You probably know what the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button does on Google’s Homepage, but do you think most of the people around you do? Probably not. A better question is, despite the fact that you know what the button does, do you ever use it? Clicking that button will automatically take you to the first web page returned for your query which could potentially save you more time, but according to the Washington Post, the button simply doesn’t get used. Google knows this too, in fact Melissa Mayer, vice president for search products at Google says that it gets used far fewer than even one percent of Google searches.
So why is the button there? Well, Mayer says “It’s part of our heritage. It’s part of what users really like about us.” I’m feeling lucky was there from the start, and it’s not going anywhere soon. If the button were to disappear, Mayer says that there would be “mass protests worldwide.” Perhaps part of the reason the button stays is because it gives users a glimpse at Google’s personality? The Washington Post thinks so, they say “Google’s dedication to ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’ underscores the strategic value the company places on the look of its home page and its emotional bond with users, a fundamental asset that trumps even the temptation to promote more services or run advertising there.”
The presence of “I’m Feeling Lucky” must be leaving an impression on people because a recent user study found that the button offers “a touch of whimsy and reassurance that the company doesn’t take itself too seriously even after growing into a multibillion-dollar behemoth.” Google is known for their simple homepage, and that button just adds to the simplicity. I’ve known what the button does, yet I don’t find that I use it, mainly because I usually like to look at the top results and see if the first one is really the source I’m looking for. Is the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button something that you ever use, and would you be disappointed if Google removed it?
Source: Download Squad
Enjoyed the post? Subscribe to our feed to get a daily dose of CyberNet!
Tags: Google
Related Posts:
- One Button Costs Google $110 Million
- Does The Google Homepage Need A Redesign?
- Mozilla Switches From “I’m Feeling Lucky” To “Browse By Name”
- CyberNotes: Using Keyword Searches In Firefox And Opera
- Funny Google Satire from The Onion
I had been using google for some time before I found out what the I’m feeling lucky was for (as with most things experimenting was the best way to find out)but I didn’t use it much because it was easier to just hit enter after typing on the keyboard. With custom searches in browsers the I’m feeling lucky has become more useful.
I agree with ya. If you’re already at the search page you might as well make the extra click and see what the results are. If you’re just using the address bar in the browser then you’re probably better off using the I’m feeling lucky.
The custom searches in browsers are great!
I use it as a custom search in Opera. It’s easier for known sites I don’t remember the exact address.
I was just taking a look at the archived page of google.com ( from wayback machine at archive.org) and stumbled upon their main page dating way back to Jan 17 1999. And guess what the “I am feeling Lucky” button is there. Google does not want to get rid of this heritage.
If they took it off the front page, life would move on, IMO….but if they took out I’m feeling lucky altogether, it would be a bother.
I also use I’m feeling lucky as my browser’s custom search
“Anyway’s”? “Anyways” isn’t a word, and to add an apostrophe makes it even less so…
I use the same functionality by just typing a word in the Firefox address box and hitting enter.
Actually, I disagree. I really enjoy using the I’m Feeling Lucky button, especially in Firefox using bookmark shortcuts. It’s a real time saver if you know exactly what you’re looking for.
Love it…There’s no need to get rid of it too. End of Story.
That’s actually a little bit different. Firefox 2 and beyond uses a new Google technology called Browser By Name. If Google is sure that the first result is what you’re looking for it will take you directly to the page, otherwise it will take you to the search results page.