Monday, March 05, 2007

A Custom Search Engine for Momblogs







Google Custom Search

I've created something that may be of interest to you.

It's a custom search engine powered by Google that searches select blogs on parenting, crafts, cooking, gardening and blogs by women. Normally when you search for a word or phrase Google returns millions of results, displaying the most popular based on their magic algorithms. For my custom search engine I have narrowed Google's parameters so that a search here will only return results from the blogs I've specified.

What does this mean?

Say you're writing a post on children watching television and would like to add to what others have written on the subject, by searching with this custom search engine you'd learn what Thrifty Mommy, Play Library, Rocks in My Dryer, Izzy Mom or the other thousand blogs on parenting have to say on the subject.

If you're writing a post on sibling rivalry or how to deal with it and want to link to other posts on the subject, searching in my custom search engine searches your favorite blogs all at once and gives a more manageable number of results specific to your subject matter than Google could provide. Linking to other blogs just got easier.

But it doesn't stop there, if you want to find ideas for encouraging family exercise, children's birthday parties, lunchbox tips or decorating cupcakes--my custom search engine will filter out more of the sites that don't match what you want and will give you more of what your fellow bloggers and their readers have to say on the subject.

If you want to hear what other blogs are saying about Anna Nicole, Brittney, James Cameron, Lost or Grey's Anatomy or if you want to to connect with blogs that are on a specific subject matter--regional blogs, parenting blogs, book review blogs, product review blogs--this search engine will get you closer to what other blogs are saying than Google typically can.

Go ahead and give it a try. Type in "sleep deprivation," "herb gardening," "picky eaters," "kid crafts," "celebrity moms," "breastfeeding," "expat," "kid crafts" or "homeschooling" and see the results that come up. Pretty slick, huh?

I've added over 1500 blogs, mostly those registered with Crazy Hip Blog Mamas, Blogher, Blogging Chicks and Blogger Chicks. If you want to see if your blog is included, type in the name or URL and see if it comes up. If it isn't there drop me an email at scribbit at gmail .com and I'll make sure you're added.

I've added this feature at the top of my sidebar--feel free to bookmark it and use it whenever you need to do a quick search through your favorite blogs. If you'd like to put a search bar on your blog please email me and I'll send you the code. Alternately, Lucy at An Ordinary Mom and her brother at MG Wallace Designs put together six buttons that I've made into links if you'd like to choose one to display as a graphic link back to the search engine.

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Have you entered the Write-Away Contest yet? Get your post in by March 11th.
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For some carnival action visit The Carnival of Recipes, The Carnival of Cinema, The Carnival of Family Life and The Carnival of Humor. That ought to keep you busy.

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65 comments:

  1. Very impressive. Where do you learn to do all this? Where do you find the time? Do share all your secrets, please :) !!

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  2. Anonymous9:38 PM

    Wow! This search engine you have put together will be invaluable. Great idea.

    Nice to see you supporting blog carnivals as well. I didn't know about the family one for example and will go check it out ASAP!

    I have a pretty new blog carnival - Carnival of Good Stuff. It is a lot of work but very rewarding.

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  3. I enter a lot of carnivals but then forget that I have submitted often. I get backed up on announcing them. Plus it does get rather frustrating when the person putting it together obviously hasn't read your post--gets your name wrong, mispells your blog or gives you sons you don't have. But hey, we're only human, right?

    I try to catch up on announcing them every so often.

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  4. Oh and hey, if you like this new little widget, spread the news.

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  5. That is just WAY too cool Michelle. Is there a way we can put a button on our blog sidebar to get to your engine? That would be even cooler!

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  6. That is awesome. Very clever!

    I have the (very dubious) honour of coming up first when searching for "control crying"

    I hope to change that to first result for "son and daughter who both let mum (mom) sleep through a whole night and bring her breakfast in bed"

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  7. Anonymous11:33 PM

    Wow! I am very impressed! Thanks for including me!

    Oops! I hope I haven't ever misspelled your blog name! LOL!

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  8. Anonymous1:36 AM

    Simply brilliant!!

    Yes, please do create a sidebar button.

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  9. You are a true techie goddess! I'm sue DH is very proud! :)

    Thanks this is an awesome tool!

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  10. Anonymous3:20 AM

    THAT is too cool.
    What a wonderful idea and resource...

    Thanks.

    I'm gonna go see id I pop up when I type in "potty training problems"....he he.

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  11. Very cool. I was just thinking about adding a "search this blog" function" to my blog. That was an easy way to make one - Thanks for saving me the research time!

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  12. Oh yes- thanks for including me. I remember you mentioned you were hunting for a post of mine a few weeks ago and forgot who wrote it...LOL- this search engine ensures you never have that issue again.

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  13. How very cool! How did you do that? I'll be sure and spread the news....

    (and thanks very much for including my site!)

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  14. Now why didn't I think of that? Yes, a button would be perfect. I'll have to see if I can come up with that.

    No, Kailani, you've never done any of that. In fact, Carn of Fam Life is one of the best ones around thanks to you.

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  15. So great -- thank you! I already have a bunch of searches I want to do (and thanks for including me too).

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  16. Anonymous8:49 AM

    I'm impressed too. What a great idea!

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  17. Anonymous9:21 AM

    Dads don't give good parenting advice? :)

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  18. Good comment, Brian, yes there are Momblogs by Dads in there. I've included all I could find, I'm afraid you've caught me in a semantics problem. I could have said "Parenting blogs" but that wasn't entirely accurate either as many momblogs aren't about parenting or motherhood, Momblogs and Dadblogs would work but was long and unwieldy. I went back and forth about what to call it and settled on Momblogs simply because it was the most descriptive term that would also be easy to remember and identify.

    But I can see your point. If you have blogs by dads that aren't included, especially if you have a list of them, I'd love to have them and make sure they're included. They aren't as well represented in blog rings as momblogs are and are harder to find.

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  19. Oh, I like this...what a great idea.

    This must have been time consuming to say the least, but I think that what you did will benefit a lot people. :)

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  20. Anonymous11:09 AM

    Nifty tool!

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  21. Hey, I'm in! :-)

    Seriously Michelle, this is a GREAT idea! If I wore a hat I'd be taking it off to you right now.

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  22. Anonymous1:21 PM

    Wow - this is awesome. I am gone to look up Horse Loving, Blogging Moms.....
    THANKS!

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  23. Thank you for doing this!!

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  24. Anonymous5:04 PM

    VERY, VERY nice, Michelle! Thank you for putting this together!! This will come in handy because I'm CONSTANTLY blog searching for supporting material, etc. You have saved me countless hours!

    Girl, you rock! *grin*

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  25. You are a blogging goddess! Is there a way to add this little beauty to other blog sidebars?

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  26. WOW!!!! I'm so impressed! You are such a computer whiz! Congratulations! What a great idea! Send it to Google or something -- maybe they'll, like, buy it? What do I know. I just think it's awesome!

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  27. I knew there was good reason why I gave you the ol' Thumbs Up in StumbleUpon. Thanks for taking the time to help your fellow moms this way.

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  28. Thank you for your great blog how to and improvement tips.

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  29. Anonymous9:09 PM

    Wow that is so cool! You definitely do your research!

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  30. Tomorrow (Wednesday March 7) I'll have the code available for anyone who wants to add the search bar to their own blog. Email me and I'll send it to you.

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  31. Thanks! How handy!

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  32. Consistently interesting and well-written blog, plus keeping us all on our toes refining the functionality of our sites. Your tips and advice on blogging got me started and keep me going. Thank you.

    I think your search engine a real public service - niche engines like your really have to be the way to go as we all struggle with information overload and issues of credibility and trustworthiness on the net.

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  33. Fantastic! I am absolutely THRILLED at the possibilities!!

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  34. that is really useful, now how do you think of these things? I am so techno challenged, I thought just using google was savvy. It works like I would want it to, I just put in a book I had googled a few days ago,and I got better hits with your search tool. very, very handy-thanks!

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  35. Holy cow. You've impressed the hell out of me. I bow before thee to worship you and your programming brilliance.

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  36. Anonymous4:05 PM

    Very cool! Can you add Mama Drama?

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  37. Wow that is pretty awesome. I found myself on it - how cool!
    I am a technological dope, so hats off to you:)

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  38. wow! you're a genius. i've always wanted to know one thing though....how can i find out how people fiind my blog.

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  39. Hey impressive one!

    Could you add me? I just tried my url and all my comments come up but not the site (http://denyingsoccermom.blogspot.com/).

    Thanks for keeping me in the loop.

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  40. Anonymous3:43 PM

    thanks for sharing this tool! I love it - really cuts through the crap when I'm looking for quality opinions in the mommy blogging community.

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  41. Scribbit, this is beyond brilliant. EXCELLENT work.

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  42. This is very helpful! And I have actually tried and I'm in there! How cool is that?! Thanks!
    Yes,I'd love to put a button/link on my blog. Could you please e-mail me the code?
    Even inventive, I wish you!

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  43. You recently submitted this post for my blog carnival at blogaboutyourblog.com

    this is fine, i just want good variety... of good posts :)

    http://blogaboutyourblog.com

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  44. scrib... brilliant.

    I too love the carnivals and sometimes lose track as we ll:) Polliwog, i definitely am going to visit yours as well.

    scrib, i emailed you off line per your post ... thanx for your contributions to the blogosphere..

    GP in Montana

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  45. Great idea Michelle, thanks for including me!

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  46. This is way wicked cool. Bravo!!

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  47. Scribbit,

    This is amazing. Can you add my site, and I'd also love the code so I can add the button to my blog. (taunalen.blogspot.com)

    Thanks!

    ~TaunaLen

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  48. Anonymous1:46 AM

    How fun! I would love to be added, if I qualify! :) Http://www.tammysrecipes.com

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  49. What a neat idea!! I am so impressed. Could you add my blog, please? http://mamarussellsblog.blogspot.com/

    How would I add your search engine to my blog?

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  50. Thank you for this great tool! I'll be helping to promote it.

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  51. Anonymous8:35 PM

    michelle! awesome tool! thanks so much for sharing. you can be sure we'll be using this one A LOT.

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  52. brillant. Love it!!! Can you add me please? blog.karaandrandy.com

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  53. Anonymous2:12 AM

    Excellent idea. I would love to be added: http://www.lizandchris.com/rockandstar

    Thanks!

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  54. I would love to be added too!

    http://daretogetorganized.blogspot.com/

    I would also love the code if I could have it.

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  55. Anonymous8:26 PM

    So Cool!!! I want to know how you did that. I was searching for blogs on a specific topic the other day and couldn't figure anything out. :(

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  56. Hey Michelle - can the 7 blogs on my site get in on your list? Email me if you need urls for all of them, or if just adding emomsathome.com will do it. Thanks! Great idea! -Wendy

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  57. Anonymous3:57 AM

    Great thing, this custom SE
    Thanx

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  58. Hi - I'm here through blogging basics - would love to be included: Alex Year One - kaiseralex.com - It great of you to do this!

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  59. Anonymous1:38 AM

    I came over from kaiseralex.com. I would love to be included.

    Sleepless Nights - somedaywewillsleep.com

    You are a gem, what a fantastic idea.

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  60. Brillient!
    Will have fun looking!

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  61. Anonymous9:01 AM

    What? No Mommy Needs Coffee? I am crushed. ;-)

    Would love to be added! I didn't see Mommybloggers.com Our new group of writers rock and offer great resources, too.

    Just in case you wanted to add that site, too.

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  62. Anonymous10:05 AM

    Fantastic.Thanks for the information.

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  63. Anonymous9:06 AM

    What a cool tool! I found this through Blogging Basics 101 and would love the code to put on my blog. I don't know if you are adding blogs to the list, but mine is http://mylittlemunchkins.wordpress.com if you are.

    Now I'm off to go catch up on your archives!

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  64. Anonymous5:36 AM

    Wow -- what a great way to reach out to moms in cyberspace. Thanks for doing this!

    I work on the Green Hour program for The National Wildlife Federation, and your search engine pulled a ton of posts from moms who are spreading our message!

    http://www.greenhour.org

    Anne Keisman
    National Wildlife Federation

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Thank you for your comments, I love hearing from you.