently looking for a customized search solution for my website. I wanted to take the load off my server of generating the search and so was looking at external providers that provide the search functionality.

Among the first that one can look towards is google. The google cooperative project offers search solutions using the existing pages indexed of your site by google. A pretty nifty tool and many options to integrate your search inside your website.

For example

• You can create a search page which shows listings as its shown on google but with your own branding at top.(a small google logo still shows at top right)
• You can have the whole search shown on your website within your page. This was the neatest of the solutions so far as i found.

As i write this, google has also announced some nifty changes in branding to the search. plus it has introduced a "recent searches" facility.

Certainly a must try solution if you have a moderately popular website.

For those, however, that want to be at the cutting edge and can afford to pay for it, google also has enterprise search solutions. Google Mini is the perfect tool if you can afford a custom search solution for your website.