Observation - Kids are generally deep searchers

Search Depth 200+

[fathom]

Having developed and optimized a few sites specific for kids, I started with some known assumptions.

Kids query questions, like :

where can I find...

Kids add www.dot search topic dot.com, like:

www.what is the moon made from.com

Kids are more proned to spelling mistakes, like:

science prodgect

Kids are not normally grammatically correct, like:

jupiters moons, vice Jupiter's moons

I have used each of the assumptions to optimize these particular sites.

However, by default on topics which I have not purposely targeted a query, I have found that many kids search very deep.

In many instances down as deep as 220, where their click-through has brought them to a site of mine.

These particular searches have offered many new topics to develop new pages which were not previously considered my the client and/or myself.

Interested in knowing if any other members have made observations not currently mentioned above.

[grnidone]

That's fascinating, fathom. What age group of kids does this pertain?

[fathom]

Targets are North Amercian grade 6 - 12 (ages 11 - 18) however, statically the junior levels 6 - 8 are more likely to use these observations.

[IanTurner]

I think that the real difficulty lies in th fact that there is very little direct income to be generated from sites for kids so the optimisation of such sites really comes down to either government funding or a company who are looking for branding and recognition, both of which rely on a fairly deep understanding of the web by the clients marketing department.

However more on topic the 'Where can I find' is the root of Ask Jeeves approach to web search and they already have Ask jeeves for kids specifically aimed at that market.

[fathom]

However more on topic the 'Where can I find' is the root of Ask Jeeves approach to web search and they already have Ask jeeves for kids specifically aimed at that market.

Agree... Ask Jeeves nearly ties Google referrals in these specific markets.

[grnidone]

>very little direct income to be generated from sites for kids

I disagree. The income may not come for a few years, but it will come.

Kids choose the brands they are loyal to around that age. Marketers know this and abused it, so COPPA came to be to prevent blatent merchandising to kids under 13.

And, the fact that these are the people web sites will market to in the future, it's very interesting to see their habits now.

[IanTurner]

I agree it is very interesting to see their habits now. My real problem comes from the fact that most clients aren't marketing to this age group.

Whether I think they should be or not is not part of the financial equation as far as most are concerned.

It is difficult enough selling them SEO where the return is in 3-6 months let alone SEO for kids where the real return is unlikely to be for years.