Searching should be fast, and faster search encourages users to search more often. Keep the main
search page simple. Put advanced search features on a separate page. On search results pages, try to
keep navigational elements that aren't search- related to a minimum.

Keep Advanced Search Separate

Over 95% of users do not use advanced search features. Make the primary search mechanism simple.
At most the simple search area should invite keywords to be entered, and possibly the choice of key
categories (such as collections) for searches. On the simple search page, place a link to an advanced
search page for those users who want advanced features.

Make Search Ubiquitous

It should be easy for users to search for information from any page on your organization's sites. Every
page should include a search box or at least a link to a search page. Every search results page should
also include a search box to facilitate subsequent searches.

Make Sure the Search Box Is Big Enough

Search boxes should be big enough to promote multiple word entries. Users typically only enter what
fits in the search box. If the search box is small, a user may enter only a single word. Because Google
provides excellent support for multi-word, phrase, or natural-language queries, make the search box
big enough for users to enter larger queries. The recommended minimum size for a search box is 20-30
characters.

Make Sure the User Knows what Documents Have Been
Searched

Near the search box and on the search results page, be sure to state what document set is being
searched over. It allows users to focus their searches and is especially important when using multiple
collections. There should also be a link that enables a user to expand a search from a collection to the
entire search index at any time from the search results page.