Better Google Custom Search results with synonyms

Most blogs have search bar/box installed to help readers find what they are looking for in your blog. However, what your readers will or will not find depends solely on the search term (word or phrase) they enter in the search box. If they enter a different (albeit having the same meaning) term from what you wrote, they won’t  get the desired results, even though what they are looking for is actually right there in your blog.

 

Before adding synonyms

Let me give you an example: the word “centre” (UK English for “center”). When I entered this in my search box it yielded only two results:

Hmm… I know for sure that I have the word “center” in my blog. I have posted how to align header and how to align a pages gadget, surely a few “center”s must be lying around in there somewhere, waiting to be found.

Now we come to the synonym part; What if I add “center” as a synonym to “centre”. Will I get more than two results, or at least get those two posts listed?

Note: Synonyms is not applicable to Search Box gadget added via Design > Page Elements.

 

Adding the synonym

Okay let us do just that, and see what happens:

1. Login to Google Custom search. Click Manage Your Existing Search Engines link (or Create a custom Search Engine button if I’m making a new custom search engine).
2. Click on Control Panel link of my chosen custom search engine.
    
3. Click Synonyms link under Control Panel on the left sidebar.
4. Click Add button to add the synonyms.
5. Enter the expected search term (the word or phrase that your readers might enter) in the top field. I enter the word “centre” here.
     
6. Enter synonyms in the bottom field. These are terms that exist in your blog.  I enter “center” here.
7. Click OK button when done.

After adding synonym

Having added the synonym I once again search for “centre”, and voila!, more than 2 results comes out. I actually get 22 results, with the two posts mentioned above rank in top spots. So it does work… I’m happy.

If your blog contains terms specific to a field and less known to the laymen, I suggest you try this synonym thing out.

Enjoy!