{"id":21593,"date":"2021-03-17T17:00:42","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T16:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=21593"},"modified":"2021-03-17T10:14:03","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T09:14:03","slug":"how-to-add-google-search-to-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-add-google-search-to-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Add Google Search to Your WordPress Website"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Whatever kind of content you are hosting on your website, you want to make it as easy as possible for your visitors to get around. It\u2019s difficult enough getting people to visit your website at all, but that\u2019s only the first step: you need to make them happy and keep them coming for more, and easy navigation<\/strong> to their desired content goes a long way towards improving user experience<\/strong>. You could add a search bar to your WordPress menu, or you could allow your visitors to filter your content by category or tag<\/a>, but there is yet another way to help your visitors reach the content they want: you could add Google search to your website.<\/strong> And that is what this tutorial is all about.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]But WordPress comes with its own search functionality: do I really need a Google search<\/strong>? we hear you ask. The why is exactly the question we would like to address before we get down to the nuts and bolts of the how-to.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”80px”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”new-top-picks-banner”][vc_empty_space height=”80px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Why Do I Want Google Search on My WordPress Website?<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It\u2019s easy enough to answer that: harnessing the power of Google has its benefits, and WordPress\u2019s default search function has its drawbacks.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]WordPress\u2019s default themes have a search function which works, but it is pretty basic<\/strong>. It will return results based on keywords, and that\u2019s really it. If you want a more versatile search feature, you ought to look elsewhere.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Adding a custom search bar<\/a>, either as a theme\u2019s feature or as a plugin, often works better and provides you with more options<\/strong>. Plugins, and themes as well, require keeping up with WordPress updates, though. Google, for better or for worse, does not. Also, each search which uses your server\u2019s resources (such as one using a theme\u2019s search feature or a search plugin) may cause slow running<\/strong> \u2013 not great UX, in other words, if your server is dealing with more traffic than it can handle.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Google, on the other hand, is fast<\/strong>, and, with a Google search functionality, you could also limit Google\u2019s searches to your own website or websites. Additionally, Google searches are free for the end user,<\/strong> and setting them up on your WordPress website is free as well. Finally, the world\u2019s most popular search engine allows your users to<\/strong> take advantage of Google operators<\/a> and refine their searches<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Simply put, Google is faster and more versatile than WordPress\u2019s search function<\/strong>, and it also brings the Google brand into play, advertising to your visitors the efficiency and speed which are associated with the brand and which had contributed to making Google the search engine powerhouse it is today.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]With that in mind, let\u2019s get right down to the brass tacks. There are two ways to go about adding Google search to your WordPress website: with a plugin, or by changing your theme files. In either case, you need to create a custom search engine using Google\u2019s Programmable Search Engine service.
\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Here is what we will be discussing:
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