Search Engine Keyword Links

[truthnpatience]

Hi, I'm new here, so I'm not sure exactly if this belongs here, nor if this is a widely known and covered topic.

My question is: How would you go about making a link that enters a certain keyword into a search engine and searches for it?

For example, suppose I have a link titled "Dogs." Next, suppose that I have a Google Web Search box on my site as well. I'd like to make this link so that when you click it, it takes you to a page with the Google web search results of the keyword "dogs."

Thanks!

[RonPK]

Hi, welcome. Are you looking for this?
<a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=widgets">anchor text</a>

Replace 'widgets' by any keyword.

[edited by: RonPK at 12:54 am (utc) on July 29, 2006]

[truthnpatience]

Thanks a lot! I appreciate it. I feel like such an idiot though; it now looks so obvious.

I'm planning on monetizing a site specifically for Google AdSense, and want to include my own Google Adsense for Search box there too. Would I just have to manipulate the URL in the tag to make it fit my own search box?

[RonPK]

No, you would need to modify one of the <input> elements:

<input type="text" name="q" value="[your keyword here]">

But last time I checked it was against the AdSense terms to prefill the search box.

[truthnpatience]

Check out www.websearch.com, for instance. Scroll down to their Web Directory section. Then, click on one of the links there. It takes you to a search results page for that specific keyword. I'd like to be able to put links on my site that would do that for me as well, except for my Adsense for Search box.

I don't see why it should be illegal, because it's the user's choice to click on it or not. I've seen tons of sites with it.

[RonPK]

Maybe I'm missing the point, but what stops you from adding such links to your page? And then add the Adsense for Search box simply by copying and pasting the code Google provides?