1. A method for initiating a search at a web server, said method comprising the steps of: storing as a bookmark of a web browser in a client computer a valid URL of a web server; receiving a request entered by a user into a URL field of said web browser of said client computer, said request not forming a valid request for a web page; and in response to said request entered by said user, attempting to send said request to an address indicated by said request, and in response, receiving an error message indicating that said address indicated by said request is not a valid address of a web page, and in response, determining that initial characters of said request match an address segment or all of said valid URL stored as said bookmark in said client computer and determining that subsequent characters of said request define search terms in improper format, and in response, reformatting said request as a proper request for said valid URL with search terms in proper format appended after said valid URL, and sending the reformatted request with said valid URL and the appended search terms in proper format to said web server addressed by said valid URL to conduct a search based on said search terms.