Search Engines and Algorithms: MetaSearch Engines, A Tool for SEO
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In the previous articles, we looked at the algorithms of a few top search engines. In this article, we are going to explore specialized search engines: MetaSearches. Keep reading to learn how they can help you improve the efficiency of your SEO.
In search engine optimization, it is inefficient and not very wise to only optimize your site for one search engine, as you will likely miss almost half or more of the search queries that arise in the course of a day. Cross comparing search engine results, however can become very tedious. If you were to compare results from Google, Yahoo, and MSN alone, you can easily triple the amount of work you will have to do for SEO. MetaSearches can help consolidate your work in this area.
What are MetaSearch Engines?
A MetaSearch Engine is a type of search tool that will allow a user to conduct a search across 2 or more search engines and directories in one step. These tools do not index sites and compile their own databases; instead they are programmed to search across many of the top search tools simultaneously. MetaSearches provide a quick way of finding out which engines are retrieving the best results for you in your search.
How MetaSearch Engines Work
Most MetaSearch Engines display multiple-engine search results in a single merged list, from which duplicate entries have been removed; although some do not collate search results but display them instead in separate lists as they are received from each engine. Duplicate entries may appear. Every MetaSearch Engine has its own method of determining relevancy, so it’s difficult to lump them all into a general category of how they operate, although they follow some of the same basic principles.
MetaSearch engines don't have their own database of web pages, they merely act like a middle agent between you and other search engines. Once you enter your search query into a MetaSearch engine, they then pass this on to the major search engines and provide you with results from all the databases surveyed quickly. Because the major search engines often produce very different results, MetaSearches are especially useful when you are short on time and want to gain a general overview of the information available.
Types of MetaSearches
There are a few different types of MetaSearch Engines, and they all work a bit differently. Here, we will examine some of the types of MetaSearches, and look at some examples of each type.
Search Optimization 
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