WordPress comes with a default search option, and it’s good for searching local blog posts and pages, but it’s not as good as Google Search, which provides an accurate result and a great user experience.
In this article, we’ll be showing you how to add Google search in WordPress in easy steps.
So let’s get started!
Why Should You Use Google Search in WordPress?
The default search feature in WordPress often falls short in delivering relevant results to user queries, prompting many site owners to seek alternatives.
While you could opt for a popular WordPress search plugin, managing and maintaining it can be cumbersome and resource-intensive for your server.
Alternatively, integrating Google’s robust and reliable search feature offers several advantages. It’s free, allows you to confine searches to your site, and can be seamlessly incorporated into your WordPress site.
Google search is famous for its speed and credibility, instilling trust among users. Moreover, since it’s maintained by Google, you won’t need to worry about updates or maintenance tasks.
Additionally, you have the flexibility to enable users to search external websites using Google if necessary.
With these benefits in mind, let’s explore how you can effortlessly integrate Google site search into your WordPress site.
How to Add Google Search to a WordPress Site
Adding Google Search to your WordPress site is straightforward. Simply follow these simple steps, and you will have Google search results on your WordPress site.
Visit the Google Programmable Search Engine website and click the ‘Get Started‘ button.
On the ‘Create a new search engine‘ page, provide a name for your search form and select ‘Search specific sites or pages.’ or ‘Search the entire web.’ Add your WordPress site’s URL.
- Choose to enable ‘Image Search‘ if you have relevant content like photos or a photography website.
- Toggle on ‘Safe Search‘ to ensure inappropriate content is filtered out.
- Click ‘Create’ to generate your search engine ID code.
To store the created code, copy it and paste it into a text-editor or notepad.
Install and activate the HFCM plugin in your WordPress dashboard.
Navigate to HFCM » + Add New Snippet.
- Under ‘Add New Snippet,‘ click on ‘ Snippet Name’ and name your snippet.
- Select ‘Site Display’ to ‘Site Wide’.
- Choose Location mode as ‘Header’.
- Toggle the status from ‘Inactive’ to ‘Active.’
- And paste the code into Snippet/Code.
- Save the snippet.
Visit your WordPress site to see the Google Site search form in action.
With these steps, you can seamlessly integrate Google Search into your WordPress site, enhancing user experience and search functionality.
Wrapping up
Using Google Search on your WordPress site is a simple yet effective way to enhance search functionality and improve user experience. By leveraging Google’s powerful search capabilities, you can provide users with appropriate and accurate search results while reducing the burden on your server resources. With easy-to-follow steps and the assistance of plugins like HFCM, adding Google Search to your WordPress site becomes hassle-free. Please take advantage of this feature to streamline navigation and empower users to find the content they’re looking for quickly and efficiently.
FAQs on Google Search
Do I need a plugin to add Google Search to my WordPress site?
Using a plugin like HFCM isn’t required, but it can make things easier and safer. Plugins help avoid mistakes when adding custom code. However, if you’re confident in editing theme files manually and understand the risks, you can add Google Search without a plugin.
Can I change how the Google Search form looks on my WordPress site?
Absolutely! You can adjust the appearance of the Google Search form by tweaking the code snippet or using CSS to match your site’s style. Additionally, Google provides customization options in the Programmable Search Engine dashboard, letting you change colors, fonts, and more.
Will adding Google Search slow down my site?
No, adding Google-Search shouldn’t make your site slower. Google’s servers power the search function, so it won’t strain your site’s resources. However, it’s still crucial to keep your site optimized for smooth performance.
Can Google Search look beyond my site to find information?
Yes, Google-Search can be set up to explore other websites besides your own. This is handy for offering users a wider range of search results from different sources.
