Searching on A WordPress Site
If you are definitely sure you are on a WordPress site, but you cannot find the search button to find that article you once read but cannot find any longer. What do you do?
WordPress has a standard on search functionality.
In the URL at the top of your browser, after the domain you type:
/?s=your search term
and follow it by pressing Enter / Return / Go
If the website indeed was a WordPress site, it will show you the search results.
I know that some of you don't offer a search bar and button on their website and this is how I anyway manage to search on your site.
Example
I've tried it out on the website of Kyle we all know from the course material: Ways To Avoid Scams Online.
Kyle has no search box on his website. If I now add the above code to the URL with a search term, I will receive the results of my search immediately. I searched on 'domain'.
How To Add Search
The search function is either added to your site through a widget or it comes as a standard part of your theme. Some people use google search widget, but you actually don't need that one because WordPress has the functionality built in to their system.
Why To Offer Search
Offering search is a very user friendly thing to add to your site. It will make it possible for new and returning visitors to find content they didn't find when they clicked on your link in the search engines.
It offers the opportunity for a visitor to stay longer on your site, or, like me, look for an article they once found but didn't bookmark. Now they can search for articles they are interested in and read them.
Have a productive day!
Steven
Recent Comments
8
Yes it definitely can be useful. I was looking for an old post on a bootcamp site of one of the big members here on WA and couldn't figure it out. Then I thought suddenly how I could search on my site and how I would be able to use that onto another WordPress site. Worked like a charm and I found the post back.
Steven
See more comments
Hi Steven,
This is a great little tip...will be very useful.
Debbie
Oh yes it definitely was for me already. Could find the article again on Nathaniells blog that I couldn't find before ;-)
Steven