May 28

WordPress Search Plugins to Improve Your Site Search

For years, it has been discussed as an indisputable fact that the search, which is installed by default in WordPress theme, works, to put it mildly, quite terrible. Search relevance is lame, and by categories, tags and custom types of posts there is no search at all (not to mention the absence of search of the post comments). An average user who does not know these subtleties, the default search (if enabled) can present a lot of unpleasant surprises. And that did not happen with your readers and subscribers, 8Theme team recommends you to use the free tool from all the above problems. We are talking about free tools and plug-ins that "will train" your site search.

Relevanssi

As the name suggests this tool, based on the relevance of his work is put in the issuance of search results. He also has a lot of settings and options that will help improve search engine on your site.

Key parameters:

Sort the results of search results by relevance, not date;
Coincidence and issuing parts of words, if not a complete coincidence;
Search for documents based on the search term, and the request "and" / "or";
Search quotes, phrases, create custom exceptions to the search results;
Highlighting of search terms when viewing results;
Search by tags, categories and comments.

Dave's WordPress Live Search

This plugin adds the functionality of "live search" on your WordPress theme. As soon as the user enters a word in the search box, there is a display of certain search results that coincide completely or partly introduced with the request. It's convenient: people can see different results even before being completed to enter a word or phrase. The work of this tool requires JavaScript, but she search bar works fine even if you do not have JavaScript.

Search Everything plugin

Search Everything promises to implement WordPress theme with an ample opportunity to find just three steps: Activate the plugin → Select basic settings → Working with him.

The features of WordPress plugin:

Highlighting the results of the request;
Search on each page, the tag at adjustable terms, categories and unprotected pages;
Search drafts and comments to posts and pages;
Search attachments and documents, search for custom fields, with the exception of posts and categories of general search results.

Better Search

Better Search engine in premium WordPress themes replaces the default search in WordPress a more flexible search tool that gives every post and every headline that is relevant given query. The features of the plugin include:

Automatically it is working with search results;
It generates a list of the relevant issue instead of issuing sorted by date;
Controls which posts to show, and what do not;
Offers Popular Searches for users. They can be displayed in a separate widget;
Flexibly configured, there is support for style sheets;
It supports work with plug-ins for caching, such as WP-Super-Cache, and W3 Total Cache.

Lift: Search For WordPress + Amazon CloudSearch

Lift: Search for WordPress is a free plug-in that uses the cloud service of Amazon CloudSearch possible to speed up the search for on your site. It takes into account the date and meta-data in the search, custom types of posts and searches, and more. However, for the work you need an account Amazon CloudSearch. See also a useful guide to the Lift plugin for free and premium WordPress themes.

WP Custom Google Search

This plugin optimizes Google Search for sites based on WordPress. There are a couple of drawbacks: ads displayed in extradition, unless you have purchased the paid version; and you will either have to put up with the display advertising, or to pay for a trip.

Swiftype

This plugin replaces the default WordPress search more relevant and search engine optimized. Algorithm evaluation issue here is built on the best practices of the search industry, as well as this plugin is easy to customize. However, you will need to fine-tune the user account and install the plugin Swiftype Search, which is then adjusted via the administration panel plugin and provides detailed analytics of search queries.

Key parameters of Swiftype:

Working on their own high-end servers, which reduces the load on your site, even if you search indexing occurs on thousands of posts and pages;
Work with your theme template file search.php;
Auto-substitution and auto-completion of search queries entered;
Automatic update of issue by removing or editing the content;
Sort issue by "drag and drop" in the control panel plugin;
Setting types of posts and content categories that are shown to users in search results;
Internal analyst entire array of search queries from users;
Set up auto-replacement/auto-completion of search queries using JavaScript.

Sphinx Search Plugin

If the plugin Search Everything gives users the ability to choose what to look for, this plugin also allows you to choose where to search, namely, among the records, pages of comments, tags and archival materials.

Results can be displayed by relevance, date or immediately on both counts. With the plug-in are set widgets for search top materials, the latest materials and similar records.

Highlight Search Terms

Highlight Search Terms does not replace the default search, but enhances the capabilities of the native search results using the selection marker on pages SERPs. This plug-in is compatible with caching tools, as well as with BuddyPress and bbPress. There is also a small plugin WordPress Google Search that add custom options of Googel Search but directly to your site. Please use one of our premium WordPress themes with pre-installed search plugins improving the default search engine of WordPress engine.