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Google's new Government Search Tool versus the FirstGov site

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Google just released a Goverment specific search portal.

This is basically a competitor to the government's own site FirstGov, which is powered by MSN but looks an awful lot like Google.

So let's run the paces on Google and FirstGov to see what we get. I tried searching for a rather obscure federal regulation 34 CFR 99.30. It is from the Department of Education and governs the practice and procedure of record keeping.

  • Normal Google Search
    • "electronic signature 34 CFR 99.30"
    • Results: 305
  • Google Search with "site:.gov"
    • "electronic signature 34 CFR 99.30 site:.gov"
    • Results: 56
  • Google Government Search
    • "electronic signature 34 CFR 99.30"
    • Results: 86
  • First Gov Search Engine
    • "electronic signature 34 CFR 99.30"
    • Results: 68

Google Government appears to limit the SERP to the domains of gov, mil and us. Making it much easier and also more comprehensive than a search on normal Google with just the domain limit of "site:.gov".

The Government's FirstGov site is close but still does not return as many results. Whether the increased number of results from Google means an increase in relevant content depends on the researcher. Personally I believe that having one engine that I fully understand and is located in one place is a huge bonus. An additional benefit is that Google can be customized with additional content relevant to the Governmental worker, much like the present Google home page. This may increase the adoption rate of Google's engine.

Google has more advanced search features than the MSN power FirstGov.

But I do not like that when I click on the GoogleGov logo it takes me to the normal Google search page with no direct button or link to get to the Government search. I realize that I am looking at the normal Google advanced search settings but if the logo says Gov then it should take me were it should.

Also why is the favicon for Google Government 'dirty'?

Once you enter the search the icon gets pulled from the normal source and is clean again. I know it is being called from a different folder but come on... should it at least be clean?

What are some of your favorite Gov searches and what have been your results?


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