Blekko: The New Way to Search the Web

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Google Search Engine on Screen
Credit: pexels.com, Google Search Engine on Screen

Blekko is a search engine that uses a unique approach to filtering results, allowing users to search the web in a more targeted way.

This approach is based on the idea that search results should be organized by topic, rather than just by relevance.

See what others are reading: Google Code Search

How it Works

Blekko wants to be transparent about how it ranks Websites and search terms.

Website owners can see how Blekko looks at their site to improve their search engine optimization for Blekko.

You can find information such as how recently Blekko’s search bots crawled your site and how many site pages the search engine has looked at.

Blekko also shows where it has found duplicate content to what’s on your site from other places on the Web.

Unfortunately, Blekko’s SEO information doesn’t include data about search terms that drove users to your site.

On a similar theme: Wikia Search

Features and Benefits

Blekko's core approach is to use subject-specific search terms called slashtags that help you narrow down your search results.

Credit: youtube.com, How to use Blekko 101

You can use Blekko's predefined slashtags to search for specific types of content, such as people, blogs, or Flickr photos. For example, you can use the slashtag "/people" to search for people-related content.

Blekko also allows you to create your own custom slashtags, which can be useful for searching specific topics or domains. You can also use other people's slashtags and share your own with others.

One of the benefits of Blekko is its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to create custom search engines using slashtags. This is similar to the Google Co-op, but with a few key differences.

Here are some key features of Blekko's slashtags:

  • You can add websites to a slashtag to narrow down your search results
  • You can see which other sites link to a given page
  • You can check out the IP address of a site and search just that IP
  • You can view the cached site, which can be useful for grabbing information that might be hidden to casual browsers

Blekko's slash tag system allows you to make "vertical" searches around any topic by allowing you to "slash in" what you want and "slash out" what you don't. This can help reduce spam and make your search results more relevant.

Credit: youtube.com, A new search engine - Blekko Quick Review

You can also use third-party slashtags, such as "/twitter" or "/youtube", to search for specific types of content. Blekko also allows you to create and share your own custom slashtags.

Overall, Blekko's slashtags provide a powerful way to narrow down your search results and focus on the information that's most relevant to you.

Reception

Blekko's reception was mixed upon its release. John Dvorak described it as adding "so much weird dimensionality" to search, and recommended it as "the best out-of-the-chute new engine I've seen in the last 10 years".

Matthew Rogers, on the other hand, found Blekko to be "slow and cumbersome". He also didn't understand the necessity or utility of slashtags.

Jeffrey L. Wilson expressed approval of some search results, but criticized the site's social features which "bog down the search experience".

Glen Hackett

Writer

Glen Hackett is a skilled writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Glen has established himself as a trusted voice in the tech industry. His writing expertise spans a range of subjects, including Azure Certifications, where he has developed a comprehensive understanding of the platform and its various applications.

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