Google Code Help

The iGoogle gadget directory is designed to help iGoogle users quickly and easily browse and search for gadgets they can add to iGoogle. Gadgets that rise to the top of the directory tend to be useful, fun, interactive, and regularly updated.

Like Google search results, the directory is algorithmic. We use a constantly evolving formula to bring the best gadgets to the top. Some of the factors in this formula include the gadget's popularity in the directory, the amount of time a user keeps the gadget on their page after adding it, the amount of metadata the gadget owner provides, and the user's personal iGoogle usage (for instance, if a user has a gadget on their iGoogle page, they won't see that gadget at all when they browse the directory).

Here are some suggestions to help you optimize your gadget and its placement in the iGoogle directory. First and most importantly, make sure your gadget is attractive, useful, and fun. If it's not good for users, they will delete it from their page immediately after adding it, which will hurt your directory ranking. Second, make sure you include as much metadata (thumbnail, description, author name & email) as possible in your gadget. More metadata means users will be able to find more information about your gadget in the directory. The more attractive your gadget listing is, the more popular your gadget is likely to be. Third, watch your gadget's size. Even if your gadget is of high quality, users may delete it if it doesn't look nice on their page. We recommend a height of 80-250 pixels and testing your gadget to make sure it works at a variety of widths, ranging from 180 to 600 pixels. We also recommend designing your gadget to fit with the aesthetics of the iGoogle page so that it will look consistent and attractive on iGoogle itself. And finally, test your gadget thoroughly. Make sure it works on a variety of different browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari). It's also very important to make sure it loads quickly and works consistently & reliably. Most users won't keep a gadget that's slow or that breaks.

While these suggestions may help your gadget's directory ranking, it's important to remember that you are ultimately responsible for the performance of your gadget. With tens of thousands of gadgets in the iGoogle directory, we don't recommend relying on the directory to make your gadget popular. Instead, you should use tools like the Add to Google button on your website and in your promotional materials, Google Gadgets For Your Webpage, or online ads to drive usage for your gadget. This may sound inconvenient, but we think you'll be happy with the results -- remember, after a user adds your gadget to their iGoogle page, they could see it every single time they visit Google.