Google Custom Search adds another way for them to make money on your website

It may sound like another example of Google turning evil, but in reality it’s just them being smart.

Website searches can be challenging to master. The various plugins and custom solutions do not always get the exact right results for their queries and leave site owners stuck with relying strictly on proper navigation. This can be tedious to both the website owner and the visitors when multiple clicks are necessary to get to the right page.

Google Custom Search enables website owners to plug in the power of Google directly into their site. This can be effective for larger sites with tons of content or products.

There’s a catch. The free version comes with ads, which means that there’s a chance people searching for something on your site might find what they’re looking for on another site, even a direct competitor. The paid version eliminates this and starts at $100 a year.

With either option, Google is finally applying their search prowess to be applied nearly anywhere. This video gives an overview of the product.