can greatly enhance the search experience on your WordPress website. With Ajax live search, search results are displayed in real-time as users type in the search bar, providing instant feedback and saving time. This feature can be easily added to your custom search form using the Ajax Search Lite plugin.
Installing and Activating the Ajax Search Lite Plugin
To get started, install and activate the Ajax Search Lite plugin. You can find this plugin in the WordPress Plugin Directory. Once activated, navigate to Settings » Ajax Search Lite in your WordPress dashboard. Here, you can configure the settings for the live search functionality.
Customizing the Search Appearance
In the plugin settings, you have the ability to customize the appearance of the live search results. You can choose the number of results to display, the order in which they appear, and the layout of the search results. The plugin also provides options to enable or disable features such as displaying thumbnails, post excerpts, and category filters. Customize the appearance to match the design of your website and make it more user-friendly.
Setting Search Parameters
Next, you can specify which content types should be included in the live search. By default, the plugin searches all post types, including pages, posts, and custom post types. However, you can exclude specific post types if desired. You also have the option to include or exclude specific categories, tags, or taxonomies from the live search results. These settings allow you to fine-tune the search functionality and ensure that only relevant results are displayed.
Enabling Live Search with the Custom Search Form
To enable the Ajax live search functionality with your custom search form, go to SearchWP » Search Forms and edit the existing custom search form or create a new one. In the settings for the search form, select the ‘Enable AJAX’ option. This will activate the live search functionality for that specific form. Save your changes and update or publish the page or post where the form is embedded.
Testing and Optimizing the Search Functionality
Once everything is set up, it’s important to thoroughly test the search functionality on your website. Enter various search queries and verify that the live search results are accurate and relevant. Make any necessary adjustments to the search parameters or appearance settings to optimize the search functionality for your specific content and user preferences.
In Conclusion
By creating a custom WordPress search form and enhancing it with features like the SearchWP plugin and Ajax live search, you can significantly improve the search functionality on your website. Providing users with a more intuitive and efficient search experience will ultimately lead to higher engagement, increased conversions, and overall customer satisfaction. Take the time to optimize your search capabilities and reap the benefits of enhanced user experience and improved website performance.
