What Are Specialty Search Engines and why do they matter for local businesses?

Most people think Google is the only search engine. However, other search engines have unique purposes. These are called specialty search engines. They focus on specific topics or types of information. Reporters, researchers, and local business owners can find these engines useful. Let's break it down clearly and directly with a dash of humor.

What Are Specialty Search Engines?

Specialty search engines are like your friend's weird hobby collections—focused and niche. Instead of searching everything like Google, these engines narrow in on one topic. For example, if you want only academic papers, use Google Scholar. If you need health information, PubMed is the place to go. Specialty search engines help you find particular details without all the noise of regular search engines.

Breakdown of search engines 2024-2025

Each day,  Facebook has 1.5 million searches amongst its 1.5 Trillion users. Yelp and LinkedIn are focussed on job recruitment and hiring;. At the same time, Yelp has over 95% intent for commercial and residential hiring of contractors, and LinkedIn has over 60% of its users actively seeking out competitors for new jobs and/or recruitment (head hunting). 

How do Specialty Search Engines help local businesses?

A specialty search engine can help you find reliable sources quickly if you're a reporter. No more clicking through 27 pages of Google results just to find one solid quote. Researchers use them to find data without spending hours sifting through unrelated memes and cat videos. 

A specialty search engine can rank your Google Business Profile and website for higher-quality leads for homeowners and businesses who visit the specific site or search engines. Knowing more experts like you can help them. 

Examples of Specialty Search Engines



• DuckDuckGo: This search engine is privacy-focused. It’s like a ninja—searching without leaving a trace.
• Bing (Yes, It’s Still Here!): Bing is like Google’s slightly awkward cousin. But don't underestimate it. Bing has a unique set of users—many use it simply because it's the default on their devices. Bing’s market share is growing, and it’s worth considering if you want to reach a different audience. Also, Bing has niche-specific search options like image and local searches that are sometimes better than Google.
• PubMed: A big favorite for researchers and doctors. It only shows results related to health and medicine. It won’t tell you who won the latest season of The Bachelor, but it will show you the latest in medical research.
• Google Scholar: Similar to PubMed, but broader. Google Scholar is where academics hang out. This is your spot if you need research papers, case law, or academic publications.
• Yandex: If you need to search for something specific in Russia or parts of Eastern Europe, Yandex is the go-to. It’s not just a search engine; it also does email and maps—basically, it’s Google’s Russian cousin.
• Angi’s List and Yelp: Both websites allow business profiles to be found through their internal search engine queues and enable you to receive messages and calls from their websites. 
• Social Media Platforms: Social media now allows you to search their users and business profiles to find the companies that match their search requests. 

We can help you rank on Specialty Search Engines

Specialty search engines give great information, but they are only tools. The magic is knowing how to use them. At Talents Into Profits, we use specialty search data to create content that ranks and converts. We aim to help you get more leads and establish authority in your field.

Want to know how to use specialty search engines to get ahead? You may also be tired of Google running your life. Fill out our form today, and let us make your marketing strategy unique.