I'm Feeling Lucky Options

[bwelford]

Google has stayed with the same simple search page since the beginnnings in 1998. That includes the [I'm feeling lucky] button under the keyword search field. I give more explanation on this in a blog posting this morning. I'm wondering how often that button is used.

Is it just a visual device to help build up the Google brand image of Simple and Fast? Or are a good proportion of Google searches done with that [I'm feeling lucky] button.

What are your views on this?

[Eddie]

It's a gimmick

[Paul_H]

(An evening with Googles Marissa Mayer)
http://alan.blog-city.com/read/1003011.htm

4. The infamous \"I feel lucky\" is nearly never used. However, in trials it was found that removing it would somehow reduce the Google experience. Users wanted it kept. It was a comfort button.

[bwelford]

That would seem to be in conflict with:

8.  They use the 20% / 5% rules. If at least 20% of people use a feature, then it will be included. At least 5% of people need to use a particular search preference before it will make it into the 'Advanced Preferences'.

[dvduval]

You know, I never use "I'm feeling lucky", and I forgot it was there even though I see the Google homepage quite often.

[AbleReach]

I said 5%. I've never actually used it.
Case in point: an "I'm feeling lucky" search for "fossil" takes me to www.fossil.com, watch maker. An I feel lucky search for "watch" sends me to www.searchenginewatch.com. At least the paid search at the top of a natural search for "watch" (www.fossil.com) does not open up under "I'm feeling lucky." Sites about watching this or that take up the bulk of a simple "watch" search.

I agree completely that "I'm Feeling Lucky" is likely to be more branding or slogan than real search. I haven't thought of it in years. I just expect it to be there in all its oogle-dy google-dy cuteness.

Interesting thoughts, Barry, and congrats on your nice looking new blog template.


Elizabeth :wink:

[bwelford]

Thanks for the kind words, Elizabeth. It's just one of the standard Blogger templates that I've tweaked a bit.

[AbleReach]

(OT moi at it again)

It's just one of the standard Blogger templates that I've tweaked a bit.

Yes, and what you chose becomes you, and ain't they spiffy?! I had no idea all that could be done with CSS before looking at their designers' source. That CSS is inspiring & nothing to do with feeling lucky - just plain good design over the top of CSS that has substance for chewing.


Elizabeth

[Black_Knight]

8. They use the 20% / 5% rules. If at least 20% of people use a feature, then it will be included. At least 5% of people need to use a particular search preference before it will make it into the 'Advanced Preferences'.

The "I feel Lucky" button pretty much predates user-data, and was there before there was a 'rule' for a feature to get included. It is not really a conflict, since it was not stated that a feature would actually be removed once already included. As she did state, the only reason it has not been excluded is that it is a part of the Google image - as familiar as the logo itself.

If I remember the figures correctly, the button is used in way less than 1% of searches. In fact the figures may well have stated that less than 1% of users ever use the button.