Search-Pirate.com Review

Hello all, my name is Rick Tufington and I am a frequent contributor to People Search News, located on assignment overseas (it sounds so cool to say that!). Each week, I will be reviewing a new people search site on the Web to help PSN readers find the most accurate and helpful sites for their people searches. However, not every people search web site is looking out for their customers' best interests, thus my aim is for PSN readers to use my reviews as a guide to which sites to check out and which to stay clear of. The site that I am reviewing today is brand new and has been "pillaging" the Net for the last few weeks: Search-Pirate.com

Site Layout

When you log on to Search-Pirate.com, you will soon realize that you are not at your mom or pop's people search web site. In fact, many users probably have never seen a web site like Search-Pirate as the site is an animated island environment where almost everything is either clickable or moving. This island isn't a tropical paradise, however, as piratical elements are everywhere including a marooned pirate ship, treasure chest and the site's mascot, pirate Cap'n Look. Additionally, the site's text is filled with pirate slang and expressions.

The site's navigation bar is located on a treasure map and contains all of the site's pages in one concise location: featured people search sites, FAQ's, Add Your Site, Contact Us, Newsletter, and Link to US. All of the site's icons are also pirate related.

Site Theme

Search-Pirate.com stands out from amongst the hundreds of available people search web sites because it does something that many people search site designers are afraid to do: have fun. The theme of Search-Pirate seems like an odd pairing at first, people searching and pirates. However, once you begin to navigate the site, all of the pirate-themed elements seem to blend smoothly with the site's people searching functions. In fact, these elements give the user a vacation from the typical (read: boring) images and text present on most people search web sites.

Site Features

With all of the site's zaniness, it may be very easy to pass Search-Pirate off as a nice looking, yet not really innovative web site. However, as I soon discovered, Search-Pirate is more than just a pretty electronic face. Hiding behind all of the site's graphics lies a very unique concept that standard people search web sites have failed to grasp: competition. Just like other online comparison sites (i.e..ESurance.com), Search-Pirate allows users to browse and compare the results from popular people search web sites for free. Thus, if you are searching for someone, you are not limited to one set of databases and most importantly, have a greater chance of actually finding them for a reasonable price.

Spit it out Tufington! What do you think?

Amazing. I have yet to see a people search web site with so much potential as Search-Pirate.com. Though the online people searching industry is growing with new technology, it is lacking a tool to bring in the casual user. With its unique theme and function, Search-Pirate may be the "plank" that reaches out to newer people search web site users. PSN Innovator Award 2007? We shall see.