Wed, May 9, 2007
Search connects people to communities
Search lets users find disparate and disconnected communities while browse tools let them optimize their interaction within those communities.
At Media Post, Aaron Goldman passes along something Gord Hotchkiss said:
Gord asked us to think of search as “a function that drives connection within communities.” He pointed out that the internet has changed the definition of community. Its root is common and that used to be defined by a geographic boundary. Now, with the internet breaking down geo silos, community is definied by passions, ideology, etc. And search plays the role of connecting people to various communities.
I thought this nicely sums up the role search plays in connecting distant individuals to communities of interest. Not the communities, per se, but their artifacts, conversations.
Browse is probably best useful within communities when users use the common language to navigate/narrow to their specific interest. Search is also useful there, as well, but once one has found the community, the best value comes through leveraging your connections for conversations and more connections.
To that extent search destinations (just about everywhere) are just about useless if you haven’t provided mechanisms for people to connect.
So, do what Andrew says.
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