Contextual Related Content Widget for Blogs Released

Last month, I have discussed about 5 Widgets A Blog Must Have On The Sidebar and talked about why these 5 widgets are essential for a blog to be both reader-friendly and Google-friendly.

In this post, I will talk about only one widget which is as important as the 5 widgets I've discussed in my other post. I did not include it in the previous list because it is not only for the sidebar but also can also be placed right after every post.

Contextual Related Content Widget from Searchles

Searchles is a highly scalable "social search" platform. It has just released a Related Content Widget for blogs and websites. What it does is to accurately list down the most relevant posts to the post you are reading. A Related Content widget is very useful to ensure that your readers get what they are finding and will also make them explore your site more. Readers won't leave your blog/site immediately if they see related and interesting posts to be read.

5 Reasons To Choose The Searchles Related Content Widget

In-depth search technology - Unlike other built-in related posts widget for blogs that use tags as basis, this widget from Searchles analyzes relationships and concepts instead to find the most relevant posts.

Greater Accuracy - Searchles is saying that their widget's accuracy is far off from that of other related content plug-ins available. They recommend seeing Denver Post. I, of course went to take a look at the site. Click on the image to enlarge.

I am looking at the San Luis man ordered to stand trial in son's death article and from the Related Content Widget (see large version), we would see how related the listed posts are to the current post. I guess they really have some right to say that their widget is of greater accuracy; and Denver Post is not just any other website.
Make Money from Targeted Ad Revenue - You could actually make money from this widget through the PTC ads below it. I guess this is one good feature too -- function and benefit in one.

Simple Installation - This is easy to install in Blogger blogs. Just customize the widget then copy and paste a code into the raw code of the blog. For Wordpress, a plugin is to be installed.

Customizable - The widget is easily customizable. See how the widget from Denver Post and from this blog (look at the end of this post) differs.

Personal Views on the Searchles Related Content Widget

As soon as I have heard about this widget through the e-mail sent by their CEO Elias Shams, I immediately signed up, learned the features and installed the widget. I opted to put it below every post as I believe that that is the perfect place for the widget to be most effective.

I would rate the widget an 8 out of 10. Basically, the widget is very useful. This blog isn't built with any related post plug-in or widget so my previous Recent Posts widget is really ugly and I just don't like it. Searchles Related Content widget is like a gift. The two things that I don't really like in this widget are: (1) It is using JavaScript so it means more loading time for my blog and cannot be viewed when JS is turned off and (2) Customizing is okay but it lacks more customizable features.

But as a whole, I recommend this widget to others who may want to try it or even use it right away. Aside from its function, it is also a way to earn some money (CTR of 8% according to the CEO). The best way to test out the widget is try it out yourself. Check out the links below: