In addition to the growing list of swicki widgets we've developed for platforms like TypePad, Wordpress, and Blogger, Eurekster's now a member of the partner program of WidgetBox, a new beta marketplace for managed web based widgets. Widgetbox offers a directory of Web widgets in categories like search, communications, media and even games that users can configure and embed onto their web pages.

The Widgetbox site also provides tools for folks to build their own widgets. We recently built a generic widget that can be used as a wrapper for any swicki. You can check it out here and drop me a line at swickifeedback with, well...feedback.

What I'm really interested in seeing is how you, our swicki publishers, fare in building your own custom swicki widgets. A whole Widgetbox search sub-category comprised of swicki widgets by topic? How about your Hip Hop Search Engine swicki widget ready-to drop into music blogs across the web? Or a widget that lets fan site webmasters embed your Johnny Depp swicki right on to their pages, tuned and ready to serve pirate-riffic search results, including dreamy 21 Jump Street pics from your multimedia buzz cloud? The opportunities for syndication of your topic-specific and community-tuned swicki through Widgetbox are pretty cool.

Congrats to Ed, Giles and Dean on the launch of this already few-hundred widgets strong repository for the growing number of web services available out there, including our swicki widget. Be sure to check out ours, and look into rolling your own.

Bloggers using WordPress can now add their swickis to their blog as a "WordPress Widget". For those of you new to swickis - a swicki is a highly customizable search engine that learns from your community's search behavior. Here's how to add one to your site:

1. Go to swicki.com. If you have not done so already, create a swicki and register.
2. Go to the "Get Code" page for your swicki. Under "Additional help on how to add to your site or blog," open the entry for "WordPress.org".
3. Copy the settings listed there. You will need them later to configure your widget.
   • GroupKey
   • SecKey
   • Shortname
   • Title
4. Make sure to upgrade your WordPress blog to allow widgets. Details are listed here.
5. Get the PHP code for the Swicki WordPress Widget here.
6. Unzip the zip file
7. Place "swicki.php" in your 'wp-content/plugins/widgets' folder on your WordPress installation.
8. In your WordPress management interface, go to "Plugin Management" an enable the widget.
9. In "Presentation -> Sidebar Widgets" you should see a "Swicki" widget you can now use on your WordPress.org blog!
10. Fill in the details of your Swicki with the settings you copied earlier for
    • GroupKey
    • SecKey
    • Shortname
    • Title
11. Save the changes.
12. Your swicki is ready!