Search Spotlight is a rotating feature that focuses on the different ways people search for information. Currently, it looks at the top search keywords entered into iTrack, a metasearch tool for auction lovers. This gives you an idea of the types of products people are interested in purchasing online. Keywords shown are from the end of July 1999.
| Rank | Keyword |
| 1 | beanie |
| 2 | computer |
| 3 | digital |
| 4 | computers |
| 5 | camera |
| 6 | video |
| 7 | palm |
| 8 | babies |
| 9 | sony |
| 10 | laptop |
| 11 | cd |
| 12 | antique |
| 13 | books |
| 14 | hard |
| 15 | dvd |
| 16 | notebook |
| 17 | tickets |
| 18 | glass |
| 19 | vintage |
| 20 | disney |
| 21 | china |
| 22 | cards |
| 23 | macintosh |
| 24 | cd-rw |
| 25 | pilot |
| 26 | pentium |
| 27 | monitor |
| 28 | art |
| 29 | watch |
| 30 | ty |
Unfortunately, the list doesn’t show actual search phrases. For instance, if someone searched for “digital camera,” each word is individually ranked. However, one can review the list and guess which products are probably being searched for. Some of these would be:
- ty beanie babies
- computers
- digital camera
- disney videos
- palm pilots
- laptops & notebooks
Still curious about how people search? Look at this page in Search Engine Watch for more resources.