If you manage a WordPress blog, you may have encountered this issue: a reader searches for a post you know exists, but the default search returns irrelevant results or nothing at all. It overlooks important content, feels inconsistent, and offers little control over the search experience.
Additionally, the default search box is quite basic. You might want it to have a cleaner design, be positioned in a specific location, or include various content types like pages, products, or custom post types. Unfortunately, WordPress does not provide these options out of the box.
The good news is that creating a custom search form is simpler than many people think. We have tested various solutions—plugins, custom coding, and everything in between—to discover what truly works.
In this guide, we will provide you with a step-by-step process to create a search experience that genuinely assists visitors in finding what they need.
Why Should You Create a Custom Search Form for WordPress?
While WordPress includes a built-in search feature, it does not cover all content types, such as comments, product reviews, or custom post types.
This limitation can hinder visitors from locating what they are searching for, including products they might want to purchase from your online store.
Consider prioritizing specific content to enhance its visibility in search results. For instance, you might want to feature your latest blog posts at the top of the search results page or highlight your best-selling WooCommerce products.
In this guide, we will demonstrate how to customize the WordPress search form. This article is comprehensive, so feel free to use the quick links below to navigate directly to the section that interests you:
- Step 1: Install and Activate a Search Plugin
- Step 2: Develop a Custom WordPress Search Algorithm
- Step 3: Design a Custom Search Form for Your WordPress Website
- Step 4: Integrate the Custom Search Form into Your WordPress Site
- Bonus Tip: Enhance Your Custom WordPress Search Form for Better Performance 📈
- Option 1: Implement Live Ajax Search in Your Custom Search Form
- Option 2: Utilize Advanced Settings with SearchWP
- Option 3: Analyze Search Results and Boost Conversion Rates
- FAQ: How to Create a Custom WordPress Search Form
- Next Steps to Enhance Your WordPress Search Functionality
Are you ready? Let’s get started!
Step 1: Install and Activate a Search Plugin
The simplest way to enhance the default WordPress search algorithm is by using SearchWP.
SearchWP is the top-rated WordPress search plugin, designed for ease of use and providing you with full control over your site’s search functionality, enabling visitors to quickly find what they need. It also indexes content that WordPress typically overlooks.
For additional details, check out our comprehensive SearchWP review, where we discuss all its features in depth.
To get started, create a SearchWP account by visiting the SearchWP website, clicking the ‘Get SearchWP Now’ button, and following the on-screen instructions to complete your registration.
Once registered, you will be directed to your SearchWP account dashboard.
Here, you will find a SearchWP Pro zip file and your license key. It’s a good idea to keep this tab open, as you will need it for the next step.
Now, navigate to Plugins »Add New Plugin in your WordPress admin panel to install and activate the SearchWP plugin.
On the following screen, type “SearchWP” into the search bar to locate it quickly.
In the search results, click ‘Install Now’ and then ‘Activate’ once it appears.
For further instructions, refer to our detailed guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
After activation, you will need to verify your license key. Navigate to SearchWP » SettingsNext, click on the ‘General’ tab.
In this section, enter your license key in the ‘License Key’ field. You can find this key in your account on the SearchWP website.
Once you’ve entered the key, click the ‘Verify Key’ button.
Step 2: Develop a Customized WordPress Search Algorithm
After activating the plugin, you can adjust how SearchWP indexes, searches, and ranks your content. This process is similar to creating a personalized Google search algorithm specifically for your WordPress blog or website.
To begin, navigate toSearchWP »Algorithm.
In this section, you’ll find options for various content types that SearchWP searches by default, such as pages, posts, and media files.
To add more content types to the search results, click the ‘Sources & Settings’ button.
A popup will appear displaying all the different content types that SearchWP can search, including the option to make blog comments searchable.
Depending on the WordPress plugins you have installed, you may see additional options. For instance, if you are using WooCommerce, you can include ‘Products’ in the SearchWP search results.
Explore our comprehensive guide on creating an effective WooCommerce product search to enhance your online store.
Just tick the checkbox next to each content type you wish to include in the search results.
In the settings panel, you will find the ‘Keyword Stemming’ option enabled by default. This allows SearchWP to include results that may not have the exact same ending as your search term.
For instance, if you search for ‘run,’ keyword stemming will also bring up results for ‘running’ and ‘runners.’
This feature can help display more relevant results to users, so we recommend keeping the ‘Keyword Stems’ box checked. However, you can uncheck it if you prefer to show only exact matches.
Once you are satisfied with your choices in the popup, click ‘Done’ to proceed.
You will now see a section listing all the sources you have selected.
Each section includes its own sliders for ‘Applicable Attribute Relevance.’
This determines the importance SearchWP assigns to each attribute when generating the search results.
Content that aligns with a highly relevant attribute will rank higher in the search results, whereas content that corresponds to a less relevant attribute will appear lower.
To increase the weight of an attribute, simply slide its slider to the right.
In the image below, the search engine prioritizes matches found in the post title over those in the post content.
Each WordPress website has its own characteristics, so it’s beneficial to test various relevancy settings to find the most accurate and useful search results.
For instance, if you’ve uploaded your menu as a PDF on your restaurant website, this is valuable content that you typically want to display in the search results.
If you utilize custom fields, you can make them searchable on your WordPress site.
You can establish rules to decide which content should be included or excluded from search results. For example, in an online marketplace, you might want to exclude the account page, checkout page, and thank you page.
To create a rule, simply click the ‘Edit Rules’ button in the section where you want to add the rule. In the image below, we are adding a new rule to the ‘Posts’ section.
This action opens a popup where you can set up the search engine rules.
To initiate your first rule, click the ‘Add Rule’ button.
You can now select the content you wish to include or exclude from relevant search results.
Begin by selecting either ‘Only show entries if’ or ‘Exclude entries if’ from the first dropdown menu, based on the type of rule you wish to create.
Utilize the remaining settings to define the content you want to include or exclude. For instance, if you want to filter by a specific category, simply enter the category name.
You can also enter any custom taxonomies that you wish to include or exclude from the search results.
To filter specific post tags from the search results, select ‘Tags’ from the dropdown menu.
Next, type in the name of the tag you want to include or exclude.
To add an additional rule, click the ‘Add Rule’ button and follow the same steps as before. Once you are satisfied with your rules, be sure to click ‘Done.’
If necessary, you can create rules for other content types, such as media and pages, by navigating to their sections and clicking the respective ‘Add Rule’ buttons.
When you are satisfied with the configuration of the search algorithm, scroll to the top of the page and click the ‘Save’ button.
SearchWP will now rebuild the index. This process may take a few minutes, depending on your WordPress hosting provider and the size of your website.
When you see ‘Index Status 100%’, it indicates that SearchWP has successfully incorporated all your content and configurations into the search index.
Step 3: Design a Custom Search Form for Your WordPress Site
By default, all search forms on your WordPress site will utilize the new SearchWP algorithm you set up earlier. This ensures that your visitors receive more accurate and relevant search results immediately.
For enhanced results, consider creating specialized search forms tailored to different content types. For instance, you could design a targeted WooCommerce product search form that focuses on specific product categories.
You can also develop an advanced search form specifically for custom post types. For example, we have created dedicated search forms for our ‘Deals’ and ‘Glossary’ sections.
Each custom form will replace the standard WordPress search functionality, allowing you to create multiple forms with distinct settings.
To begin, navigate toSearchWP»Search Formsand click on the ‘Add New’ button.
This will create a new search form that you can customize to your liking.
For instance, if you operate a review site, you can design a search form that specifically looks for product review posts while excluding other content such as blog articles and media. This will help your visitors find what they need more quickly.
You can assign a unique name to the form by clicking the pencil icon next to ‘Search Form 1’.
On the following screen, you can enter a name for your custom search form.
This name is for your convenience, so feel free to choose anything that helps you recognize the form in the WordPress dashboard.
Next, you can select a layout by clicking on the ‘Layout Theme’ thumbnails.
Some layouts are tailored for specific types of search forms. For example, if you create a form that searches by category in WordPress, the ‘Category Search’ layout already includes many necessary settings.
Click on the various themes to preview how this form will appear on your website. Once you’ve made your choice, scroll down to the ‘Custom Styling’ section.
The options available may differ based on the layout theme you chose. For instance, if you selected ‘Quick Search,’ the corresponding settings will be activated by default.
You can easily toggle different options on and off. The preview will automatically refresh as you make adjustments, allowing you to see what works best for your website.
Depending on your layout and the type of form you wish to create, you may need to enable or disable certain ‘Custom Styling’ settings. For instance, if you want to build a form that searches by category, simply enable the ‘Category Search’ toggle.
Ensure you select the custom search engine you created earlier from the ‘Engine’ menu. For the ‘Results Page,’ you can either use the default WordPress version or design a custom search results page.
By default, SearchWP searches all media, pages, and posts on your WordPress website. If you have created any custom post types, you can include them in the search results by using the ‘Type of search’ field.
Just enter each custom post type you want to include. When the desired custom post type appears, click to add it to the search.
To exclude pages, posts, or media from the search results, simply click the small ‘X’ next to ‘Media,’ ‘Pages,’ or ‘Posts’ in the ‘Type of search’ field.
Next, locate the ‘Select Category’ field and enter each category you want to include in the search results.
For instance, if you operate an online store, you might want to create search forms that focus on specific product categories. On WordPress blogs, you may prefer to limit the search form to particular content categories.
By default, SearchWP displays a standard message saying ‘Enter keyword and search’ before users input their search queries.
You can customize this message by entering your preferred text in the ‘Field Label’ section.
If you wish to enable visitors to filter their search results by criteria such as author, post type, and tags, you need to activate the ‘Advanced Search’ toggle.
Next, scroll down to the ‘Advanced Search Filter/s’ field.
By default, SearchWP provides options for filtering results by ‘Authors,’ ‘Post Types,’ and ‘Tags.’
To remove any of these filters, simply click the ‘X’ button next to it. To add more filters, just type their names into the field.
When the desired option appears in the dropdown, click on it to select.
Once you are satisfied with these settings, proceed to the ‘Form Style’ section.
Here, you can select from various form styles, add borders, and adjust the font size.
In the ‘Button Style’ section, you can personalize the appearance of the ‘Search’ button that is displayed in the form.
You have additional options available to customize the appearance and functionality of your search form. However, the steps provided are sufficient to create a sophisticated custom search form.
Once you are satisfied with the configuration of your form, scroll to the top of the page and click ‘Save’ to apply your changes.
To create additional custom search forms with different configurations, simply follow the same steps outlined above.
Step 4: Integrate the Custom Search Form into Your WordPress Site
You can incorporate an advanced search form into any page, post, or widget area by using the ‘Search Form’ block.
For illustration, let’s explore how to add a search form to a post.
Open the post in the WordPress content editor and click the ‘+’ icon. Then, search for ‘Search Form.’
When the appropriate block appears, click on it to select.
You can now access the ‘Select a Form’ dropdown menu and choose the desired form.
When you’re ready to publish the search form, click either ‘Update’ or ‘Publish.’
Now, simply navigate to this page or post to view the search form in action.
For further information, consider checking our guide on how to add a search form to a WordPress post.
To add a search form to a widget-ready area, navigate to Appearance » Widgets. Click the ‘+’ block icon in the desired location to display the search form.
Next, enter ‘Search Form’ in the search bar.
Once the appropriate block appears, click on it to add it to the widget area.
You can now open the dropdown menu to select the search form you wish to use.
When you are done, remember to click the ‘Update’ button to activate the search form.
For more comprehensive instructions, please refer to our guide on how to add and utilize widgets.
If you want to add the search form to your navigation menu, check out our article on how to include a search bar in the WordPress menu.
Bonus Tip: Enhance Your Custom WordPress Search Form 📈
Now that you know how to create a custom search form for your WordPress site, let’s explore some simple methods to enhance it for an improved user experience.
Option 1: Implementing Live Ajax Search in Your Custom Search Form
Many online stores and websites utilize live Ajax search functionality. This feature displays potential search results in real-time as users type in the custom form, similar to the experience offered by search engines like Google.
Utilizing Ajax live search allows you to display relevant results instantly without reloading the page. This feature is particularly beneficial for online stores selling digital downloads or physical products, as it enables customers to quickly view items that match their search terms.
The simplest method to integrate Ajax live search into your WordPress site is by using the SearchWP Live Ajax Lite Search plugin. This free tool seamlessly adds instant search functionality to your website and is compatible with any WordPress theme.
The first step is to install and activate the plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our comprehensive guide on installing a WordPress plugin.
Once activated, the default WordPress search form will automatically incorporate the Ajax live search feature. Visit your site and start typing in the search bar to see instant search results in action.
For more in-depth guidance, please check our tutorial on adding live Ajax search to your WordPress website.
Option 2: Utilizing Advanced Settings for SearchWP
Next, it’s advisable to enable advanced settings that enhance user experience and help visitors find what they are searching for more easily.
To accomplish this, navigate toSearchWP » Settingsand scroll down to the ‘General Settings’ section.
In this section, you can enable any of the following settings:
- Partial matches.When this feature is activated, SearchWP will present results that are not exact matches for the user’s search query, commonly referred to as fuzzy search.
- Closest match.Once partial matches are enabled, you can also display the closest matches when a search yields no results.
- Exact phrase searches.This feature enables users to search for specific phrases by enclosing them in quotes.
- Highlight search terms.Automatically emphasize the search terms to assist users in locating their desired content.
Option 3: Analyzing Search Results and Enhancing Conversions
To optimize your website’s search functionality, it’s beneficial to track how users interact with the search feature.
This insight allows you to identify effective strategies and areas for improvement on your WordPress site, enhancing the search experience for visitors.
This information can also inspire blog post ideas by revealing the topics that users are actively searching for.
To access search history and the most frequently used search terms, simply click on ‘Statistics’ in the left-hand menu.
We also offer a comprehensive guide on how to analyze search analytics in WordPress if you’re interested in learning more.
Frequently Asked Questions: How to Create a Custom WordPress Search Form
Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from our readers regarding the creation of custom WordPress search forms:
Is it possible to include pages, products, or custom post types in my WordPress search?
Yes, you can include various elements such as pages, WooCommerce products, tags, categories, custom fields, or any custom post types in your search using appropriate tools like SearchWP or custom code.
Do I need to know how to code to create a custom search form?
Not necessarily. Tools like SearchWP and WPCode allow you to create and customize your search form without any coding. However, if you prefer a hands-on approach, you can also utilize a custom searchform.php template.
Can I choose where the search box is located on my website?
Absolutely! You can position the search box in the header, sidebar, footer, or within a page or post using a shortcode or widget. Most WordPress themes also support search blocks in the content editor.
Is it possible to monitor what my visitors are searching for?
Yes, many search plugins offer search analytics features, allowing you to see what visitors are searching for and identify searches that yield no results. This information can help you enhance your content and improve user experience.
Next Steps to Enhance Your WordPress Search Functionality
That’s it! We hope this guide has helped you learn how to create a custom search form for your WordPress site.
If you found this guide useful, you might also be interested in our tutorials on:
- Creating a Live Autocomplete Search Feature in WordPress
- Making Blog Post Comments Searchable in WordPress
- Implementing Multilingual Search in WordPress
- Adding PDF Indexing and Search Capabilities in WordPress
- Incorporating Voice Search Functionality into Your WordPress Site
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