Classifications Of Search Engines
With a decent understanding of how search engines work and how people use those search engines, you can then focus on some more detailed information about these engines. For example, you know that all search engines are not created equal right? But did you know that there are different types or classifications of search engines?
Search engines can be broken, down into three different types (in the broadest of terms) primary, secondary and targeted.
1. Primary Search Engines - it is the type you think of most often when search engines come to mind. Some index most or all sites on the web. For example, Yahoo, Google, and MSN are primary (also called major) search engines. Primary search engines will generate the majority of the traffic to your web site, and as such will be the primary focus of your SEO efforts. Each primary search engine differs slightly from the others. For example, Lycos has been around much longer than Google, yet Google is the most popular search engine on the web. Why is that? Most likely because when searching the web, Google provides better search results. The difference in those search results is all in the search algorithms used to create the search engine.
2. Secondary Search Engines - these are just secondary to the most familiar and wider search engines online like Google, Yahoo and MSN. One uses secondary search engines to focus more on regional and more limited targeted searches. Examples of secondary search engines are Ask.com, Lycos, Miva, LookSmart, etc. In making your SEO plan, it should be helpful to consider targeting secondary search engines as well for they produce valuable traffic that can’t be ignored.
3. Targeted Search Engines - are most often called topical search engines and are more prcise of all the search engines. They are concentrated mainly for a specific topic like medicine, branches of science, sports, travel or any other topic. CitySearch, Yahoo! Travel, MusicSearch are examples of targeted search engines. The method in which they measure a page rank also differs from other search engines. If you are to consider using targeted search engines for your SEO campaign, look for a targeted search engine that is specific or relevant to your topic.
Getting a knowledge of the different types of search engines will be valuable in terms of knowing where to focus on your SEO efforts. It is recommended to continuously monitor and update your SEO strategies and techniques to achieve optimum results.