You can add search fields to your site to help visitors find content. This guide covers adding a search page or sidebar widget, which content can appear in search results, and how to troubleshoot common issues.
Tip: For help with SEO and your site's appearance in external search engines, like Google and Bing, visit SEO and Squarespace 5.
Making search successful
Like any search engine, site search results are based on the quality of your site's content. To improve results, we recommend adding descriptive and accurate titles, descriptions, excerpts, tags, categories, and keyword-rich content across your site.
Tip: If your search isn't loading results, or stalls while searching, try setting the result ordering to Natural Ordering. This usually solves the issue.
Step 1 - Add the search field
In Structure mode or site Architecture, click Add Page or Add Widget and choose Search. Then click Select & Configure.
For more help, visit Adding a page and Adding a sidebar widget.
Step 2 - Configure the search field
In the configuration area, use the Search Options section to set up your search field.
- Show Advanced Options - Display advanced search and filter options.
- Result Ordering - Choose how to order to order results. We recommend the Natural Ordering option.
- Search Categories - Choose whether it searches the whole site or specific content.
- Search Modules - Choose whether it searches the whole site or specific pages.
When you're finished, save and enable the page or widget.
Result ordering
In configuration, use the Result Ordering drop-down menu to choose how to order to order results.
- Natural Ordering - Orders results first by relevancy to the terms searched, followed by date of the result (most recent first). In general, we recommend the Natural Ordering option, as this surfaces relevant content and is more likely to be the type of search your visitors are used to.
- Date - Orders results by date first, followed by relevancy to the terms searched. Search may be slower if your site has a lot of content. Date ordering is useful for very small sites, or indexing specific content such as discussion pages.
Limit search to specific content
In configuration, use the Search Categories and Search Modules drop-down menus to choose what content gets searched.
- Search Categories - Choose specific content types, such as blog posts (journal entries), Discussion threads, and pictures.
- Search Modules - Choose from a list of pages on your site.
What gets searched?
The areas below are indexed for site search. Any areas excluded from this list aren’t indexed. You can limit search to specific content.
Note: Disabled and restricted pages don't show up in search.
Journal entry
- Title
- URL
- Post content
- Categories and tags
Journal comments
- Title
- URL
- Comment content
Pages
- Title
- URL
- Page content
FAQ entry
- Title
- Entry content
- Keywords
Pictures
- Title
- URL
- Image description text
Picture gallery
- Title
- URL
- Gallery description text
Link group
- Title
- Link group description text
Link
- Title - The linked text
- Description text
File entry
- Title
- URL
- Description
Amazon item
- Product Name - The name or title of an Amazon List Item
- Item description - The description you enter for an Amazon item
- Authors - The authors of any literary or audio content displayed
Discussion post
- Title - The post subject
- URL
- Post text
Discussion Page
- Page title
- URL
- Page description
Drop Box Page
- Page title
- URL
- Page description
All other pages
- Page title
- Header HTML
- Footer HTML