Default WordPress search leaves much to be desired. Based on recent research, 66% of site visitors are unable to find what they need by searching with native options. Fortunately, implementing Amazon CloudSearch can transform on-site search capabilities.
Limitations of Default WordPress Search
The WP search mainly relies on post titles and content. This table highlights some of the key deficiencies:
| Drawback | Implication |
|---|---|
| Only searches limited content fields | viele relevant results missed |
| No custom filters or facets | Difficult to drill-down |
| No relevance tuning | Lower-quality results surface first |
| No suggestions or synonyms | Misspellings and alternate terminology fails |
As sites grow, improving search is imperative. Data shows sites with enhanced search have 67% higher conversion rates.
Why Amazon CloudSearch?
CloudSearch makes enterprise-grade search accessible for any size business.
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Blazing fast | Latency < 500 ms even under heavy load |
| Highly customizable | Control index fields, weighting, suggestions and more |
| Scalable | Handles spikes in traffic without degradation |
| Cost effective | Handles up to 1M searches/month for free |
Analysts anticipate over 50% growth in CloudSearch adoption through 2030 indicating it as a top solution.
Configuring CloudSearch with WordPress
Below are key steps to integrate CloudSearch for superior WordPress search:
Set up AWS account
Follow AWS documentation to create an account, CloudSearch domain, and capture service endpoint.
Install CloudSearch plugin
Search plugins in WordPress and install the official CloudSearch for WordPress plugin.
Configure plugin settings
Enter AWS credentials, select content types to index, customize display preferences.
Initialize content indexing
Run initial crawl of WordPress content allowing it to be searchable.
Monitor analytics
Review search query logs to identify problematic areas.
Optimize content
Add missing info identified in analytics to enhance discoverability.
Enhancing Search Performance Further
A few optional next steps:
- Enable query suggestions and redirects
- Create synonyms groups around common themes
- Develop custom filters to narrow results
- Implement Site Search 360 to augment analytics
Well implemented CloudSearch can transform WP search. Consult our WordPress experts to assess options.
